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12-21-2020, 12:11 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Virginia
Posts: 38
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Heater won’t click and light!!!
This is our first camper and I will admit I’m a rookie and shame me all you want. I deserve it.
We were loading out the camper for our maiden voyage next week and I had it connected to the garage power and all good.
Had lights on, watching the game on the TV, and then decide to turn on the heater.
T-stat was adjusted to heat, and I raised the temp and the fan came on and then went off. I tried over and over and still the same.
Trouble shot the system and was going crazy why it wouldn’t work.
1. The sails switch flapped correctly
2. The T-stat was working - so fuse was ok
3. Turned stove on and gas working fine.
4. Checked tanks and both half full or more.
5. No mud daubbers nest in exhaust vent.
Was it the igniter- cracked?
Was it the board - $$$?
Well after two days of researching and trouble shooting items I found on line
I was at my wits end and decided to start buying parts to find the bad part.
Start cheap and work my way up the food chain.
Then the lights wouldn’t work!!!!! And the tv wouldn’t come on!!!
I looked out as I was on my knees in front of the nine working heater and saw the plug was coming slightly unplugged from the surge protector.
I could hardly see it, but there it was, coming un-plugged.
I went out and corrected AND now lights, Tv and HEATER!!!
So, big lesson learned for this rookie.....
__________________
JMike.VA
Camper: Forest River Vibe 18RB
Towed by: Toyota Tundra
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12-21-2020, 12:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,050
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so you are saying the heater is electric element only. !!!I think you need to do some checking up on your heater OPERATION. Most are 12v. fan. and propane. You say Camper" big range of rvs called campers. you have to have a charged battery and propane on , purged lines. Unplug trailer from power , and do a dry campinng heater start. you should have 12v lights come on ,or inverter coming on to power "RV".
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12-21-2020, 12:36 PM
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#3
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,129
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I don’t get it.
You’re on your hands and knees checking the non-working heater, and saw the plug was coming undone from the surge protector.
The heater is indoors?
How is that associated with seeing the surge protector?
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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12-21-2020, 12:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,050
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Are we talking about a space heater? This is not a forum for every day life mistake posts.
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12-21-2020, 12:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 360
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If this is an electric heater, never ever plug into a surge protector!! It cant handle the load and is a fire hazard
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12-21-2020, 02:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Posts: 1,979
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas ho
Are we talking about a space heater? This is not a forum for every day life mistake posts.
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I'm curious.
What is an "every day life mistake post"?
__________________
2007 Surveyor SV230 - 200 Watts Solar/MPPT Controller - 220 AH Battery Bank (Two-GC2) - 600 watt PSW Inverter - (2) 2000 watt Inverter Generators - LED Lighting
2009 F150 - 5.4 Litre with Tow Package
Boon Docking 99% of the time.
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12-21-2020, 03:10 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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Most likely the RV extension cable plug was coming out of the surge protector, thus no AC voltage to converter and was not charging battery, battery voltage dropped low and furnace would not operate properly because of low voltage.
__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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12-21-2020, 08:21 PM
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#8
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cdog7201
Join Date: May 2016
Location: IND
Posts: 106
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sounds like Fonzie hit the nail on the head. Jmike looks like you will be able to handle trouble in the future we all started somewhere.
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12-21-2020, 09:57 PM
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#9
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas ho
Are we talking about a space heater? This is not a forum for every day life mistake posts.
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Wait... What?
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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12-21-2020, 10:25 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Right Half of OR
Posts: 593
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JMike, keep up the good work, read, look, repeat and pretty soon you'll fix it. Years ago I had an sob (some other brand) and the shore power had to be plugged in for the furnace to work. Because of your post, I learned from Fonzie's response. Thomas ho contributed nothing. I love this forum.
__________________
Greg 'n Deb
2020 R-POD 195 HRE
'17 Tacoma 3.5L,'07 Tundra 5.7L w/ tow pkgs.
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12-22-2020, 09:42 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
Wait... What?
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Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.
I believe Fonzie has the correct interpretation.
See post 7.
Glad the OP got it figured out.
Thanks for the follow up.
We love a happy ending!!
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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12-22-2020, 10:14 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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EXCUSE ME ?? Does this sound like a......"Space Heater" ?
"Trouble shot the system and was going crazy why it wouldn’t work.
1. The sails switch flapped correctly
2. The T-stat was working - so fuse was ok
3. Turned stove on and gas working fine.
4. Checked tanks and both half full or more.
5. No mud daubbers nest in exhaust vent.
Was it the igniter- cracked?
Was it the board - $$$?"
