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masoncgy's avatar
masoncgy
Explorer
May 16, 2014

Hot Water Heater - Burns for a bit, quits, won't re-ignite?

I purchased a 1997 Terry 25-5D fifth wheel last fall and at the time, everything was working properly.

We are headed up the road for the long weekend and while testing everything it seems the Atwood hot water tank has developed a problem.

It is controlled by a switch on the wall... red light turns on, it ignites and light goes off. It will burn for about 3-4 minutes and then it turns off. The problem is, the wall switch will not glow red again and it will not re-ignite the tank. If I wait awhile, it seems to work okay again, but it will only burn for a few minutes and then goes out again... and the same issue all over.

Checked connections and everything seems to be okay and proper, but I am not sure what could be causing this?

Please help! Thanks!
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    May 16, 2014
    Intermittent Ignition is usually a ground problem/dirty connections
    You should go through and pull all of the wires off any spade connections. Then reconnect them and ensure the connections are tight and corrosion free.
    Check the green ground wire connection (from circuit board to frame)
    Check the spark electrode bracket mounting screw connection (ground source for spark electrode rod)
    Pull connector on circuit board.....clean contact surface with pencil eraser

    Doesn't take much (dirty/loose connections) to stop 12V DC

    Check the main flame......
    It needs to engulf spark electrode. Spark electrode is used as a flame prover.
    A milivot signal is generated by main flame and is sent back to circuit board to keep power on gas valve.

    Also....need to clean out the combustion/exhaust chamber.
    Spider webs/debris will cause blockage and disrupt exhaust causing erratic main flame
  • Ka_Ron's avatar
    Ka_Ron
    Explorer
    May 16, 2014
    Had the same problem and had to replace the circuit board and then all worked fine
    Make sure everything is clean and in the proper position first.
  • patfromnc's avatar
    patfromnc
    Explorer
    May 16, 2014
    We had that problem , the circuit board was expencive ,but I found something called hybrid heat on amazon it turned the gas water heater into electric , works great for us as were always at a place with power .

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