Hi all, we just bought our first TT. We decided it was time to leave the tent to the kids. Having no experience with these before the last week or so has been interesting trying to figure out how stuff works, and when (12V, 120, or on propane). The TT is a 1993 Scotty. There are a few issues that I can't seem to resolve.
1. The exterior outlet, light, and the outlet for the refrigerator don't seem to be working, the fridge will work if I plug in and run an extension cord to the house. I assume these will be in the same circuit since they are in the same side. Can someone point me to a schematic or give me some tips on troubleshooting? I guess Scotty stopped operating in 1997 so no luck with contacting them.
2. The water heater doesn't work. As far as I can tell it's on, all the other propane appliances work. When I turn on the pilot I get nothing. What I assume is the ignitor wont light it also won't light with a match. I could not see a separate shutoff for the propane to the water heater, do they usually have one? Is there something that usually goes bad on these?
It may be a fuse, check your fuses well. Also, does your hot water heater run solely on propane or will it run on electric as well? There should be switches for that on the wall somewhere. Make sure your hot water heater isn't bypassed and is filled. Any amount of time with the hot water heater on and no water in it can burn out the anode.
rfryer wrote: Just some off the wall thoughts. It sounds like your 12v side is out; check your breakers and fuses. Have you checked all the other lights, plugs and so on to see if you have 12v power to them? Sometimes if a gfi trips it will shut off other plugs on the circuit, I’d check that too if it has one. It probably does, my ’89 has one.
There may be a better way to do it, but I’d probably break loose the gas line to the water heater to see if gas was getting there. And your frig should work on propane, too, it’d be rather useless if it didn’t. Have you tried it? That old a unit you could have more than one problem, especially if it sat for a long time. I’m sure some other posters will be along with some other suggestions.
CavemanCharlie wrote: Is it the original gas electric fridge or has it been replaced by a household apartment type fridge?
As for the water heater. Can you find a name and model number on it to give us so we would know where to start? It will be printed on it somewhere.
There is 1 GFI outlet in the bathroom(opposite wall), it's currently working. All fuses have been checked and aren't blown. Breakers appear to be working. The fridge is the gas/electric style (I assume it's original) It works on the propane setting and on the electric setting when I plug it directly into an extension cord. I'm going to buy a multimeter to check the outlet although I'm pretty sure that's the issue.
The water heater runs only propane, there is water in it. The knob to turn it from off to pilot to on was stuck and I needed to use some penetrating oil to get it to turn. It seems to work now. I'll post the make and model number tonight after I get home. I like the suggestion to open the line at the unit, I'll look into that as well.
Just some off the wall thoughts. It sounds like your 12v side is out; check your breakers and fuses. Have you checked all the other lights, plugs and so on to see if you have 12v power to them? Sometimes if a gfi trips it will shut off other plugs on the circuit, I’d check that too if it has one. It probably does, my ’89 has one.
There may be a better way to do it, but I’d probably break loose the gas line to the water heater to see if gas was getting there. And your frig should work on propane, too, it’d be rather useless if it didn’t. Have you tried it? That old a unit you could have more than one problem, especially if it sat for a long time. I’m sure some other posters will be along with some other suggestions.
Wakeboarder,
If the fridge works on the propane setting and it works on electric when you are plugged in, then it is working correctly. I'm not sure what it is you are still needing to check? EDIT: sorry, I reread your OP and see you have an exterior outlet and light to trouble shoot. Break out the multimeter! FYI, the light will be a 12V light.
Same with the water heater. It sounds like you can now get the off/pilot/on knob to turn and you mention "it seems to work now". Does that mean you can light the pilot and that the pilot will light the main burner? If so, then all is working properly.
Enjoy the TT. It is definitely a learning experience to figure out all the 120V AC, 12V DC, propane stuff.
ewarnerusa wrote: Wakeboarder,
If the fridge works on the propane setting and it works on electric when you are plugged in, then it is working correctly. I'm not sure what it is you are still needing to check? EDIT: sorry, I reread your OP and see you have an exterior outlet and light to trouble shoot. Break out the multimeter! FYI, the light will be a 12V light.
Same with the water heater. It sounds like you can now get the off/pilot/on knob to turn and you mention "it seems to work now". Does that mean you can light the pilot and that the pilot will light the main burner? If so, then all is working properly.
Enjoy the TT. It is definitely a learning experience to figure out all the 120V AC, 12V DC, propane stuff.
Sorry for the confusion, the knob on the water heater will turn now but there doesn't seem to be any propane coming out. I can't smell it, it won't light at the pilot and I can't light it at the main burner.
Well, to light the pilot you will have to push down on a button or the knob itself while the knob is in the pilot position. Then the pilot should light and you will have to hold the button (or knob) down for a minute or two to get the thermocouple warmed up. After that the pilot will stay lit as you release the button (or knob) . Then you turn the knob to the run position and everything should work.
Did the trailer come with any manuals? There should be directions for lighting the water heater in it's manual.
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