- Joined
- Feb 7, 2013
- Messages
- 2,496
My torpedo heater decided to run a few seconds and shut off so the problem has to be somewhere in the
photocell circuit. I replaced the photocell with a good one with the same results. There is a circuit breaker
that shuts down the unit when there is no fire, I can understand that. On disassembly, what I can't understand
is how could the photocell that is connected to a small circuit board which is connected to the breaker with only
ONE WIRE have any effect on the circuit breaker? I did disassemble the little box and found what appears
to be a bad transistor(overheated). Actually it looks like a small signal transistor but in actuality it is an SCR
(silicon controlled rectifier), an X0203 to be exact. Well, I didn't have one but did have another SCR so
soldered that in and tried it. Well, the heater fires up and runs but doesn't shut off if you disconnect the
photocell so I know I need to find an X0203... Sure, I could throw some money at this thing and get a new
fire sensing unit but that isn't going to happen because they seem to sell for somewhere in the 100 dollar range.
In the meantime.... I connected the breaker wires together and of course the heater works even without
the photocell of course. That's probably not the safest thing to do but will provide 150,000BTUs of heat
as long as it isn't left unattended. I have another one so it isn't a big deal...
So, now for the next step I intend to find an X0203 and solder it in and see if it solves the conundrum.
The photocell leads to the blue and white wires that go to the circuit board and only one wire connects to
the breaker. I just don't get it. Maybe someone else on here can understand this but for the time
being, I am truly perplexed. If you look at the photos and expand them, you can see the single wire going
from the board to the breaker. How can this be??
photocell circuit. I replaced the photocell with a good one with the same results. There is a circuit breaker
that shuts down the unit when there is no fire, I can understand that. On disassembly, what I can't understand
is how could the photocell that is connected to a small circuit board which is connected to the breaker with only
ONE WIRE have any effect on the circuit breaker? I did disassemble the little box and found what appears
to be a bad transistor(overheated). Actually it looks like a small signal transistor but in actuality it is an SCR
(silicon controlled rectifier), an X0203 to be exact. Well, I didn't have one but did have another SCR so
soldered that in and tried it. Well, the heater fires up and runs but doesn't shut off if you disconnect the
photocell so I know I need to find an X0203... Sure, I could throw some money at this thing and get a new
fire sensing unit but that isn't going to happen because they seem to sell for somewhere in the 100 dollar range.
In the meantime.... I connected the breaker wires together and of course the heater works even without
the photocell of course. That's probably not the safest thing to do but will provide 150,000BTUs of heat
as long as it isn't left unattended. I have another one so it isn't a big deal...
So, now for the next step I intend to find an X0203 and solder it in and see if it solves the conundrum.
The photocell leads to the blue and white wires that go to the circuit board and only one wire connects to
the breaker. I just don't get it. Maybe someone else on here can understand this but for the time
being, I am truly perplexed. If you look at the photos and expand them, you can see the single wire going
from the board to the breaker. How can this be??