[hem057]

have a clare furnace (and I know many will say replace it; you're right) with the mercury switch, and the white/rogers sparker, and unit occasionally will not start, when I arrive the inducer is running, no voltage to the sparker? turn power off and on, unit starts....
?

 

[coolguysfl]

Call a Lic. tech -- this is not a DIY item. It requires tools & training to ensure your safety.

 

[htg guy]

It needs a thorough cleaning by a qualified htg company. That model was know to have that problem, usually each fall upon startup. A cleaning will most likely take care of the problem.

FYI! The Clare Bros. have disappeared completely.

 

[hem057]

thanks

thanks, I'm not the home owner, but I have been in the heating,refrigeration, a/c trade for 25 years, and this unit does not need to be cleaned at this point, it has an intermittent problem, it will work fine, actually it is the mother of another heating contractors home that I do alot of work for, and when I arrive I will just turn the unit off and on and it will light perfectly, but his sister is telling me that she will come home for lunch and the ventor motor is running and the house is cooling off, when I got there yesterday there was no voltage to the sparker, ventor motor running, and obviously no pilot nor burner on, reset and away it went, worked great, I know clare brothers are gone, but this unit is still in good condition and I like a challenge, so we could rip it out and put in a new unit, but at this point I would like to solve the problem, any thoughts as to why the w/r ignitor is loosing its 24 volts, when ventor is running,

 

[Mr Bill]

ventor motor running? Are you talking about inducer motor?

 

[jetstream]

sounds like the sequencer

 

[Mr Bill]

sounds like the sequencer

On a gas furnace?

 

[jpeloni]

If it has a ventor, or inducer, it probably has a pressure switch, I would check there first. You say there's no 24 volts to the ignition module? Check all your safeties. Good luck...

 

[jetstream]

Yeah, clare hasd a sequencer, brings on the venter, then the 24v gas circuit a bit later.

 

[HeyBob]

sounds like the sequencer

On a gas furnace?

Yea...If I remember correctly, those Clare MegaSave furnaces had an electric heat sequence in the upper right hand side behind a cover....when they would screw up they could do exactly what the original poster is saying.

Also, if it has the original combustion blower assembly, they were metal with a plastic coating inside, they would delaminate and plug the drains.

So, it could also be a partially plugged drain, by the time you show up, it has "fixed" itself and drained down.

There is a company in Toledo that handles parts for those junkers!

 

[Mr Bill]

Yeah, clare hasd a sequencer, brings on the venter, then the 24v gas circuit a bit later.

Thanks! I never even heard of a clare down here in Texas
I knew a girl name Clare once that keep me pretty warm. Lol!

 

[HeyBob]

Yeah, clare hasd a sequencer, brings on the venter, then the 24v gas circuit a bit later.

Thanks! I never even heard of a clare down here in Texas
I knew a girl name Clare once that keep me pretty warm. Lol!

Those furnaces are made in Canada...as cold as it gets up there, you would think Canadians should be able to build a better furnace!

 

[hem057]

thanks, now that is helpful,
I noticed on the wiring diagram that the sequencer is the only thing in the circuit before the ignitor, and probably the only part that could allow the inducer (ventor) motor to run and loose the power to the ignitor, but it is rare (in my experience) for them to go bad, I will change it out today and let you know
maybe clare is gone for that very reason, actually I do not like this system, i.e. the mercury switch arrangement, I recall their was a carrier unit that used them in the past too, (rooftop?) ad no wonder they are no longer in use

 

[jetstream]

Actually, sequencers are the most common prob on those Clares, after the rotted ventors which are surely all gone by now. The part is a thermodisc sequencer C-199, also I've used w/r 24a34-26. It's a rats nest of wiring in the little junction box, you've gotta be careful you don't short something out attempting to put the cover back on.
Yeah, I'm right in Clare's backyard, they're out of business. Their venture into 80% and 90% furnaces was the ruin of them, I suppose, maybe free trade was part of it. But their old conventional furnaces were the best in quality, still very many around.

 

[burden0105]

OK, bear with me.
I am a residential customer, who has been fighting this exact problem for quite a while now. I have a Clare Command Air, model #MEG120, with the White/Rogers ignitor/sparker.
I have had a HVAC tech over, had a guy from the local gas company come in a take a look, and i even had the furnace and associated pipes and duct work cleaned this past summer.
Sometimes i can go a month with no problems, till one day i wake up cold and the exact fix is as listed above by hem057:
"ventor motor running, and obviously no pilot nor burner on, reset and away it went, worked great,".
So, i go surfing around, and i find this site, you guys seem to know what you are talking about, so i want to print this off and take it to the local company to see if they can concur! If so, then maybe, just maybe, i can get through another winter before replacing this stoopid Clare furnace!
Hem057, you said you were going to replace the sequencer this past week, can you tell me if it fixed it.

Thank you all in advance,
Brent

 

[jetstream]

Another thing to mention. Some earlier units of that model Clare had 2 relays in the box, one a thermodisc spst with 24v heater, the other a Honeywell R8222. When they went to the sequencer that eliminated the R8222. By far the sequencer was the most common configuration, and the most likely to give trouble. But best to check the diagram to confirm which one you have.

 

[burden0105]

ok, that makes more sense. After reading what you just said, i can see that i
have the two relays present, rather than the sequencer. So its a pretty good chance
that one of these two relays is to blame, i presume?
Any way i can test the relays?

Thanks again,
Brent

 

[BobbyBJr]

I didn't catch if you posted a model number for this Clare, but I used to have all sorts of problems like you describe with those beasts. The sequencer, if you have it, is a good place to start. Also, the drains have to drain real good or you will have the problem you describe. I think you said yours doesn't have a pressure switch, but one problem I used to run into after they had some age on them was the connection behind the inducer housing would rot/rust out and allow it to leak air there. If all else fails, I always kept a ignition module on my truck. I have had many fail and create the problem you describe. We sold literally hundreds of them things back in the late 80's and I still run into one every now and then and just cringe.

Bobby

PS: Someone mentioned a place you can still get parts for these beasts? I'd be interested in that place, just in case I need something for one. The last couple times I tried to order inducer housings was a no go. Thanks.

 

[jetstream]

Can't give you any advise on testing those relays since it's such an intermittant problem. If it's a relay, odds are it's the thermodisc at the rear. As Bobby said, modules were also a problem. Wouldn't be a bad plan to save repair $$$ and put them towards a new furnace.
BTW, that's a mid-eff, no drain to worry about.

[Edited by jetstream on 01-03-2005 at 12:31 AM]

 

[frank shelley]

I'm dealing with A Clare right now. It's appr. 15 yrs old and up till this year has every original part and has caused the HO zero probs till blower bearings and the Inducer is getting loud bearings this year. I went on the hunt for an inducer and actually had to aquire it through an ICP supplier as I was told ICP bought them out a few yrs ago. All that is good until the supplier finally admitted today he's forgot to order the part 3 weeks ago and then again last week when I called to check on it. Ive only been involved so far with Clares on change outs due from customers #!** 4 letter words about them.