Anyone know about Camper Hot water Heaters?

PD-Riverman · #1 06/30/11, 08:04 PM

I have a suburban propane hot water heater on my camper that is not working. It has a pilot light that will not stay on when the button is relaesed. Does anyone know what the 2 wires are for that are hooked to where the thermocouplin is and go around to the backside and go into where the control is screw into the tank? This seems to be my problem area. Does anyone have a good source for info on this? Thanks

MO_cows · #2 06/30/11, 08:55 PM

www.rv.net

Bandit · #3 06/30/11, 09:35 PM

Another helpful site is http://www.irv2.com/forums/
I am also a member at RV.net too , among others
Bob

Bearfootfarm · #4 06/30/11, 10:11 PM

Usually replacing the thermocouple will fix it

Windy in Kansas · #5 06/30/11, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

Usually replacing the thermocouple will fix it

And less often just cleaning the tip in the flame might work, snugging the fitting that goes into the gas valve might work, or cleaning the end of the fitting in the gas valve might do the trick as well.

Is the pilot light burning high enough? Incorrect heat on the tip will not keep the valve open.

PD-Riverman · #6 07/01/11, 06:36 AM

The pilot light looks good. Put a new thermocouple in it and cleaned inside the hole where the thermocouple screws in the control. The pilot light burns pretty as long as the button is held down-----even broke a stick and held it down for a hour---as soon as I let the button up the pilot light fades out within 5 seconds. I studied it, it has 2 wires where the thermocouple screws in and realized that when the thermocouple screws into the hole it makes connection with one wire that goes behind the control and its signal should come back on the other wire, then into the control---well its siginal does not come back. I took the 2 wire plug off a old control, cut the 2 wires into, stripped and twisted them together, loosen the thermocouple, slid out the 2 wire plug, replaced it with this jumped plug---it worked great. Pilot light stays on, heater heats the water good. Now the problem is I do not know "what" I bypassed that the 2 wires go to, so as soon as the water in the heater got warm enough the guy that stays in the camper took a shower, then turned it back to pilot light until I can get what ever is back there replaced. It was to late to call Camping World last evening (when I jumped it)to speak to a Tech, so I will do that this morning. I Thought some of you might have the answer. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

And less often just cleaning the tip in the flame might work, snugging the fitting that goes into the gas valve might work, or cleaning the end of the fitting in the gas valve might do the trick as well.

Is the pilot light burning high enough? Incorrect heat on the tip will not keep the valve open.

fordy · #7 07/01/11, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PD-Riverman

I have a suburban propane heater on my camper that is not working. It has a pilot light that will not stay on when the button is relaesed. Does anyone know what the 2 wires are for that are hooked to where the thermocouplin is and go around to the backside and go into where the control is screw into the tank? This seems to be my problem area. Does anyone have a good source for info on this? Thanks

....................You should have a sacrificial anode rod , usually made of aluminumn that will UNscrew ! REmove that rod , leave the water source for the camper.......On , this will flush out all the Goop that has built up on the inside of the tank ! This may take 5 minutes or so , so don't , get in a hurry . IF , it has been a while since you cleaned your tank you'll see how much stuff will come out . , fordy

Usingmyrights · #8 07/01/11, 10:50 AM

You should still should be getting some hot water. Maybe not as hot as before the heater stopped working, but if you have a "hot water heater", than you're saying that you're heating up hot water. It sounds kinda silly to me, but to each his own.

On a more serious note, it sounds like its a connection problem with your wiring. Check the make sure the connections are clean and tight so that they can make good contact.

PD-Riverman · #9 07/01/11, 01:02 PM

Hmmmmmm, "sounds kinda silly to me". I do not know what I typed that sounds kinda silly to you----I have read your silly comment 5 times and still do not understand what you are talking about that sounds kinda silly.. This post is about needing help with a gas water heater------NOT ABOUT MY GRAMMER OR IF I TYPED SOMETHING SILLY. You Could Have Left Off Your First 3 sentences of your reply and Your Reply Would Have Sounded More Helpful. Whats wrong with people that set back and make fun of what people type or if they spelled each word correctly. I Have not seen anywhere in the rules that every thing Has to sound and/or be spelled perfectly.

How can I still have hot water when its only a 6 gallon tank and its been off for 6 months? I could not restart it after not using it for 6 month.

On your more serious note-----I have cleaned All connections and checked to make sure its all tight. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usingmyrights

You should still should be getting some hot water. Maybe not as hot as before the heater stopped working, but if you have a "hot water heater", than you're saying that you're heating up hot water. It sounds kinda silly to me, but to each his own.

On a more serious note, it sounds like its a connection problem with your wiring. Check the make sure the connections are clean and tight so that they can make good contact.

Usingmyrights · #10 07/02/11, 10:38 AM

I'll address the good natured jesting first since you seem upset by. I guess you haven't heard about "hot water heaters" before. If it is a hot water...heater. Than that suggest that the water is already hot and that you are continuing to heat it. It would be silly to heat hot water, hence my comment. Now back to you're other problem. I'm still thinking its a connection problem. It the buttom meant to be a momentary contact or a basic on/off. If its a basic on/off, its probably a bad button.