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05-11-2018, 09:59 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Asheville
Posts: 22
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Water Heater
Good Afternoon folks from [emoji295]SC! We arrived last night for a 4 day camping trip and I'm having a problem with our Atwood water heater. This is our second trip out with it and the first time was perfectly fine. When I turn the switch on I can hear it click 3 times but fails to ignite. I put a lighter to it and it ignited for about 3 seconds and then quit. I am guessing the board is bad but I'm sure others know tons more than I know. It is a 2018 Jayco Jay flight 264bh. Only problem we have experienced with the camper and love it! Anyway to get hot water besides stove? Thanks for the help and happy [emoji904]
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05-11-2018, 03:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Wolverine
Posts: 707
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I have not had this experience but I did recently read on the forum where the gas will dissipate out of the line when the supply is shut off at the tank. This is typical when people shut their gas supply off at the tank between camping trips. It was suggested to get the gas flowing again by lighting all the burners on your stove and then try getting your water heater to ignite. It may be that simple. If that doesn't work, wait for the masses to chime in.
__________________
Jerry B.
"Stateboy" (Formerly "36fire412")
SW Lower Michigan
2016 X254
2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax TRD 4x4
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05-11-2018, 04:01 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Asheville
Posts: 22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 36fire412
I have not had this experience but I did recently read on the forum where the gas will dissipate out of the line when the supply is shut off at the tank. This is typical when people shut their gas supply off at the tank between camping trips. It was suggested to get the gas flowing again by lighting all the burners on your stove and then try getting your water heater to ignite. It may be that simple. If that doesn't work, wait for the masses to chime in.
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Thanks for the reply! I will indeed try that and see if that may kick it on.
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05-11-2018, 04:37 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Spanaway
Posts: 86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 36fire412
I have not had this experience but I did recently read on the forum where the gas will dissipate out of the line when the supply is shut off at the tank. This is typical when people shut their gas supply off at the tank between camping trips. It was suggested to get the gas flowing again by lighting all the burners on your stove and then try getting your water heater to ignite. It may be that simple. If that doesn't work, wait for the masses to chime in.
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This is pretty standard procedure for us and works every time, the one time I didn't do it, the fridge and the water heater failed to ignite until I did.
__________________
2016 Ford F150 XLT S-CREW Long Bed 3.5L EcoBoost.
2007 Jayco JayFlight 23FB
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05-11-2018, 05:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,784
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You only need to light one burner, and once you get a good flame, you can turn it off.
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05-11-2018, 06:06 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Highland
Posts: 477
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Another trick i heard about last year and it worked. Turn it on. Go out side and put your hand over the exhaust pipe. Wait for it to fire. Then you will be good. Blew my mind. But it worked. Give it a try
__________________
Chris Moore
2010 Starcraft/Jayco 297BHS pulled by
2009 Chevy Silverado
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05-11-2018, 07:32 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Wolverine
Posts: 707
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrismoore701
Another trick i heard about last year and it worked. Turn it on. Go out side and put your hand over the exhaust pipe. Wait for it to fire. Then you will be good. Blew my mind. But it worked. Give it a try
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This is going to be wordy but here's my guess why this works (in my prior life, I was a fire investigator with the Michigan State Police)...
This trick prevents the LP that's filling an empty fuel line, causing it to initially enter the WH as a lean mix from escaping too quickly. When operating normally, spent or burned LP will exhaust out the port you are covering up to start the WH. You are artificially building a richer LP mix than would normally be present had the LP feeding the WH had a chance to flow at 100% fuel at thr beginning and not something less than 100%. It is less than 100% LP while in the process of displacing the air in the line between the tank and WH. Since the initial burn process involves a sputtering (lean mix) of LP until the line is "full," any natural draft that removes burnt fuel is also taking that lean fuel out with it, giving you the hard start. Your hand over the exhaust port is allowing a lean mix of LP to become trapped in the combustion chamber, hence richer, while the rest of the LP (or 100% flow) catches up to the WH. Some WH may be engineered to sense that lack of air flow you create with a hand over the exhaust port and defeat (or turn off) the WH until it is "corrected" as a built in safety measure.
The other option mentioned (starting a stove burner until it burns properly) will likely be easier for some, less work for others, drier for you on rainy set up days and probably safer. Personal choice though.
Perhaps, stand to one side of the WH as you cover the exhaust port. On a larger scale, I've had house fires I've investigated where I found the 40 gallon LP WH laying next to the house or up through the next floor of the home after an accumulation of LP gas sent them violently upwards after a spark or flame found the accumulated fuel. Fun times!
__________________
Jerry B.
