Hello all!Just bought a 2000 year model Bigfoot 2500 9.6 camper. I bought it in Colorado Springs, where I left it in a storage lot, before I drive it to AK in 3 weeks.So....it has a 30,000 BTU Atwood forced air heater. It works completely normal EXCEPT that the on-off switch on the thermostat doesn't turn it off. The only way to shut down its operation is to pull the fuse. Again it works completely normally otherwise turning on and off according to the thermostat setting.Any ideas on what might be going on. Any suggestions on which wires to check and where with my multimeter?Appreciate any insight.Thanks,John

You have the old style square mechanical thermostat box?On the one camper where I had to work on the thermostat, there were just two wires coming out of the wall. Connect them - heater runs. Disconnect them - heater stops (after cooling down).You could open and clean the thermostat, and check whether everything looks fine. or just replace it - they are very cheap.It could also be in the heather itself - try bryantrv.com, they used to have the schematics up for the heaters. A stuck relay or a short somewhere.Unless yours is wired differently, of course.

Hi JohnThe on/off switch on the top of our thermostat takes some effort to return it to the off position. I felt like it would break the first few times I tried it. It will make a postitive click when returned all the way. Congratulations on the purchase of your Bigfoot. Bob & Cathy

bigfootgrey wrote:Hi JohnThe on/off switch on the top of our thermostat takes some effort to return it to the off position. I felt like it would break the first few times I tried it. It will make a postitive click when returned all the way. Congratulations on the purchase of your Bigfoot. Bob & Cathy Yes it takes an effort to click to off position .

Thanks for all the advice. REALLY appreciate the responses. I have a picture of my thermostat but I haven’t figured out how to post it yet from my iPhone. I will try a new thermostat, hoping it’s not in the heater itself.

joerg68 wrote:You have the old style square mechanical thermostat box?On the one camper where I had to work on the thermostat, there were just two wires coming out of the wall. Connect them - heater runs. Disconnect them - heater stops (after cooling down).You could open and clean the thermostat, and check whether everything looks fine. or just replace it - they are very cheap.It could also be in the heather itself - try bryantrv.com, they used to have the schematics up for the heaters. A stuck relay or a short somewhere.Unless yours is wired differently, of course.This is the exact thermostat I have. Looks like my picture isn’t working but it’s an Atwood 32300 thermostatIf I replace it can I use a digital model instead??

Atwood Heater Troubleshooting | Good Sam Community

joerg68
Nomad III
Apr 29, 2018
You have the old style square mechanical thermostat box?

On the one camper where I had to work on the thermostat, there were just two wires coming out of the wall. Connect them - heater runs. Disconnect them - heater stops (after cooling down).

You could open and clean the thermostat, and check whether everything looks fine. or just replace it - they are very cheap.

It could also be in the heather itself - try bryantrv.com, they used to have the schematics up for the heaters. A stuck relay or a short somewhere.

Unless yours is wired differently, of course.
bigfootgrey
Explorer
Apr 29, 2018
Hi John
The on/off switch on the top of our thermostat takes some effort to return it to the off position. I felt like it would break the first few times I tried it. It will make a postitive click when returned all the way. Congratulations on the purchase of your Bigfoot.

Bob & Cathy
ticki2
Explorer
Apr 29, 2018
bigfootgrey wrote:
Hi John
The on/off switch on the top of our thermostat takes some effort to return it to the off position. I felt like it would break the first few times I tried it. It will make a postitive click when returned all the way. Congratulations on the purchase of your Bigfoot.

Bob & Cathy
Yes it takes an effort to click to off position .
AK_Truck_Camper
Explorer
Apr 29, 2018
Thanks for all the advice. REALLY appreciate the responses. I have a picture of my thermostat but I haven’t figured out how to post it yet from my iPhone.
I will try a new thermostat, hoping it’s not in the heater itself.
AK_Truck_Camper
Explorer
Apr 29, 2018
joerg68 wrote:
You have the old style square mechanical thermostat box?

On the one camper where I had to work on the thermostat, there were just two wires coming out of the wall. Connect them - heater runs. Disconnect them - heater stops (after cooling down).

You could open and clean the thermostat, and check whether everything looks fine. or just replace it - they are very cheap.

It could also be in the heather itself - try bryantrv.com, they used to have the schematics up for the heaters. A stuck relay or a short somewhere.

Unless yours is wired differently, of course.

This is the exact thermostat I have.

Looks like my picture isn’t working but it’s an Atwood 32300 thermostat
If I replace it can I use a digital model instead??
tattoobob
Explorer
Apr 29, 2018
Use this to post pics http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=3

After you turn the thermostat off The fan will run until the heat exchanger cools to a pre set temperature.

Does it turn on and off as the thermostat reaches temperature?
joerg68
Nomad III
Apr 29, 2018
Yes, that is the type I was thinking. As others have said, that switch can be hard to move. That might be the issue right there already.

The mechanical thermostat can be replaced by an electronic one. There should be just two wires there that control the furnace, and all the thermostat does is connect one wire with the other and disconnect it again when the set temperature has been reached.
AK_Truck_Camper
Explorer
Apr 30, 2018
Found my wiring diagram and breakdown this afternoon that included specifics of the thermostat, wow, that thing really is basic. My issue almost certainly has to be in the thermostat itself and not the heater, since it only has 2 wires!. I’ll probably just get a new one, but put some muscle into the old one first and post what I find.
Thanks again!
rrupert
Explorer
Apr 30, 2018
Do yourself a favor and get a simple non programmable digital model. They are very easy to install and give much better temperature control. Lowes, HD, and Walmart all sell them.
AK_Truck_Camper
Explorer
May 01, 2018
tattoobob wrote:
Use this to post pics http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=3

After you turn the thermostat off The fan will run until the heat exchanger cools to a pre set temperature.

Does it turn on and off as the thermostat reaches temperature?

Thanks for the photo posting advice!
Yes, it turns off and on as it reaches temperature.
I ordered a Honeywell Digital today. I think that is going to take care of all my problems. Thanks so much.