Dometic gas water heater won't fire

mini4mw · 08-12-2018, 06:49 PM

I did an ID10T error this past weekend. I had both ACs running and before we went out on afternoon hike I turned on the electric water heater so we could start showers when we got back. When we got back the RV was cool/both ACs running but no hot water. Light is on for electric water heater.. turned on gas (light for switch comes on, ours runs both electric and gas) and still no hot water. That's when i remembered I'm pulling too many amps between AC and heater. As everything else appears running fine, I checked the breaker for the water heater and didn't look tripped, but I reset it (didn't feel tripped either, just like a normal off/on of a breaker). At this point the electric started working but gas is not. Checking gas out and gas cuts on (hear/smell it), but the igniter is never firing. Heater cuts off gas, waits ~10 seconds, starts flowing again but no spark to ignite.

Is there some other reset to possible get the igniter to work or did I possibly brown out the board? If I browned out the board, why would electric work... I've let it sit for 2 days, turned off RV master electric, reset all the breakers, etc to try and reset something. Same scenario. Turn on electric, light on switch comes on and heater works. Turn on gas, light on switch comes on, gas flows to the heater but no ignition/spark. Everything looks fine, nothing melted, browned, etc on the board. I did read through some old posts where the board had to be replaced when it didn't ignite/spark, but I'm hoping I didn't just cost myself $100 doing something I should know better.

Thanks-

GL243 · 08-13-2018, 10:06 PM

Sounds like what my gas-only Atwood did that required a new board. Others here may have other suggestions to try, but sounds to me like a new board needed based on my limited experience.

mini4mw · 08-13-2018, 10:11 PM

Yea, that's what i thought too. I'll just buy one off amazon and put it in and see what happens.

mini4mw · 08-13-2018, 11:51 PM

I was about to order an Atwood replacement when I read in the new part description about there being a fuse. Went to check it out and sure enough had one and it was blown (2amp mini). It was hiding under the connector so I didn't see it before. I only had a 5amp mini and tried it out but still wouldn't fire. Kept searching around online and found a site that recommended Dinosaur (manufacturer) replacement board for the Atwood/Dometic. It has perfect ratings and cheaper than the Atwood/Dometic which everyone seems to have trouble with. Going to order it and try it out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

I have a Dometic GC6AA-10E model for reference. The part # on the circuit board is 91346

GL243 · 08-14-2018, 07:53 AM

The Dinosaur board is what several others here have reported on so that should be a better bet than another Atwood board. Should be 2 or so screws and plugging a couple of connectors, hope it works for you.

Camper_bob · 08-14-2018, 08:04 AM

I'm running an Atwood WH, had similar symptoms to you, read around about batches of bad Atwood control boards, ordered the Dino board off Amazon, install is easy, WH fires perfectly now.

199LIB · 08-16-2018, 01:26 PM

I have had nothing but trouble with the Dometic/Atwood Circuit Boards for my 264BH and would like to look into one of the Dinosaur Boards. The current (non-working) Dometic Board I have is s/n 91349. Is there a reference as to which Dinosaur Board is compatible with this one?

Camper_bob · 08-16-2018, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 199LIB

I have had nothing but trouble with the Dometic/Atwood Circuit Boards for my 264BH and would like to look into one of the Dinosaur Boards. The current (non-working) Dometic Board I have is s/n 91349. Is there a reference as to which Dinosaur Board is compatible with this one?

I'm not sure, there probably is. The Dinosaur boards seem to work for a wide range of models. IIRC, the Amazon listing just said "Dometic/Atwood water heaters" and included ones with varying electrical connections and sizes.

mini4mw · 08-16-2018, 01:38 PM

This is their site. I'd just call and ask, but I think there's just one board and you use the jumpers to set type. They may need the heater model number and not just the board number.

UIB 64 page

Dinosaur Electronics Company Information

199LIB · 08-16-2018, 01:51 PM

That's it! Thank you.

mini4mw · 08-16-2018, 02:09 PM

Great. I bought it off amazon. You may be able to find it cheaper somewhere else.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

I just got it today, but it will be a bit before I can install it to verify functionality.

vcbice · 08-18-2018, 12:27 PM

FWIW, you should be able to run both AC and the water heater (and microwave) when on a 50A shore connection.

mini4mw · 08-26-2018, 11:09 AM

Put in the Dinosaur and now everything working fine.

oldmanAZ · 08-26-2018, 01:28 PM

Thank you for the update.

mini4mw · 08-26-2018, 07:03 PM

Strange how only electric worked on the old board/OEM. I'm going to keep it around as spare, but hopefully never need it.

It did take ~ 4-5 'starts' for it to finally fire up, but I'm just blaming that on some air in the line from the last time it was used weeks ago. It was trying to ignite/sparking, the first time I turned it on where is was not before.

Board replacement was extremely easy as well. Unplug 6/4 pin connector and spark wire, take out 2 screws, put in board in and 2 screws/connector/spark wire. Took all of 5 minutes.

Note the Dinosaur board also has 3 LEDs on it for troubleshooting (and a 5amp fuse). The OEM has no LEDs to tell you what is wrong.

You may also like: