Water heater, help
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Topic: Water heater, help
Posted By: Outbackdave
Subject: Water heater, help
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 12:36pm
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We just purchased a 176T, water heater will not stay lit. twice have gotten it to light and heat the water but it usually lights for about 30 sec and then goes out,red light comes on. Have had campers before but always had to hold button and manually light. Any ideas. Thanks in advance. ------------- 176T, Dodge Dakota TV, South Carolina Dave,Mary and Olivia(sheltie) Suzuki V-Strom Adventure, Custom built TearDrop |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 12:44pm
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Gas line may need to purge. Turn on/light the stove cook top for a minute. Do you have hookups? If so, if electricity is on, then the gas side won't light, because the electric element already has the water hot.
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Posted By: Outbackdave
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 12:48pm
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Gas line purged to stove. Electric element was burned out and have part ordered. Off at breaker. Switch on heater in off position. Do they have a thermocouples or can I manually Light? ------------- 176T, Dodge Dakota TV, South Carolina Dave,Mary and Olivia(sheltie) Suzuki V-Strom Adventure, Custom built TearDrop |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 12:58pm
Yes there is a thermocouple. It controls the main burner gas valve. It must be heated to allow the gas valve to stay open. Make sure the thermocouple is properly positioned in the flame. If it is, it may be faulty and need replacement. I don't recall how the thermocouple is electrically connected, but it may need attention. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Outbackdave
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 1:11pm
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Just tried again. Had a lighter with. Lights with a puff to start with only a couple of seconds then seems gas stops, will make lighter flame wiggle but not light. What are the 2 seems to be selinoids do. ------------- 176T, Dodge Dakota TV, South Carolina Dave,Mary and Olivia(sheltie) Suzuki V-Strom Adventure, Custom built TearDrop |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 4:06pm
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Clean thermo coupling and orifice. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 5:00pm
There is a single solenoid valve that controls the main burner, although it appears to have two black coils. Two wires, one black and one brown, connect to the assembly. Each of these wires splits into two and connects to two terminals. You should be able to see around 12 volts on these coils when the gas is supposed to be flowing. The thermocouple connects via the larger red rubber wire just to the right of where the orifice tube enters the main burner. Your unit will also have two thermostats with round black buttons, one for gas and one for electric. Make sure both are pushed in. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Outbackdave
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 5:57pm
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Orffice clean. Igniter working. Gas enough to start flame then goes out. No gas at orffice. ------------- 176T, Dodge Dakota TV, South Carolina Dave,Mary and Olivia(sheltie) Suzuki V-Strom Adventure, Custom built TearDrop |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 6:24pm
Thermocouple. See my PM. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 7:11pm
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I think it is your thermo coupling, if not clean, it signals to the gasvalve to shut of because it thinks the water is hot. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 7:20pm
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Dave, You're right that the red wire is the ignitor. I can't locate the thermocouple but there must be one. Maybe in the exhaust flue. Somehow the control board checks to see the burner actually ignited. If not it shuts off the gas flow valve. I've included two manuals, but they don't explicitly address your symptoms. Maybe someone else will jump in with more info. uploads/1573/SW6D-SW6DE-Installation.pdf - uploads/1573/SW6D-SW6DE-Installation.pdf uploads/1573/Water_Heater_Troubleshooting_-_Suburban_V1.1.pdf - uploads/1573/Water_Heater_Troubleshooting_-_Suburban_V1.1.pdf ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2014 at 9:47pm
   ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2014 at 9:44am
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Even an old engineer can learn something new. Apparently the thermocouple is integrated with the ignitor into the electrode assembly. I've never seen this, but here it is. The assembly is shown in Marwayne's post. Page 11 of the service manual shows this and how to test it. http://dutchmen.com/image/data/documents/parts/Suburban_Water_Heater_Service_Manual.pdf - http://dutchmen.com/image/data/documents/parts/Suburban_Water_Heater_Service_Manual.pdf The electrode assembly is cheap so I'd suggest trying it first. If cleaning doesn't fix it just replace it. It sure fits the symptoms. If that doesn't work the next step is the control board, but that's much more expensive. http://www.amazon.com/Suburban-232258-2-Prong-Electrode-Assembly/dp/B003G9IYQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404739088&sr=8-1&keywords=suburban+water+heater+electrode - http://www.amazon.com/Suburban-232258-2-Prong-Electrode-Assembly/dp/B003G9IYQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404739088&sr=8-1&keywords=suburban+water+heater+electrode http://www.amazon.com/Suburban-232258-2-Prong-Electrode-Assembly/dp/B003G9IYQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404739088&sr=8-1&keywords=suburban+water+heater+electrode - ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2014 at 12:57pm
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Mine wouldn't light either when we brought the camper home. After some digging around, I found that the red wire for the ignitor was not plugged on to the ignitor coil, which is mounted to the side of the water heater tank towards the back. I accessed ours through the left rear storage compartment. There is an access panel. ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: Outbackdave
Date Posted: 07 Jul 2014 at 9:34pm
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Have checked all systems and replaced the igniter/thermocouples, still fires on first try for 30 sec and the locks out. Anyone know how the unit is grounded? By manual poor ground could cause gas valve lock out. Thanks ------------- 176T, Dodge Dakota TV, South Carolina Dave,Mary and Olivia(sheltie) Suzuki V-Strom Adventure, Custom built TearDrop |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2014 at 9:25am
Do you mean the red light comes on after 30 sec every time? If you get initial ignition and can measure a solid 12V on the solenoid coil each time, the ground is probably good. If the electrode assembly is new and properly installed it looks like the control board is not accepting the thermocouple flame detection signal. The boards are available from Amazon and others. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2014 at 10:49am
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Ok, so I'll be the one to ask. Is the propane tank full? If it's "puffing" out, then maybe it needs to be filled or something is wrong with the regulator. Not trying to insult, but sometimes it's the things we take for granted that are wrong. ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: Outbackdave
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2014 at 6:37pm
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Propane tank full. Going after connections inside tonight. Installing new electric element also. Hot water is what I want. Hope I don't get in it.... ------------- 176T, Dodge Dakota TV, South Carolina Dave,Mary and Olivia(sheltie) Suzuki V-Strom Adventure, Custom built TearDrop |
Posted By: Outbackdave
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 9:29pm
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Fixed!! After replacing igniter/thermocoupler, trying everything I thought was wrong. This weekend our third trip out decided to use the stove. Would light but after a couple minutes would go out. Went to the tank, full. But every time I unhooked the hose and re attached it the stove again would light. Removed connection from reg. to trailer, no gas. Replaced the reg. and new tank hose now everything works fine. Guessing it was the reg working eradically but as long at I had to run for parts got both. The heat will be nice up here in Boone,NC tonight. thanks to all with the suggestions and next time will heed all of them.. Thanks Again. ------------- 176T, Dodge Dakota TV, South Carolina Dave,Mary and Olivia(sheltie) Suzuki V-Strom Adventure, Custom built TearDrop |