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09-09-2019, 05:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: North West
Posts: 107
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Replaced thermocouple and electric element, still no hot water
As the title states, I have replaced the thermocouple and pilot burner on the gas side and the electric element on the 120v side and still don't get hot water either way.
I couldn't get the pilot light to stay lit in order to fire the burner for the gas side to heat the water. Which was the issue in the first place.
On the electric side, I have replaced the element, no hot water. I may be using the meter wrong to check for power. Is like to get both working but need one to work before our trip next month.
Thanks for any help.
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09-09-2019, 05:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Sparks
Posts: 3,420
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It might be the thermostat or whatever tells the water heater that that the water needs to be heated. Have you checked the fuse for the water heater to make sure it’s good?
__________________
2017 Jayco Jayflight 29RKS
2014 Ram 1500 Crew Cab
Weimador Daisy Mae (Gone, but will always be loved and missed)
Weimaraner Duke
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09-09-2019, 06:48 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: North West
Posts: 107
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Yes, I checked the breakers, none were tripped.
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09-09-2019, 07:00 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
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Possible the control board has given it up. Suspicious that neither side works. You mention the thermostat in the title so I assume you’ve changed that. On LP it needs propane and 12v DC, on electric it needs 110v AC. I think there’s also an over temp shutoff that could be failed. That, the board and thermocouple are the only pieces that play in both modes.
Have you searched YouTube for some diagnostic tips?
__________________
Cheers,
T_
2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
2013 Eagle Premier 351 RLTS
-SOLD- 2012 X23B
-SOLD- 2003 Ford Expedition 5.4, Bilstein shocks
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09-09-2019, 07:03 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Inland Empire, California
Posts: 1,986
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My old water heater had a problem with the pilot flame plus main flame making noise. I replaced the entire assembly plus the orifice. After that, I had a beautiful pilot and main burner flame.
If nothing is blocked in the gas line to the pilot, it should simply light if there is enough gas pressure. You may have a problem in the control valve. Some valves may let you adjust the pilot flame size which is something you may want to look at.
Without a pilot light the gas side of the equation will be dead in the water. It will not affect the electric side. The only thing that affects both gas and electric is the thermostat or control board, if there is one, which tells the thing to turn on and off.
If you can get to the power leads that feed the electric element, set you volt meter to read AC voltage (120 volts). Turn the unit on. If no voltage appears across the heating element wires, your unit is just not telling it to turn on. If voltage is across it but not heating, the element is bad.
Exercise caution when measuring the 120 volts. Do not allow anything to touch metal and do not touch anything with your body. Just a word of caution as the voltage can wake you up real quick!
__________________
Jim
Retired electronic technician (45 years in the field)
2017 Greyhawk 29W (solar & many other mods)
wife (maybe I should have given her top billing)
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09-09-2019, 07:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,203
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It may help us more if we knew what kind of water heater you have such as Atwood or Suburban. Are you sure you actually have a pilot light to light? Most dual powered water heaters these days are DSI [direct spark ignition]. Just curious.
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2012 Eagle 320 RLDS
2017 Ford F-250 FX4 Crew STX 6.2l
3.73 E-locker
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09-10-2019, 02:49 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: North West
Posts: 107
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I did forget to mention it's in an '89 jayco. It's a suburban 6 gallon dual (electric/propane) and it does have a pilot light not the newer board type.
I have recently replaced the pilot burner and thermocouple. Bought it as a set to replace. Everything worked great last year, no issues at all on the gas side. This year I could not get the pilot light to stay on so my first thought was the thermocouple.
I never tried the electric side of it until the gas didn't work. It was not functioning either so I then also replaced the electric element and the anode rod as well. Still no hot water.
I would like to have both working, just need to figure out what to do next. Possibly gas valve? And I'll be checking the electric side with a bolt meter to see if I have 110v to the switch and try to trace the power.
I have not yet replaced the thermostat piece behind the black cover marked reset.
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09-10-2019, 03:04 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: North West
Posts: 107
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This is the pilot assembly I installed.
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09-10-2019, 03:09 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: North West
Posts: 107
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To make sure I'm checking this correctly in this diagram I would go from the black wire at the switch to the white on the element to check for power correct?
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09-10-2019, 04:55 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 2
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Check between the white and black on that drawing. If no voltage, move back to check the black on the t stat, if nothing check at hi limit. Still no power, check fuse or circuit breaker
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09-11-2019, 11:54 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Lowbanks
Posts: 5
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Is it possible you have your water heater valves still on bypass from winterization??
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09-11-2019, 03:00 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: North West
Posts: 107
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Valves are open, made sure tank was full before I tried to fire it up. Did some tinkering today. Had power to the switch, none coming out. Removed the wires from the switch, blades we're corroded. Cleaned a little and reinstalled them. Now I have power all the way through to the element. Water was heating up on electric. Unfortunately so was the switch. It didn't melt but it got warm. I will be replacing the switch soon, hoping to find one comparable that illuminates when turned on.
As far as the propane side of things, still no luck. Pilot light comes on when holding the button down but goes out once I let off the button. I am curious, what is the white thing in between the thermocouple and the gas valve in the pic below?
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09-12-2019, 10:09 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
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Glad to hear you got the electric side working. Maybe the gas valve is defective since you’ve installed a new thermocouple and burner.
__________________
Cheers,
T_
2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
2013 Eagle Premier 351 RLTS
-SOLD- 2012 X23B
-SOLD- 2003 Ford Expedition 5.4, Bilstein shocks
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