Monitor 441 Heater

[adnadeau]

There's a sidebar in the troubleshooting section of the service manual showing how to make a flame rod bypass circuit for testing purposes. It's a 1N4004 diode and a 100K resistor in series which you connect between ground and the "O" pin on the PWB at the correct time as explained in the sidebar. This allows you to tell if the problem is the flame rod or on the PWB.

[HayZee518]

the way it was explained to me is that when the rod is cold there is an ac voltage on it. when there is a flame its characteristics change so that there is a dc voltage on it now. as long as there is a flame on it, its output is dc. the paper suggests using a 100 ohm resistor in series with a diode using alligator clips. the resistor is a current limiting device and the diode changes the ac to dc. when you are in that part of the cycle after purge into prime and ignition, put the diode into the circuit and see what happens. if your polarity isn't correct, the unit will go into lockout and you'll need to reverse this polarity by switching around the leads. go through the whole purge, prime, ignition cycle and re-connect the diode device. if the unit stays lit then you found a faulty flamerod. if it kicks out then your control board is shot.

[dick_fischbeck@yahoo.com]

What if I remove the flamerod, close the opening with tape and apply a propane flame to the rod when the burner lights? If the unit then shuts down, it's probably not the flamerod malfunctioning. I guess I'll try that. I don't have the suggested test circuit.

[HayZee518]

make one! go to rad shack and get a diode and a 100k resistor. solder the diode to gether and a couple of alligator clips. merely heating the flamerod outside the heater won't work because there is no ground reference. read the sidebar description.

[Decos]

Hi All, I hope you don't mind if i invade your thread. I also have some questions about 'the heater'. (i'm also glad to hear the same feedback about Al. i thought i was just being incompetent on his site) I cannot seem to find parts for this unit. I'm looking to find a replacement for a warped burner pot (i think this is the correct name) My husband can do repairs if i can research and find parts and directions. I do have an owners manual which i am happy to scan and forward to anyone through email. It does have a maintenence section, (small), but i have no repair manual, which i am looking for. If anyone can help me out with parts, i would be indebted. Except for maintenence, I have had good luck with this unit, and am happy with the performance. It heats our whole house quite efficiently. I also have a Monitor KWH24 water heater, which i'm sure by this point could use some maintence. Any resources out there for this?
Thanks in advance for any assistance. I'm just very frustrated trying to find parts.
Dee Costigan

[HayZee518]

a company nelson & small in maine has replacement parts. mind you the replacement parts are not cheap! my monitor [M41] finally gave out. I got a new m2400 to replace my "out to lunch" unit but will stay on it [repairing] the heaters. so if you have any questions I'd be glad to entertain any request. I have a pdf file of the service manual. this manual covers the M441, 422, 21, and 41 heaters. the large can in the unit is the "combustion pot." on the side of it is the "view port" inside of it is the combustion ring. in the side of the pot is the igniter and the flame rod. way inside on the bottom is the burner mat. other parts, the dealer called the fuel sump a carberator but it really isn't a carberator. there is a tubular screen that gets clogged with junk. there's two screws and a gasket that comes out and the filter is inside. the large screw bleeds out the fuel in the sump. there's a lever that resets the fuel sump lockout. give me an email address and I'll send you the service manual.

[Decos]

Dear HayZee518

Thanks for your quick and very informative response. Much appreciated. I actually do have the very same manual that you referred to in your pdf file. I also found a website that has a comprehensive picture layout of all the parts along with a listing of their names. Unfortunately, part of the page is cut off, identifying the very parts you so kindly listed for me. I think what i need is the combustion ring as it is fairly warped. Do you have any contact info for Nelson and Small in Maine, or a city....? I would be happy to contact them for parts.

Here is my address Jeff_and_Dee@comcast.net

I want you to know how much i appreciate your help. Thanks!

[HayZee518]

the url is: www dot nelsonsmall dot com.

[sidol]

Originally Posted by HayZee518

a company nelson & small in maine has replacement parts. mind you the replacement parts are not cheap! my monitor [M41] finally gave out. I got a new m2400 to replace my "out to lunch" unit but will stay on it [repairing] the heaters. so if you have any questions I'd be glad to entertain any request. I have a pdf file of the service manual. this manual covers the M441, 422, 21, and 41 heaters. the large can in the unit is the "combustion pot." on the side of it is the "view port" inside of it is the combustion ring. in the side of the pot is the igniter and the flame rod. way inside on the bottom is the burner mat. other parts, the dealer called the fuel sump a carberator but it really isn't a carberator. there is a tubular screen that gets clogged with junk. there's two screws and a gasket that comes out and the filter is inside. the large screw bleeds out the fuel in the sump. there's a lever that resets the fuel sump lockout. give me an email address and I'll send you the service manual.

This is such a great forum...my husband is wondering if we could get the service manual to the M41. He has checked the pump (getting fuel) and had the chamber top off and cleaned soot off the top, none on inside that I could see near the bottom. The heater keeps cutting off after a few minutes of trying to run. Had it running this summer to make sure it'd work, but now won't stay on.
It's 29 here in Boone, NC windy and cold, so I'd like to get the thing running if possible.
idoltire@hotmail.com

[mike45]

My 441 was working fine last night. I woke up this morning and turned it on. It did its normal thing pumping the kerosene for three minutes and what ever else it does in those three minutes. Then it flamed up for a little bit, a bluish flame. It burned for a few minutes then went out. Now the burner status light is blinking with all bars lit up. Im sure if I had an owners manual or something I could figure it out. Maybe someone could help. My wife would appreciate it very much. If you have any suggestions or pdf manual of some sort you could email it to me at mikeer123@yahoo.com
Thank you.