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Old 04-17-2016, 07:35 PM   #1
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 13
furnace questions

I had a pop up trailer and we just used a small electric heater and it worked fine even though it had a furnace. we just bought a 2015 FR surveyor and used it for the first time a week ago it got chilly in the morning and tried to use the furnace the fan would blow but furnace never came on gas was on even checked stove on outdoor kitchen and it worked fine any advice out there
thank you
John
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Old 04-17-2016, 10:41 PM   #2
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,502
Could be anything, here are some things to check:

The furnace is designed to operate at voltages between 10.5 to 13.5 VDC. Low voltage will not run the blower motor at the proper speed to commence the ignition sequence. Make sure your batteries are charged and your converter is working and plugged into generator or "shore power".

Return air is the air that flows in to replace the heated air that the blower pushes out through the ducting. This air is pulled in by the furnace through louvered openings in the side of the furnace cabinet, and any items stored near these openings could interfere with this air flow.

The exhaust venting must be clear of all obstructions for proper furnace operation. Inspect the vents for insect or bird nests or other debris.

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Register vents inside the camper must not be obstructed. Our heater had trouble working this afternoon because we had two throw rugs blocking vents. Once we uncovered the vents, the heater worked just fine.

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Check gas pressure using a manometer. Too low and it won't work.

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The sail switch is an on/off device. (normally in the off position) It gets it's name from the "sail" or paddle that is attached to the switch mechanism. As the blower comes up to speed, it blows air onto the sail with enough force to push the switch closed, thus allowing electrical current to flow to the next component in line.
It's job is to determine if there is adequate air flow for proper combustion to take place. If the battery voltage is low or the fan does not come up to 75 per cent of it's design speed, the sail switch will not close.
Possible causes of this malfunction are: low battery, restricted return air inflow, restricted or inadequate outlet vents, restricted combustion air inlet or exhaust, faulty sail switch.

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The limit switch is a simple temperature controlled switch. It's function is to monitor the combustion chamber heat level. If the temperature of the combustion chamber exceeds the preset limit, the switch will open and disrupt the flow of current to the circuit board, in effect, shutting down the main burner. Once the chamber temperature cools sufficiently, the limit switch resets. This initializes the ignition sequence and starts another cycle. This condition is referred to as "limiting".
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The circuit board will not receive power until the sail switch is closed by adequate air flow from the blower. The power must also flow through the limit switch.
When the circuit board is triggered by this current, it delays ignition for about 15 seconds to allow the blower to purge the combustion chamber of any unburned gases.
The circuit board then sends high voltage pulses to the electrode assembly, providing a series of sparks to ignite the gas/air mixture.
At the same time, the circuit board sends power to open the gas valves allowing the fuel to flow to the burner.
The circuit board monitors the burn cycle through a sensor that detects the presence of the flame. If the sensor does not detect a satisfactory flame within about 10 seconds, the board then shuts off the gas valves and discontinues the ignition spark. All electrical connections should be clean and tight. Misfire problems can be solved by simply cleaning and inspecting every electrical connection, especially the sensor/electrode wire. The sensor sends a microamp reading to the circuit board when the flame is burning. Any impedance to this tiny amperage flow will cause the board to shut things down.
Depending on the board design, it will try for ignition up to three times. Beyond that point, it goes into lockout mode, will not retry for ignition until reset and the blower will continue to run.

GOOD LUCK!
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