Posted 2016-08-06 8:18 PM (#167937 - in reply to #167912) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
beeoerdog - 2016-08-03 8:15 PM
If cleaning the connections and checking the wiring doesn't work, change the igniter
We cleaned everything again today. Tried to check the voltage to the gas valve with the green ground wire and the red wire. Got zero reading. Fired it back up and it stayed on longer than it has lately...was cycling on and off in the beginning and stayed on long enough to get the water hot this time. Then it shut off. Correct me of I'm wrong....the flame is never supposed to go totally out is it? It's been so long since its worked correctly I don't even know what it's supposed to do anymore
Posted 2016-08-06 10:14 PM (#167938 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 448
Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
When the water in the tank is hot, the flame will go out. It will reignite when the temp in the tank drops. It should stay on for 10-15 minutes if heating up from cold. The flame should not stutter or go out and restart right away. You should also have 12v+/- at the unit when the burner is on. If not, you have a bad elec. connection. If the voltage drops below 10+/-, the valve will shutoff. The flame will also go out if the sensor is bad. The controller will then try to restart and may start the burner again....but if it goes out after a few seconds or a minute,then there is something wrong. Check voltage, check connections, replace igniter
Posted 2016-08-07 9:14 AM (#167943 - in reply to #167939) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
beeoerdog - 2016-08-06 10:24 PM
Check voltage between red wire and metal frame
Will check voltage again. I left it on overnight and this morning when I checked it, it had obviously been on because the screen was warm. But there was just a little warm water in the faucet, then it turned cold. We will order an igniter. We can buy a new water heater for $300......
Posted 2016-08-07 9:40 AM (#167944 - in reply to #167939) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
beeoerdog - 2016-08-06 10:24 PM
Check voltage between red wire and metal frame
Will check voltage again. I left it on overnight and this morning when I checked it, it had obviously been on because the screen was warm. But there was just a little warm water in the faucet, then it turned cold. We will order an igniter. I guess we can buy a new water heater for $300......lol
Posted 2016-08-10 8:21 PM (#167981 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
We checked the voltage again, it was 13.6 and when the water pump kicked on, it was 12.5V, so that appears to be good. So ordered an igniter, it came today and we put it in. Still doing the same thing. Stayed on between 5-10 minutes, there was about 3 cups of hot water out of the faucet, then it cooled down. Would a new circuit board be the next logical step?
Posted 2016-08-11 6:47 AM (#167985 - in reply to #167983) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
beeoerdog - 2016-08-10 11:29 PM Does the flame out light come on when the heater shuts off?
I don't have a flame out light. The green light on the switch panel stays on when it goes out. I left it on all night and this morning it had been on because there was a little hot water out of the faucet and the screen on the outside of the heater was lukewarm. So it is cycling on, but just not staying on long enough to heat the whole tank. Will try the jumper when I get home from work this afternoon. I think I know what you mean....
Posted 2016-08-11 6:51 AM (#167986 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
The wiring diagram for the electronic ignition doesn't show a thermostat, just a thermal cut off. Is that what you mean? My husband ordered a new one of those as well, but it hasn't come yet. He thought maybe there could be something wrong with that as well and it was cheap enough.....
Posted 2016-08-11 10:33 AM (#167990 - in reply to #167988) Subject: RE: water heater
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
beeoerdog - 2016-08-11 10:03 AM Try changing that.....sounds like it is turning off before the whole tank gets warm ...small disc shaped device?....
It's actually a little tube with connectors on each end. On the troubleshooting link you sent me, it's part #33 on the page for electronic water heaters replacement parts reference. They came in a 2 pack for around $16.
Posted 2016-08-11 12:07 PM (#167991 - in reply to #167988) Subject: RE: water heater
I am doing this from my phone so it is a little difficult. The part yougot I believe is a high limit safety cutoff. I all else fails and the water heater gets too hot, then that device opens and prevents the heater from operating or eventually exploding . It is a one time use and is discarded after it opens . What is the model # and approx. What year?...still seems like it is the thermostat turning off too early......maybe # 28 in the diagram?
Posted 2016-08-11 9:37 PM (#167998 - in reply to #167982) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
beeoerdog - 2016-08-10 11:07 PM Before changing circuit board......try water heater again. When it goes out, put a jumper wire on the thermostat and see if it goes back on.
Posted 2016-08-11 10:20 PM (#168000 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Look at pg. 36.....does it look like that unit? Bottom of page shows thermostats. One turns on at 115 deg...off at 140?. Other opens at 180 to prevent overheating...I think. If that is the unit, put a jumper on the wires to one and check operation. If no change, try other one. If you know how to use a multimeter, you can check that way also. If one of the thermostats is open and there is not much hot water, then it is defective.
Posted 2016-08-11 10:30 PM (#168001 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
Also, if you Google "Atwood rv water heater thermostat" YouTube has lots of videos on subject...might have your model or something close.......operation is pretty much the same.
Posted 2016-08-15 9:21 AM (#168017 - in reply to #168000) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Guest - 2016-08-11 10:20 PM Look at pg. 36.....does it look like that unit? Bottom of page shows thermostats. One turns on at 115 deg...off at 140?. Other opens at 180 to prevent overheating...I think. If that is the unit, put a jumper on the wires to one and check operation. If no change, try other one. If you know how to use a multimeter, you can check that way also. If one of the thermostats is open and there is not much hot water, then it is defective.
Sorry for my ignorance....where is the other end of the jumper wire? I get that it goes to the thermostat, but where is it from?
Posted 2016-08-16 7:44 PM (#168045 - in reply to #167722) Subject: RE: Hot water heater won't stay on
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Posts: 147
Location: Cornfield in Iowa
Yes. Ordered the thermostats today, they were only $13. Will have to cowgirl up this weekend and use the public showers...Ugh. Hopefully next race we'll have it working.