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Water Heater Problem. Will not operate on propane.

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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7236
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Topic: Water Heater Problem. Will not operate on propane.
Posted By: ScituateRPOD
Subject: Water Heater Problem. Will not operate on propane.
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2015 at 9:20pm
I have the RP178. I have been having intermittent problems with the water heater when operated on Propane. When i turn on the water heater switch the small igniter light does not indicate it is trying to ignite the water heater.  This is will the water in the tank being cold. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Works fine on electric.  Any ideas on what it can be.

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ScitFrogPod



Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2015 at 9:33pm
Does the red light stay on, or off?  It will turn off once it has ignited, if the light comes on it has failed.  

Did you purge the gas lines by lighting a stove burner first?  

Are you sure the valves behind the water heater are in the correct position?  If they are wrong you'll get cold or warm water no matter how hot the water in the tank is.  The valves on the hot and cold lines should be parallel to the lines, and the bypass valve in the middle should be perpendicular.  All 3 will be opposite after winterizing.


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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual


Posted By: ScituateRPOD
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2015 at 9:40pm
The light never comes on indicating that it is trying to ignite the burner. I did turn on the stove burner for a few minutes.   And this is with the water in the tank cold.  What is odd is that it can all of a sudden start to work then not work properly .

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ScitFrogPod


Posted By: ScituateRPOD
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2015 at 9:48pm


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ScitFrogPod


Posted By: ScituateRPOD
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2015 at 9:49pm
The valves are all in the correct position.

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ScitFrogPod


Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2015 at 8:43pm
If it never lit I would suggest trying the reset buttons and checking the fuse.  

Intermittent operation sounds like it could be a loose wire.  Do you have a voltmeter?  When it doesn't work I would check to see if you are getting 12 volts to the water heater.


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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual


Posted By: Akula1
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2015 at 10:00pm
It could be the small circuit board.

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2019 R-Pod 190
2019 Colorado LT


Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2015 at 7:05pm
Look closely for wasp nests, bee=nests or spider webs around the burner.  They can be small.


Posted By: ScituateRPOD
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2015 at 12:15pm
I think I found the problem. The connector that connects to the control module has a loose wire. I put a tyrap around all the conductors at the connector to provide stability to the wires entering the connector. 
Seems to have solved the problem. 


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ScitFrogPod


Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2015 at 8:45pm
Glad to hear you fixed it.

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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual



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