Post #7 seem's the most "Logical."
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12-22-2020, 03:27 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Virginia
Posts: 38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fonzie
Most likely the RV extension cable plug was coming out of the surge protector, thus no AC voltage to converter and was not charging battery, battery voltage dropped low and furnace would not operate properly because of low voltage.
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Exactly!, I would not have even looked out the window if the lights had not also stopped working. I would still be thinking something was wrong on the heater.
__________________
JMike.VA
Camper: Forest River Vibe 18RB
Towed by: Toyota Tundra
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12-22-2020, 03:32 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMike.VA
Exactly!, I would not have even looked out the window if the lights had not also stopped working. I would still be thinking something was wrong on the heater.
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__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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12-22-2020, 03:42 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Virginia
Posts: 38
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I’m new at this and sorry I wasn’t clear and more detailed in my initial post.
This is the heater in the camper.
I have the camper power plugged into a 50 amp breaker of my garage.
During the night, due to my surge protector and the 50-30 amp connection cable length there was pressure on the connection and it was pulling itself apart.
At the point I attempted to start the heater is was out of the plug enough to allow the lights and tv to work but not the heater.
After my wasted trouble shooting effort over the next two days it slipped out even farther and eventually didn’t even connect enough to allow the lights to work.
At that point I looked out the window and saw the power cord plug prongs nearly all the way out of the plug.
Again, sorry for not explaining in more detail and thanks for all the comments/interest.
__________________
JMike.VA
Camper: Forest River Vibe 18RB
Towed by: Toyota Tundra
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12-22-2020, 08:07 PM
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#16
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMike.VA
I’m new at this and sorry I wasn’t clear and more detailed in my initial post.
This is the heater in the camper.
I have the camper power plugged into a 50 amp breaker of my garage.
During the night, due to my surge protector and the 50-30 amp connection cable length there was pressure on the connection and it was pulling itself apart.
At the point I attempted to start the heater is was out of the plug enough to allow the lights and tv to work but not the heater.
After my wasted trouble shooting effort over the next two days it slipped out even farther and eventually didn’t even connect enough to allow the lights to work.
At that point I looked out the window and saw the power cord plug prongs nearly all the way out of the plug.
Again, sorry for not explaining in more detail and thanks for all the comments/interest.
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Glad it is working now... but... I believe you still don't quite understand some things. That would be the difference between the 12v DC side of your R/V and the 120v AC side of things
While your shore power connection did come partially unplugged, your furnace (heater-your words) and lights (both 12v DC items) stopped working because your 12v battery went dead... And...it went dead because the converter (the device that changes 120v AC to 12v DC and also charges your battery) couldn't do its job because the shore power connection was loose.
It wasn't that the connection was good enough for the lights and not good enough for the furnace, it simply wasn't making connection at all.
The battery lasted as long as it could without being recharged by the converter and since the lights are not a big power hog, when you tried to use the furnace (a much bigger 12v use) the battery simply gave out.
Once you re-did the shore power connection, your converter started to work producing 12v and recharging your battery and thus, the furnace, your lights and anything else that needs 12v worked as expected.
Google the 12v side of life or look in the forum's library for additional reading.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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12-22-2020, 09:51 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Virginia
Posts: 38
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Appreciate the education.
I have a lot to learn.
Thanks
__________________
JMike.VA
Camper: Forest River Vibe 18RB
Towed by: Toyota Tundra
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12-22-2020, 10:41 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 489
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas ho
Are we talking about a space heater? This is not a forum for every day life mistake posts.
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I don’t think space heaters have sail switches...
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12-22-2020, 11:12 PM
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#19
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Just as confused as you
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: south central Wisconsin
Posts: 5,108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMike.VA
Appreciate the education.
I have a lot to learn.
Thanks
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Adding to what 5picker touched on unless you specifically have a tv made to operate from 12vdc, it will be using 120vac and why it quit working after the 50amp cord pulled out.
Read the links in this post New to RV's helpful hints to help you understand how the 12vdc and 120vac systems among other accessories work in your rv.
__________________
Richard & Jill
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS Classic Super Lite
2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4WD All Star Edition
Camping since 1989, Seasonal since 2000.
Car Shredder Op/Tech, Scrap Metal Recycling - retired
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12-23-2020, 07:38 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Cleveland, GA
Posts: 408
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JMike.VA,
Glad your issue is resolved. Don’t ever hesitate to ask questions, we were all rookies once.
Glen...
__________________
Glen & Lee
Cleveland, GA : Rochester, NY
2019 Primetime Sanibel 3851
2017 Ford F350 PSD
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