Pop up trailer heater question

[Tera_Montoya]

Hey guys!! I have a 2009 flagstaff MAC 208 that we store in our garage (usually open, as we are remodeling it). Yesterday, we were running the heater inside as we redid our sink, it was working just fine. We just everything down for the night and when we came back out today. The heater isn’t working. We changed the propane tank, made sure the pilot is lit and set to where we want it. We have checked the breaker, and the battery. Any ideas why she took a poop?

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by Tera_Montoya

Hey guys!! I have a 2009 flagstaff MAC 208 that we store in our garage (usually open, as we are remodeling it). Yesterday, we were running the heater inside as we redid our sink, it was working just fine. We just everything down for the night and when we came back out today. The heater isn’t working. We changed the propane tank, made sure the pilot is lit and set to where we want it. We have checked the breaker, and the battery. Any ideas why she took a poop?

Are you talking about the furnace or the water heater?

[Tera_Montoya]

The furnace.

[5picker]

Can you post the make/model of the furnace.

Some older furnaces in pop-ups did not have blowers (and some did) and as you indicated, needed a pilot lit. (often manually)

How do you know you have propane?
Did you try lighting stove burners?
Depending on the tank valve, some have a failsafe mechanism that will cut the LP supply off if you open it too quickly on a system that was run empty.

[Chuck_S]

No pilot on any camper furnace I've owned in the past 20 years so I'm confused on that part. There was one on a waterheater once.

-- Chuck

[Tera_Montoya]

It’s a brand new, full canister of propane. The burners still light. I’ve checked the propane connection and it’s okay. I’m not sure where I could find the make and model of the furnace..

[Tera_Montoya]

I have two pilots, one if for the furnace and one is for the water heater. They are in two totally separate locations, so I know for sure I’m lighting the right one..

[faste]

I had a pop-up many years ago, don't remember the brand. Heater would not light, spark ignition would click, but no flame. After replacing several parts, it turned out to be spider webs and egg pouches in the propane/air mixing tube - fix was easy - a couple of screws to remove then run a zip the through it several times - last time with a swatch from a rag and then replace. Stayed warm several nights before going home.

Good luck !

[Tera_Montoya]

We’ve replaced the propane connection hoses already.. and I can visibly see that the pilot is lit already..

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Tera_Montoya

We’ve replaced the propane connection hoses already.. and I can visibly see that the pilot is lit already..

So once the pilot is lit, there is 'usually' a device on the burner called a thermocouple that allows gas to flow through the gas valve. (the knob you turn for heat) It is a failsafe device that won't allow the gas valve to open and emit gas unless a flame is present. It is usually located within the pilot flame and often looks like a small cylindrical tube. Many times you have to hold the pilot knob inwards (or in a certain position) until the thermocouple warms up enough for the pilot to even stay on.

It could be the thermocouple went bad or 'somehow' got knocked out of adjustment. (maybe when lighting the pilot) It usually is positioned so the pilot flame touches it.

Again, without the furnace make/model (often located on the door or cover you remove to light the pilot or the furnace box itself) we are only guessing best we can.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

No pilot on any camper furnace I've owned in the past 20 years so I'm confused on that part. There was one on a waterheater once.

-- Chuck

Many older R/Vs had a pilot that had to be lit on the furnace. I had several that were either manual light (match or lighter) and later ones had a small glass window where you could see if the pushbutton spark igniter lit the pilot.

You are right though, not many of those I've seen in the last 20 years. This was back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's but obviously the OP has one in theirs.
I did see one recently (no blower, convection only) in a truck camper at a show about 2 years ago so they do still make them.

[Tera_Montoya]

The model number on my furnace is NT-20SE the pilot on the exterior of the camper is lit, but inside, I pulled the face off of the furnace and that pilot isn’t lit. I’ve disconnected everything and reconnected twice. It still isn’t lighting.

[DustyRoads]

This could be a dumb question. On some furnaces, on the knob you turn and press to light the pilot for about 30 sec. Once the pilot lights and warms the coupler you turn the knob again to actually run the furnace. Could that be the case here?

[Tera_Montoya]

On mine, you have to press the diaper knob in, to ignite the pilot, once it’s lit, you release the knob and it pops back up, then everything is running

[BarabooBob]

I have had several furnaces that had a manually lit pilot light. I have never seen one with on outside and inside pilot light. The pilot light on mine were inside the heating chamber, behind a sight glass that you had to remove to light the pilot.
As stated above, remove the sight glass, push and hold the gas valve knob down, light the pilot, hold the button for 30 seconds, release the knob, turn the know to the run setting and listen for the flame to light.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Tera_Montoya

The model number on my furnace is NT-20SE the pilot on the exterior of the camper is lit, but inside, I pulled the face off of the furnace and that pilot isn’t lit. I’ve disconnected everything and reconnected twice. It still isn’t lighting.

OK I'm confused.

The NT-20SE is a direct spark ignition furnace with no pilot and especially not one with a pilot inside AND outside. (which I've never seen or heard of)

We'd love to help but without proper information, I'm not even going to guess any longer.

[2015 Flagstaff 21DS]

Originally Posted by Tera_Montoya

The model number on my furnace is NT-20SE.

"The Dynatrail NT-S and NT-SE series furnaces are incredibly compact and lightweight, perfectly designed to meet the requirements of today's smaller recreational vehicles. All models have energy saving solid state electronic ignition..."
This was copied from a site describing your furnace. I don't know what pilot you are lighting outside but according to this there is no pilot for your furnace. It should be an automatic solid state spark.

[Grnsl2]

Never heard of a pilot light on a pop up camper. Stranger things have happened tho. Wonder what it was... Come back op!