Swap Pilot for Electronic (Water Heater)?

[upuaut]

My old trailer had a pilot ignition water heater which worked great and never gave me problems. My new trailer has an electronic ignition Atwood and it does not work on propane, in spite of me troubleshooting for a long time. I know I should be able to get the electronics working, but my question is:

Can you swap in a pilot ignition into the existing water heater, or would I have to replace the whole unit?

[BrianinMichigan]

It looks similar to mine, ( but mine is much older ) If it has dual solenoids on the gas valve only one may be opening making it sound like the valve is working. You will need to take a resistance check on both of the coils on the solenoids. As I remember on mine the were around 90 ohms per coil. I rewound one of the coils and fixed the problem.

[gotsmart]

nevermind

[upuaut]

Update: installed new gas valve. Working great! Total cost $87. Thanks for the help!

[upuaut]

nineoaks2004 wrote:
My 2016 has a pilot HW heater, I am glad, never failed and it also has an adjustable thermostat on the gas valve..I also added an electric heater to it also
and it works good too.

Was it easy to add the electric element to it?

[nineoaks2004]

My 2016 has a pilot HW heater, I am glad, never failed and it also has an adjustable thermostat on the gas valve..I also added an electric heater to it also
and it works good too.

[upuaut]

Old-Biscuit wrote:


Did you measure the resistance of the solenoids....OHMS test or just throwing parts at it ?

Yes & No.

[Old-Biscuit]

upuaut wrote:
Orifice is not damaged. I'm not about to spend money throwing parts at it unless I'm sure it will fix the problem.


Ordered a new gas valve. Will update on whether it works.

Did you measure the resistance of the solenoids....OHMS test or just throwing parts at it ?

[upuaut]

Ordered a new gas valve. Will update on whether it works.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

"Once and a while I think that it would be nice to flip a switch.."

🙂

Shoot it doesn't take *that* long to slip on a raincoat

[upuaut]

Pauljdav wrote:
I have that same wh. In the istructions it sais to ensure the electrical connections are clean.

Yup, been there, done that. Taken them all off, cleaned and checked them.

[Pauljdav]

I have that same wh. In the istructions it sais to ensure the electrical connections are clean.

[upuaut]

The tank is 6 years old. Trailer is a 2011 Jayco. I agree and think I probably will replace it with an ignition pilot model. Thanks for all the good feedback!

[Gdetrailer]

upuaut wrote:
Orifice is not damaged. I'm not about to spend money throwing parts at it unless I'm sure it will fix the problem.

Judging from the aged look in your pix the tank is not "new" by any means.

I suspect the gas valve is bad. Sometimes the solenoid is the problem but most likely in your case the plunger is stuck or the valve the plunger moves is stuck.

Pretty much anyway you cut this, it is not a cheap fix.

Since the tank is not real new, replacing it is a no brainer rather than randomly tossing money at it.

Pilot only tanks can be had for $260 or so.. Much cheaper than DSI models and dead on reliable instead of that pesky solenoid valve (my Dad had problems with his DSI solenoid valve).

[upuaut]

Orifice is not damaged. I'm not about to spend money throwing parts at it unless I'm sure it will fix the problem.