"Stateboy" (Formerly "36fire412")
SW Lower Michigan
2016 X254
2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax TRD 4x4
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05-11-2018, 08:01 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
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Sometimes you might have to reset the switch a couple of times after each fail. Besides the switch there should be a small dsi light (if equipped)
__________________
2014 Ram 1500 CrewCab 4x4 5.7 Hemi 3.92 Rear and Air Lift 1000
2005 Jayco Jay Feather LGT - 29Y GVWR-7000 lbs.
Dexter Axle Lift 4-9/16" - installed with sub-frame.
Pro Series 1200 lbs. WDH with Double Sway Bar.
Champion 3100/2800 watt Inverter/Generator-Onboard Solar Power
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05-12-2018, 05:04 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,859
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Sounds like the board. I would also try pulling and attaching all connections to the board just in case it's a connection. Also on one of the wires is a small fat looking thing that resembles a glass enclosed fuse. It's a thermal safety cutoff. Make sure you have continuity thru it.
BTW, what lake are you on in that picture?
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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05-12-2018, 05:35 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Longwood
Posts: 1,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 36fire412
This is going to be wordy but here's my guess why this works (in my prior life, I was a fire investigator with the Michigan State Police)...
This trick prevents the LP that's filling an empty fuel line, causing it to initially enter the WH as a lean mix from escaping too quickly. When operating normally, spent or burned LP will exhaust out the port you are covering up to start the WH. You are artificially building a richer LP mix than would normally be present had the LP feeding the WH had a chance to flow at 100% fuel at thr beginning and not something less than 100%. It is less than 100% LP while in the process of displacing the air in the line between the tank and WH. Since the initial burn process involves a sputtering (lean mix) of LP until the line is "full," any natural draft that removes burnt fuel is also taking that lean fuel out with it, giving you the hard start. Your hand over the exhaust port is allowing a lean mix of LP to become trapped in the combustion chamber, hence richer, while the rest of the LP (or 100% flow) catches up to the WH. Some WH may be engineered to sense that lack of air flow you create with a hand over the exhaust port and defeat (or turn off) the WH until it is "corrected" as a built in safety measure.
The other option mentioned (starting a stove burner until it burns properly) will likely be easier for some, less work for others, drier for you on rainy set up days and probably safer. Personal choice though.
Perhaps, stand to one side of the WH as you cover the exhaust port. On a larger scale, I've had house fires I've investigated where I found the 40 gallon LP WH laying next to the house or up through the next floor of the home after an accumulation of LP gas sent them violently upwards after a spark or flame found the accumulated fuel. Fun times!
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Excellent analysis, 36fire. Thanks!
__________________
2018 Jay Flight 29RLDS
2019 F250 FWD gasser
ΣΧ, UCF '78
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05-12-2018, 05:37 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,859
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Or spray the back of your hand red so you can find it when it's blown off!
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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05-12-2018, 05:52 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Longwood
Posts: 1,263
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__________________
2018 Jay Flight 29RLDS
2019 F250 FWD gasser
ΣΧ, UCF '78
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05-12-2018, 06:09 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Asheville
Posts: 22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norty1
Sounds like the board. I would also try pulling and attaching all connections to the board just in case it's a connection. Also on one of the wires is a small fat looking thing that resembles a glass enclosed fuse. It's a thermal safety cutoff. Make sure you have continuity thru it.
BTW, what lake are you on in that picture?
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Norty I'm at Lake Keowee which is located about 8 miles from Clemson. Beautiful place
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05-12-2018, 06:45 AM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,859
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolinaboy828
Norty I'm at Lake Keowee which is located about 8 miles from Clemson. Beautiful place
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It's on my list if it's the SP!
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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05-12-2018, 07:48 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Asheville
Posts: 22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norty1
It's on my list if it's the SP!
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This is actually county park. South Cove County Park, South Carolina
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05-14-2018, 10:07 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lubbock, TX
Posts: 360
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I had this happen after I switched out my propane tank. as the instructions say, you are to open the tank slowly, so the safety valve doesn't snap shut. well, this new tank I got let the gas out much faster than my older one and it was making the safety valve snap shut, so I would get a flame for a 2 or 3 seconds, then it went out. this happened on my stove too. the guy at the propane place told me to barely open the tank and wait a minute, and let the lines fill, then open it the rest of the way. that worked, gas stayed on to everything.
just another possibility.
__________________
2013 198RD
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05-22-2018, 10:42 AM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Farmington
Posts: 59
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water heater won't light
I am sure this is to late to help. I have had this problem in he past & I replaced the Flame Sensor for approx. $22. I would try this before investing in an expensive board!
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