Atwood Water Heater Issue

[BJR]

Hi all,
We have a G6A-8E installed in our 287BHSW and we're having an issue with the water heater. It's a gas-only water heater that won't refire when there's a demand for hot water. It'll run one good cycle and heat up the water in the tank but when that's done forget it. It'll try and will fire for four seconds until it locks itself out.

I adjusted the flame down because it was too lean but it didn't help. Visual inspection comes back clean and I'm puzzled by the normal solutions because it does fire once. Probe is getting red hot when it refires, and I put in a new ECO and thermostat. Issue still happens when I take out the thermistor. Only two things left are the flame sensor and the control board. New ignitor/flame sensor and control board on order but I wanted to get some thoughts.

It's never worked right but I neglected to get it looked at while it was under warranty.

I'm stumped. More testing tomorrow.

TIA

[Campingteacher79]

Hi there,

I just bought a 285 RLS SLX, and I was surprised that it was a gas-only heater. I'm having mine changed to gas/electric before I even pick it up. Were you surprised at it being only gas?

My post isn't much help to you, but have you thought about it being changed to a gas/electric?

thanks!

Kevin

[BJR]

Originally Posted by Campingteacher79

Hi there,

I just bought a 285 RLS SLX, and I was surprised that it was a gas-only heater. I'm having mine changed to gas/electric before I even pick it up. Were you surprised at it being only gas?

My post isn't much help to you, but have you thought about it being changed to a gas/electric?

thanks!

Kevin

Our first camper had electric and gas and I do kind of miss it. Not only because the electric is cheaper but for issues like this. There's an add-on electric strip I could get but I haven't bothered, yet. Maybe one of these days we will, just in case.

[norty1]

Have you tried blowing out the gas orifice? I had a similar problem and I disassembled the orifice and blew it out with air pressure then ran a small strand of wire thru it and it's worked perfectly since.

Don't enlarge the orifice hole.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by norty1

Have you tried blowing out the gas orifice? I had a similar problem and I disassembled the orifice and blew it out with air pressure then ran a small strand of wire thru it and it's worked perfectly since.

Don't enlarge the orifice hole.

That was my first thought too. Spiders love propane. I have had to clean mine once, and the stove burners once.

[BJR]

Originally Posted by norty1

Have you tried blowing out the gas orifice? I had a similar problem and I disassembled the orifice and blew it out with air pressure then ran a small strand of wire thru it and it's worked perfectly since.

Don't enlarge the orifice hole.

Did yours run a full cycle first? Seems to me that if the exhaust or flame was clogged it wouldn't fire well at all.

It has to be something electronic that's heating up and won't work until it's cooled down again. (I say that with authority but really am grasping at straws)

[BJR]

Not the sensor/ignitor.

Is it supposed to start clicking/flashing as it gets close to being up to temp?

Update: It looks like it was the control board. It seems to be re-firing when there's demand and it's not going the clicking/flashing of the ignitor as it gets hot. New problem, the indicator light on the panel isn't working now.

[Davetheslave]

There is a board issue with the Atwood gas WH. Had to get mine replaced after our 2nd trip out after it would try to do its 3second start up and then it would shut down. If this is what’s its doing, get the board replaced.
Hope this helps!

[BJR]

Originally Posted by Davetheslave

There is a board issue with the Atwood gas WH. Had to get mine replaced after our 2nd trip out after it would try to do its 3second start up and then it would shut down. If this is what’s its doing, get the board replaced.
Hope this helps!

Thanks - what year is yours?

I contacted eTrailer about a replacement board and they're out of stock but working on getting more.