Thanks jenks, been a camper for many years, VW Westy, now a nice 24 footer now I'm retired at 57!!! My only regret is my wife passed away 3 years ago, not quite the same excitement now but life goes on and another chapter of my life has opened. This seems like such a warm and friendly place. But another note on my question. When the water heater is up and running does the red light stay on or is it strictly an igniter "on" light? Does it go out when the pilot is lit?
Keith on mine the light goes out after lighting,I had to think about that for a moment.
And remember there are no stupid questions just stupid answers.
Enjoy your new adventure, Fred
Lethbridge, Alberta
God made a few good heads, the rest he put hair on.
There is no "pilot". The light will go out when it is running. If there is a fault for some reason the light will come on.
Some times all you have to do is shut the switch off for 15-20 seconds and turn back on.
Keepeing the connector on the circuit board and the ground on the gas valve can save you a trip out in the rain.
I like to coat these locations with a de-oxidation compound available in the electrical section of most hardware stores.
Turned on the propane today, hit the elusive switch a couple of times and the heater runs great!!!! Cant get hot water out of the tank but cold water is going in. I'm sure its the bypass kit outlet side that is in the wrong position, going to try the other position together. The water heater is full though.
Well guys, more water heater problems, or perhaps finger torouble... I turn the switch on for the water heater, lihgt comes on for a moment, light goes out, burner is running. But today, when I put it through a test, the light came on after burner shut down, water was not even luke warm. Wiated a few seconds, turned switch off, then on again, burner lit, and red light went out. ran a little longer then light came on again and burner shut off. After many on and offs, water did get good and hot. Something is causing the burner to go out. Low Pressure? Not sure.
Now back to the light. In a normally functioning heater I guess you turn it on, water heats to preset temp, burner goes out and I'm guessing in a normal operation, with switch on, light out, water up to temp thats normal. Now lets say you have a shower or do the pots, switch is still on, light is out, will the burner automatically flash up when thermostat senses cooler water? Does the burner cycle on and off when system is working normally? I know I'm becoming a pain in the butt..Oh, one last thing, when I'm in the motor home sitting quietly, I can hear the roar of the burner in the water heater, it seems to surge to almost stopping then gets loud again. There you go folks...I'm starting to think Stephen King is lurking in this motorhome. I wont mention the furnace that isn't working....................
Your new info would lead to the flame sensor is not getting enough heat so the board thinks the flame is out and shuts down.
Verify the flame sensor is in the flame and is getting red hot.
Check porcelain area of sensor for soot or cracks. Soot can be cleaned off. Cracked flame sensor needs to be replaced.
Not had a chance to get out today and really do too much. But I had a look at things yesterday when it was actually running and the sensor was cherry red or hotter so I think that is okay. I took the electronic board in to an RV place today and that checked out. I did notice that the EC T-STAT's are loose, the wires looked kinda burned and the rubber inulator material had all come apart. So tomorrow I'm going to replace the ECO T-STAT assembly, put new terminals on all the connections and clean up the ground attahments. After that, its time to call in the mobile mechanic.............
Your motor-home is over 23 years old. You need to have the water-heater, refrigerator, and furnace burners cleaned out and serviced. The propane pressure needs to be adjusted to the correct pressure. for these appliances to run properly. The switch with the red light turns on to tell you that the water-heater burner did not stay lit. The starter may go through about 3 tries to start the burner, and the red light will stay on if it failed. You turn off the switch and turn back on after about 15 seconds to go through another 3 try cycle. The burner may not have stayed lit long enough to give you hot water. The basic problem is that the burner assembly needs cleaning, and that the propane pressure is not correct after all these years. Also, do you know how old the propane in the tank is?
Mark
* This post was
edited 04/30/08 05:29pm by MNtundraRet *
Mark & Jan "Old age & treachery win over youth & enthusiasm"
2003 Fleetwood Jamboree 29
Hi Mark, had the propane system checked and certified last year, pressure is good. I am going to get fresh propane after my attempt to repair. The RV place where I got the parts from said its vital that the ECO-STAT is tight to the tank, they provide a thick rubber, adhesive backed blanket to cover the sensors. They are really loose and the blanket is gone. I'm pretty sure with a good burner assembly cleaning and new sensors it will do the trick. Everything else in the m/h works great. but certainly everything you say is valid. I am going to get a mobile RV mech to come over if this doesn't work and he can check everything out while he is there.
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