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Subject: Water Heater no longer working on propane

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dadstoy

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Posts:35

Registered Users

03/31/2008 10:52 PM
Hi All, My water heater is no longer working on gas and only works on 110v electric, I think! I actually didn't realize that the water heater was a gas/electric model. I thought it was only gas, but I guess that explains the 110v romex wire running to the water heater. There is a switch on the water heater (on the inside coach side) that turns on the electric water heater. There is a switch in the vanity that I believe is to turn on the gas side of the water heater. It is an Atwood G6A-3E (I believe). I have the installation/operating instructions pamphet, but it is useless in describing the water heater operating instructions. How are you supposed to select between gas and electric? Do you turn the elec switch on for electric and turn the switch in the vanity on if you want it to run on gas? In this case, do you turn the elec switch off? I'm confused. A month and a half ago the gas burner in the water heater would come on and heat up the water. This seemed to stop working a couple weeks back. That's when it dawned on me that this heater is also electric. The gas would heat the water a lot better and faster then the electric. And of course if I'm not hooked to shore power, I need the gas side to work. The water heater does have a Dinosaur Electonics circuit board mounted on the exterior side of the heater. I know my dad has had to replace it in the past. Maybe this board is now bad. I did take the cover off and there are no burn/scoarch marks on it. So I'm trying to figure out how to switch between gas and elect and any ideas on how to troubleshoot the gas side? Should I just replace this circuit board and hope that this is the problem? Thanks Dean

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East Central Minnesota

04/01/2008 10:23 AM
Gas and water can be on at the same time however the electric will only work when on AC power. Usually the gas heater problems arise from the thermocouple which is located in the burner. If the heater lights and then goes out it could be that or it could be the circuit board as well. First I would pull the thermocouple and give it a good cleaning. They do build up salt from the proplane in time. If that doesn't do it you may need a circuit board. The switch in the vanity is where they are normally mounted for the gas water heater. Turn it on and a red light should flash and go out when the heater lights. If it goes out the light comes back on. My electric isn't hard wired. I have to plug it in in the kitchen area. Evidentally yours is. Do not run the electric with no water in the water heater tank. It will quickly burn out.

1985 Airstream 345 Turbo-Diesel VFW,Legion, NRA FAA Air Traffic Control Supervisor (Retired) http://www.cooperhawk.net mailto:jimcooper@cooperhawk.net "People are okay in ones and twos. After that number they tend to choose up sides and wear arm bands and berets."

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Forums > Airstream > Care & Maintenance > Water Heater no longer working on propane

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