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dvitale300's avatar
dvitale300
Explorer
Dec 06, 2016

Need some help - going on a trip Thursday (well maybe)

Hi - going on a trip Thursday. I have a Starcraft 28BHS (2015). It has a 6 gal Atwood gas water heater.

I can get the heater to kick on and run for 20 minutes (sometimes), but not a lot of hot water. Most of the time, the heater starts and then, after a series of clicks, shuts off. I am thinking that there's a thermostat issue but not sure.

I have switched the propane tanks, furnace and stove work fine. I checked the water connections / valves - no problem that I can see. Water pump is working fine - I can get water to everywhere in the unit.

Is there a way I can "unplug" the cut-off so that I can use the unit on the trip - or am I in the position of having to replace the thermo stuff, etc. (which I probably can't do in time). Just thought I should ask before I cancel the trip. Thanks - david
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Dec 06, 2016
    Artum Snowbird wrote:
    My hot water heater had a heat linked fuse that sat in front of the thing.

    Small RANT !

    Just how many safety devices do you really need on these thing ?

    Pressure/temperature valve
    Dual (?) gas valves
    Over temp gas (electric) shutdown via thermostatic swithc
    2A fuse (on circuit board)
    10A (?) fuse in main panel
    Low temp fusable link.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Dec 06, 2016
    Artum Snowbird wrote:
    My hot water heater had a heat linked fuse that sat in front of the thing. The connections to it were corroded, and that caused it to not work. While the idea of having a burner fire to cause the link to melt was perfectly fine if it shut off the propane valve, the wire to the fusible link failed at the connection.. and caused my strife.

    My son-in-law and I carefully checked all connections with a 12V test light. Re-seating the switches did the trick.
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Dec 06, 2016
    My hot water heater had a heat linked fuse that sat in front of the thing. The connections to it were corroded, and that caused it to not work. While the idea of having a burner fire to cause the link to melt was perfectly fine if it shut off the propane valve, the wire to the fusible link failed at the connection.. and caused my strife.

    I saw a plastic tube, with what looked like a connection inside it.. on the outside of the HWT. When I jumpered out that connection, everything worked as it should, and that led me to find the crappy connection.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Dec 06, 2016
    dvitale300 wrote:
    Hi - going on a trip Thursday. I have a Starcraft 28BHS (2015).

    Starcraft (RVs not the boats) is now owned by Jayco. That model is identical to the Jayco 287BHSW which my daughter's family bought last year.

    dvitale300 wrote:
    It has a 6 gal Atwood gas water heater. I can get the heater to kick on and run for 20 minutes (sometimes), but not a lot of hot water. Most of the time, the heater starts and then, after a series of clicks, shuts off. I am thinking that there's a thermostat issue but not sure.

    And they had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM ! The heater would fire the first time, but that was it.

    Carefully peel off the the insulator over the 2 switches. Remove wires and then remove the switches one at a time (they ARE different). Clean the face of the switch and where it contacts the tank with something like a Scotch pad. Reassemble. Don't forget to put the insulator back.

    There is a light near the hot water switch (by the sink). If the light is on, the burner did NOT fire ! Turn the switch off for about 30 seconds and then turn it back on.

    This is NOT a guaranteed 100% fix, but they went from having to cycle the switch every 30 minutes to once or twice in their last weekend outing.
  • dvitale300's avatar
    dvitale300
    Explorer
    Dec 06, 2016
    I just do not get it! I have been screwing with this thing for a week - and I give up - leave it on, and the water is steaming hot - with the unit in pause waiting for a signal to heat more water.

    Geezus - I'm going to try the trip (worst thing is we have to get a rot-gut $39 hotel room to shower - and get it checked out when we get back.

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