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Anyone work on these much? Got one to sort out tomorrow. First one. Pilot works, main burner control works. Fan does not kick in at all after a few minutes like it should and the main burner shuts off after 5-6 minutes back to pilot only. Power is connected and turned on to the appliance. Im thinking either the fan motor is had it or the thermostat. And the overheat cut out possibly turning off the main burner as the appliance is getting too hot as the fan fails to function.
cheers rodza
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check the fan switch, not the main switch but a heat sensor on the heat exchanger, the unit got to be hot to bring the fan on (bit like the over heat stat, but it turns the fan on, not the burner off), pretty sure haven't seen one for a while.... like about 10 years.
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ok thanks badger I will check that out. The sensor your talking about is located up high on the wall furnace behind the outer casing?
I found this link earlier that shows work taking place on the same model I will be looking at. Was quite interesting, clock failure.
http://users.tpg.com.au/janda_sj/Vulcan/Vulcan%20Quasar%2040%20gas%20heater%20repair.html (http://users.tpg.com.au/janda_sj/Vulcan/Vulcan%20Quasar%2040%20gas%20heater%20repair.html)
As I have no functional fan it seems to me like the fan switch sensor like you say or possibly maybe bad fan. The fact the burner switches back to pilot after 5-6mins must be the overheat cutout doing its thing.
They are a pretty beefy appliance. I installed a Braemar a few years back and removed a few older models too but never maintained any wall furnaces before.
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used to call it a limit stat, it kicks in when hot enough to bringing on the fan, if it don't come on then the unit over heats and cuts out, if you have power to the limit stat but not past it and then it cuts out on over heat, change the limit stat.
Let me know how you go mate. Hope this helps.
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Great, sounds like a solid diagnosis! Needs a full service anyway so I will pull it apart tomorrow.
Next challenge, getting parts. Know a agent to get them through braemar/vulcan in nz?
I know one place to go locally but yeah...
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Pretty sure you used to be able to get parts from ABER NZ - but these are a pretty old appliance and have been replaced by the Bonnaire Pyrox wall furnaces. ABER recently sold off some parts of their business so not sure if the spare parts was in that. Contact them and see what they have available - they may put you on to a service agent to purchase parts, but they may be happy to sell directly if you pre-pay.
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I"ll start with them then, worth a shot anyway! thanks Jaxcat
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I've had two in the last few years where the fan motors had gone, you could still get new ones from Aber.
Bit of a mission to take out and they are bloody expensive to buy, did once get one through a electrical motor rewind company, half the price but it was a lot of hassle and time to get sorted.
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Rodza1 Richard is your man at aber to ask for if you have any questions about the Quasar, i would have though that if the appilance was cutting out on over temp it would be turning off the pilot.
regards
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Hi guys,
Thanks for all the advice. I will give Aber a call and see if I can speak to Richard. Perhaps the main gas valve closes on over temp but leaves the pilot tube operating? I will have to investigate further I guess.
I have heard buying a new fan for these is pricey, end call will be up to the customer I guess
will post back with what I find cheers ;D
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I had a look at the quasar this afternoon. Fan thermostat was mounted just to the side of the viewing glass for the pilot.
I tested it after running the appliance for about 5 minutes and it had power running through it. The fan also had power going to it (I tested the wiring going directly to the fan motor without exposing the fan), and your right foggy, they look like a mission to get out! Couldnt help but have a laugh to myself. fun fun.
Im pretty sure the fan motor is had it. From what I could see it was caked with dust too.
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hi Rodza, i may be able to help, i purchased a quaser , a long time ago as a replacement for one i had in a rental property. I never fitted it , in fact it is still in the packaging that it was delivered to me in, so i have never bothered to look at it but i have it. I had already replaced the fan unit on the one i had in the rental and although it was new it also failed.
If you need it or parts let me know.
Cant even remember if it was new or used, seem to recall it new or newish at the time
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i cant recall if it was a 40 or a did they make a 26?
anyhow not sure what it is, would have to unpack it to look
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They did indeed have two models - 40 mj and a smaller one - could well be 26. I think you could get a deluxe and standard model.
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Hi Craftsman,
Thanks for your response. I would be interested in your quasar. Have a look at it when you get a chance and see which model it is.
Might be able to do a deal for it 8) Cheers
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Out of interest I found this on google. The one I am looking at had to be fitted with the shield years ago. The owner informed me yesterday.
Energy Safe Victoria has issued a safety warning on Vulcan Quasar and Pyrox Gemini gas wall furnaces.
Vulcan Quasar and Pyrox Gemini Gas Wall Furnaces
Despite an extensive recall campaign commenced in late 1995, some unsafe Vulcan Quasar and Pyrox Gemini Gas Wall Furnaces remain in use. The wall furnaces have caused house fires. The recall required the fitting of a heat shield and over temperature cut out device.
Landlords and owners must make every effort to ensure the following gas wall furnaces are corrected or withdrawn from use:
Quasar and Gemini 26.4MJ/h models manufactured from 1984 until July 1994.
Quasar and Gemini 40MJ/h models manufactured from 1984 until July 1994.
For further information see the safety alert in the related links or contact Energy Safe Victoria on 1800 652 563 during business hours.
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So the Quasar is repaired thanks to an offer to assist by craftsman. Thanks for the wall furnace man!
I replaced the fan assembly which houses the fan and that got it going again immediately. I also found that the main power for the appliance went straight from the 3 point plug through the overheat cut out switch first which is located at the very top left corner of appliance before the power goes anywhere else. I worked this out as after replacing the fan and having a premature celebration, the burner stopped working.... found it had no power to main gas solenoid. I eventually tracked it back to a faulty wire/connector at the overheat switch.
Other from that it seems to be working well. Learned plenty about how they work/operate/function too. :) :)
oh and out of interest i did call aber nz and spoke to two different people about parts. 1st guy said he would sell to me, so did the second chick but then she emailed me saying she had better not as they are only suppose to sell to plumbing world or micos and the first guy was just a fill in for when phones busy and didnt really know.