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heyobie's avatar
heyobie
Explorer
May 09, 2019

Hot Water heater shuts off after 30 seconds - Atwood

I have an old Atwood G6A-4E (my rv is from 1988) water heater that I updated in 2017. I replaced the gas valve assembly, ECO, Stat and new ignitor back then. It worked perfectly for 2 years until i tried to fire it up after this winter.

The problem is that it lights but cuts out after running for about 20 seconds.

While I was writing this email, I was testing again. It lit, ran for a minute and went out. After a few minutes, it relight itself and went out in 5 seconds. It just relit again and went out in 30 seconds

Does anyone know what this is a symptom of? STAT?
Class C
  • klutchdust's avatar
    klutchdust
    Explorer II
    May 10, 2019
    TBammer wrote:
    Spider web in mix tube?


    Had one in mine. I noticed the outside of my coach turning black sitting in my driveway before a trip, I thought it was on fire.
    Now, I always use compressed air and blow out the heater area and refrigerator area, including the chimney. You would be amazed at what comes out of the reefer chimney.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    May 10, 2019
    heyobie wrote:
    Replaced tstat. All is well. It just was opening way too early. Just a bad one I guess.

    Thanks fOr helping.



    Thanks for posting update.

    Hot water GOOD!
  • heyobie's avatar
    heyobie
    Explorer
    May 10, 2019
    Replaced tstat. All is well. It just was opening way too early. Just a bad one I guess.

    Thanks fOr helping.
  • Germania's avatar
    Germania
    Explorer
    May 10, 2019
    First thing I do when having these kind of problems is remove the power and remove and reconnect all spade connectors one at a time. It doesn't work all the time but its worked enough times to make it worthwhile. Corrosion is your enemy
  • bobndot's avatar
    bobndot
    Explorer II
    May 09, 2019
    Old-Biscuit, could it be the circuit board or a dirty ground connection ?
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    May 09, 2019
    Spark electrode not only supplies high voltage spark to ignite the main flame BUT is also used as pathway for 'flame proving' signal
    Signal is generated via flame ionization....milliamp current which circuit board MUST sense otherwise DC is dropped from gas valve so raw fuel doesn't accumulate

    Spark electrode
    Soot/carbon
    Wrong gap
    Broken wire...bad connection
    Ceramic insulator cracked



    T-stat OPEN????
    Should not open until water temp reaches 140*F
    ECO OPENS at 180*F

    IS water HOT if you pop T&P Relief Valve Open????
  • bgum's avatar
    bgum
    Explorer
    May 09, 2019
    High temp limit thermostat possibly. It is a nickel sized puck with wires held next to the tank with some glue impregnable felt.
  • heyobie's avatar
    heyobie
    Explorer
    May 09, 2019
    I tested the stat and it was open and it certainly should not be when the water is ice cold. I spend more time redoing my work because of poor quality parts. The old stat worked fine for 30 years. The new one can't make it past 2 years.

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