DSI fault turning on propane heater.

[jackhartjr]

Hi folks, just set up in Bristol TN for the drag races.
When I hit propane water heater on the panel, a light come on in the top right corner that says DSI Fault.
Any ideas please?

[llr]

Air in the line would be the 1st guess. Can you go by the water heater and listen and smell while someone else turns it on, then report your findings?

Does stove or anything else work on LP?

[BandJCarm]

You say "Comes on". Does it stay on? DSI is Direct Spark Ignition. It will try three times to light the propane, then give up. The light stays on during this process, several seconds. If it lights the propane, the red light eventually goes out. If it never goes out, it's not lighting. Could be out of propane? Could be igniter?

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

Hi folks, just set up in Bristol TN for the drag races.
When I hit propane water heater on the panel, a light come on in the top right corner that says DSI Fault.
Any ideas please?

You didn't say what brand/model water heater you have, as FR uses several.

This link (although for a Suburban) will explain the light...and the same applies for an Atwood/Dometic brand.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1644008

Does your stove work (if applicable)? This is usually how you can make sure you have propane and the lines don't have air in them, is by lighting the stove and letting it burn for a little bit.

[Scrapper]

The DSI fault light comes on for a few seconds when first turned on. As llr said it could be air in the line. Use your stove to clear it out, once it lights the furnace, fridge, and WH will be good to go. You may need to use compressed air to clean bugs and spider webs from the burner tubes and flues if the fault light still comes on. Spiders love the smell of LP.

[jackhartjr]

Talked to the tech at Camping World, Marion NC. Apparently the electric side of the water heater had been on long enough to heat it to the point the gas wouldn't come on, therefore throwing the DSI Fault!
Thanks for all replies!

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

Talked to the tech at Camping World, Marion NC. Apparently the electric side of the water heater had been on long enough to heat it to the point the gas wouldn't come on, therefore throwing the DSI Fault!
Thanks for all replies!

If the electric heater has heated the water hot enough then the gas side shouldn't event try to light when you turn it on.

[TimVWulp]

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

Talked to the tech at Camping World, Marion NC. Apparently the electric side of the water heater had been on long enough to heat it to the point the gas wouldn't come on, therefore throwing the DSI Fault!
Thanks for all replies!

Bull !!! make sure you never have that tech touch your RV.

With electric turned on the water temperature will be warm enough that the gas should not turn on because propane thermostat is set for a lower on/off set point than the electric heater thermostat set point. No DSI Fault should be present until the water temperature drops below the propane temperature set point and starts the propane side of the water heater. When the propane side starts up the DSI Fault light is on until it lites the propane and the control board proves the propane is burning. If the propane dose not lite or the control board dose not sense that it is burning the DSI Fault light will stay on.

Hope This Helps Tim

[Scrapper]

There are many causes for your water heater going into DSI Fault and not lighting.

LP tanks empty or not turned on.
LP tank valve opened too quickly causing the high flow safety valve to close.
Air in the gas lines.
ECO/High Temp switch tripped, bad, or loose wire. (This can show as WH not lighting and no DSI fault)
Flame sensor faulty or out of position.
Spark electrode out of position.
(Flame sensor and spark electrode are many times the same part)
12vdc power not supplied to the control board. (fuse blown, wire loose)
Faulty control board.
Dirty orifice, burner tube or flue.
WH gas valve faulty.

See pages 16 & 17 of the attached Service Manual for all Suburban tank type water heaters.

[Iwannacamp]

Once you eliminate the gas problems as Scrapper and others pointed out...there has been a rash of faulty DSI control boards for Suburban water heaters. If you find faulty and in warranty I have contact info for them if you don’t take to the dealer.

You can search here or the internet for much reading about failed boards.

[Iwannacamp]

Here is one

Water Heater Problem
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...d.php?t=138845

[ross0547]

Hi!
WE bought a new Chaparral in June 2019 and had an issue as well with the DSI light staying on when the propane water heater was firing up. It stayed on briefly even when the propane and electric switches were turned on to heat the water. Nonetheless the propane heater fires up and the electric system heats the water. Our Dealer advised that a new circuit board would be needed, but didn't have one in stock. We had to leave for home so couldn't wait for the part to come in. Now the Dealer here will not do warranty work since we did not but the RV from them! I am interested in the previous response advising how to contact Suburban directly. Thanks.

[wmtire]

If the dsi light comes on right at the initial call for ignition, when it first starts to fire up....then goes off after the propane lights...then that is normal

The link in post #4 above explains this.

[Flybob]

Originally Posted by ross0547

Hi!
WE bought a new Chaparral in June 2019 and had an issue as well with the DSI light staying on when the propane water heater was firing up. It stayed on briefly even when the propane and electric switches were turned on to heat the water. Nonetheless the propane heater fires up and the electric system heats the water. Our Dealer advised that a new circuit board would be needed, but didn't have one in stock. We had to leave for home so couldn't wait for the part to come in. Now the Dealer here will not do warranty work since we did not but the RV from them! I am interested in the previous response advising how to contact Suburban directly. Thanks.

If this was the first time you used it on propane, it is possible you did not purge the air from the lines and after a few tries, the propane side went into safe mode. light the stove and run it for a minute or so with a good flame. Remove the 12VDC fuse (in the distribution panel) for the fridge for a minute or so and replace. Then try again.