Ran out of propane last night. Noticed a difference in our old and newer heater. On our old propane heater (early 90's) the heaters pezzo matic striker thing would continue to click until thermostat was shut off or until heater got some propane. On our newer (2013) heater made no noise or anything, just would work. I changed propane bottles and heater fired right up. What a big improvement. Question if you know...What was added or changed?

Hi path,What brand name of heater are you referring to?

pianotuna wrote:Hi path,What brand name of heater are you referring to?I think Hydro-flame

path1 wrote:pianotuna wrote:Hi path,What brand name of heater are you referring to?I think Hydro-flameThink maybe I'm confessed...Looked in newer rv parts book. Heater in old trailer looks like what Atwood calls Excalibur. Think it used to be called Hydro flame, but maybe that's water heater? Newer trailer is Suburban forced air gas. (Also has a Suburban water heater but different subject)

buddy just bought a refill at wal mart and his mr. buddy heater would not light. put a coleman tank on and it lit up.

Path1, whatever you have, it "sounds" like the difference is in thermostat design. One is clicking, another one is not. If there is a control knob or slider with temperature markings, then there is a thermostat.

propane difference in heaters question | Good Sam Community

Almot
Explorer III
Dec 16, 2015
MrWizard wrote:
you probably confuse a few people, OP sounded like you put in a new heater
in the old trailer and noticed a difference in the way things work

I still don't know what it was - a new furnace or a new heater or something else :)... Most RV come from the factory with a furnace, not a heater.

It's always a good idea after a storage period (or after changing the propane bottles) to fire the propane stove first, to get rid of the air in the system - then all other propane appliances will start easier.
dougrainer
Nomad
Dec 16, 2015
Chris Bryant wrote:
They changed to a fan control board, old style would blow cold forever, new style shuts blower off if there's no flame.

I think he meant the Piezo would click forever after loss of flame or LP. It sparked until he either shut the wall Tstat OFF or got LP and allowed the furnace to light the flame. IF this is the case, NO correctly functioning Furnace will continue to spark the electrode if NO flame. It should lock out. The fan may stay running but the Piezo should shut off. If it continued sparking he had a defective Ignition module. Doug
RJsfishin
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
Some of the older heaters blew cold air forever before the flame lit, they called that a "safety feature" Then some of them blew cold air forever after the flame went out, they called that "efficiency"
All the newer ones make more sense, all in the control board.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2015
They changed to a fan control board, old style would blow cold forever, new style shuts blower off if there's no flame.
MrWizard
Moderator
Dec 16, 2015
possibly a fuel pressure switch, or a flow switch
no sense sparking away, if there is NO LP to burn
just a modern improvement

you probably confuse a few people, OP sounded like you put in a new heater
in the old trailer and noticed a difference in the way things work

instead of stating you bought a new TT with new systems, which you clarified in a later post
path1
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
Almot wrote:
Path1, whatever you have, it "sounds" like the difference is in thermostat design. One is clicking, another one is not. If there is a control knob or slider with temperature markings, then there is a thermostat.

Ok thanks
Almot
Explorer III
Dec 16, 2015
Path1, whatever you have, it "sounds" like the difference is in thermostat design. One is clicking, another one is not. If there is a control knob or slider with temperature markings, then there is a thermostat.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2015
buddy just bought a refill at wal mart and his mr. buddy heater would not light. put a coleman tank on and it lit up.
path1
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
path1 wrote:
pianotuna wrote:
Hi path,

What brand name of heater are you referring to?

I think Hydro-flame

Think maybe I'm confessed...Looked in newer rv parts book. Heater in old trailer looks like what Atwood calls Excalibur. Think it used to be called Hydro flame, but maybe that's water heater?
Newer trailer is Suburban forced air gas. (Also has a Suburban water heater but different subject)
path1
Explorer
Dec 16, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
Hi path,

What brand name of heater are you referring to?

I think Hydro-flame