RVing without a spare Sail switch

[Johnynorthland]

I have a 2019 Redhawk 25R. I’m looking to carry a spare sail switch for my furnace, as I’ve heard they tend to go bad. We travel through cold weather, so I guess you can say we winter camp. I do not know what type of furnace I have, and right now my rig is in storage until the end of October and is not readily accessible. Does anyone out there know what furnace I have? Or better yet the exact part number of the sail switch?

Thanks

[Route 66 Traveler]

It would be helpful if you had the numbers off the furnace. I've never had a sail switch fail in 20+ years of RV'ing. I have had the gas valve go bad as well as the igniter. Trying to carry spare parts is an exercise in futility...the thing that will fail next probably won't be in you collection of spare parts. Amazon Prime is my Go-To source of spare parts....

[CAG]

+2 on Amazon or any of the vendors that sell RV parts for that matter. To many spare parts and not enough room.

[JimD]

No matter what you have in the way of spare parts, you will never have the item you need when something fails. This must be written some where.

A sail switch consists of a piece of metal that pivots with air flow actuating a little switch. The only time I had a problem with this arrangement in 30+ years was with my son's furnace. The blower was moving the sail (metal) but the switch was basically stuck.

Good old WD40 freed up the switch plunger and the problem was solved. It had just gotten gummed up a bit.

Rather than carrying spare parts, I would recommend taking a peek at your sail switch just so you know how it works. Carry WD40 which is great for many things. Odds are if the switch is not functioning it is not because the switch contacts are bad. You could have something preventing the metal sail from moving.

[norty1]

I have owned 3 large fifth wheels since 2001. Never had a problem with any of the furnaces in any of them. If I had a spare, I probably could not find it!

[Stavman]

What's a sail switch

I replaced the brain in my furnace on my 2019 Entegra 25r, same as yer 25r

Can link it if that's what u mean

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by JimD

No matter what you have in the way of spare parts, you will never have the item you need when something fails. This must be written some where.

It is indeed written. The opposite is also written in the same place. If you have one, you'll never need it, until three days after you throw it away.

Murphy's Law

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

I have a 2019 Redhawk 25R. I’m looking to carry a spare sail switch for my furnace, as I’ve heard they tend to go bad. We travel through cold weather, so I guess you can say we winter camp. I do not know what type of furnace I have, and right now my rig is in storage until the end of October and is not readily accessible. Does anyone out there know what furnace I have? Or better yet the exact part number of the sail switch?

Thanks

if you bought something that fails often in an RV you would have 2 RV's. Don't believe everything you hear on the internet.

[Berjr]

[I have replaced the sail switch in our 2018 Greyhawk . I bought it on Amazon easy to change. I fond mostly they get dirty lots of lint and stuff get stuck on the switch, I cleaned it a couple of times and rep[laced it once. Reminds me i should buy another...lol



https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[WeRJuliian]

Originally Posted by Stavman

What's a sail switch

Usually just a very simple switch that's operated by a broad metal or plastic paddle. It's mounted such that the airflow from the blower will push on the "sail" and operate the switch. That way, the furnace won't operate if there's no airflow, due to the vents being blocked, or maybe a blower failure.

[Florida Ranger]

I carry an electric heater as a spare backup..

[RichCarter]

"Good old WD40 freed up the switch plunger and the problem was solved. It had just gotten gummed up a bit."

PB-Blaster works better. I've salvaged a lot of switches with the stuff. WD-40 isn't really a lubricant and it doesn't do much for corrosion. The only use I've found for it is removing painter's tape that's dried.

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

I've never had a sail switch fail in 20+ years of RV'ing.

I have never had issues with a sail switch either in 30 years.......BUT things are not made they way they used to be. Since we bought our 2018 Seneca we have had 2 sail switches go bad and 1 High temp switch. After the first time, I started carrying spares and I was up a 2am in 20° weather changing it, so glad I had spares!

Originally Posted by Cavie

Don't believe everything you hear on the internet.

But do believe it when you read over and over of failures especially on brand new units and Dometic has obsoleted the original part number and replaced it with a new "Repair Kit"

[Thomson]

Call Jayco or the dealer with your VIN. Our dealer had all of the parts and serial numbers, So does jayco

[WeRJuliian]

Originally Posted by Florida Ranger

I carry an electric heater as a spare backup..

We carry an electric heater because, if we've got a power hookup, we've already paid for it and we can save the propane for another day.

Plus, a couple of little electric heaters are quieter than the furnace, which sounds like it was made from surplus jet engine parts....

[Cavie]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

I have a 2019 Redhawk 25R. I’m looking to carry a spare sail switch for my furnace, as I’ve heard they tend to go bad. We travel through cold weather, so I guess you can say we winter camp. I do not know what type of furnace I have, and right now my rig is in storage until the end of October and is not readily accessible. Does anyone out there know what furnace I have? Or better yet the exact part number of the sail switch?

Thanks

would you have any idea where it is or how to get to it? The complete furnace must come out of the RV.

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

I have a 2019 Redhawk 25R. I’m looking to carry a spare sail switch for my furnace, as I’ve heard they tend to go bad. We travel through cold weather, so I guess you can say we winter camp. I do not know what type of furnace I have, and right now my rig is in storage until the end of October and is not readily accessible. Does anyone out there know what furnace I have? Or better yet the exact part number of the sail switch?

Thanks

The sail switch failed on my 2015 Jay Feather. It looked fine and was clean, and it passed the continuity test. The problem was a design error and the new switch had a longer, thinner sail.

[dogmeat]

if the fan runs, my emergency fix would be to jumper the SS wires together. the sail switch simply tells the controller that there is sufficient airflow to allow the gas to turn on.

there is still an overheat switch in there too so that if there were no air flow, the excess heat would kick the gas off.

ymmv

[ccsest]

While I have not had a sail switch fail, my over-heat switch tripped. Of course it was snowing at the time and all I knew was that the heater would not start, and my water was starting to freeze. The lesson I learned is find out where that switch is located is now, not when it trips. Thanks to this forum for helping me locate it in about the most inaccessible place they could put it.

[JCM]

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

I have a 2019 Redhawk 25R. I’m looking to carry a spare sail switch for my furnace, as I’ve heard they tend to go bad. We travel through cold weather, so I guess you can say we winter camp. I do not know what type of furnace I have, and right now my rig is in storage until the end of October and is not readily accessible. Does anyone out there know what furnace I have? Or better yet the exact part number of the sail switch?

Thanks

I have had 4 motorhomes and used the furnaces extensively in the winter. Never had a sail switch problem - once a weak battery. Also if you don't know what type of a furnace you have you shouldn't attempt any repairs like that - I would suggest a service center if ever needed.