I was trouble shooting the coil and it would work and then not work and then it started working steady. Put it back in and it wouldn't
fire up. I set it up so I could see if power was coming out of the box and it was. I checked an I have fuel coming out of a new nozzle.
One test of the coil is to fire it 100 times. If it fails any firing, replace. But, an intermittent coil may very well pass this test.
Be sure point gap is correct. If points are to high, they will fire into the swiller deducting in good coil test but no ignition of the fuel.
Check the snap disc thermostats and limiters.. probably have one out
What is a snap disc limiter?
The thermostats on the side of the aquahot the round ones.. 198 degree usually sold as a blue dot or red dot depending on what you need temp wise.. they are a simple snap disc limit thermostat set at a certain degree and open or close as needed for degrees..
The limit is the 230 degree and the thermostats are the 198 or they can both be a self resetting limit thermostat.
Sample aquahot part
Thermostat, AC Control, RED DOT (https://www.parts.rvhydronicheaterrepair.com/Thermostat-AC-Control-RED-DOT-ELE-010-198-ELE-010-198.htm)
Typical resetting limit thermostat .
Snap Disc Thermostats, Preset Temperature Switches | Senasys (http://senasys.com/34-snap-disc-thermostats)
Any flavor that is needed..
The aquahot thermostats are normally closed NC
so when they hit the set degree they open and it shuts the aquahot down till they hit the lower set degree..
Limits on the aquahot are a non resetting limit on the 230
Samples
Snap Disc Thermostats, Preset Temperature Switches | Senasys (http://senasys.com/34-snap-disc-thermostats)
Selco - SE-L200 - Thermostat; Disc; 120/240 VAC; 25 A; SPST/SPDT; 1500 VAC... (https://www.alliedelec.com/product/selco/se-l200/70098685/)
Selco - SE-L230 - Thermostat; Disc; 120/240 VAC; 25 A; SPST/SPDT; 1500 VAC... (https://www.alliedelec.com/product/selco/se-l230/70098687/)
Hope these help
There is 4 thermostats in the space. 2 electric and 2 for diesel. I haven't seen any snap discs. It could be the points as someone lost the point gauge and I'm guessing where they should be. The clamp that holds the points in place had been bent and I had to straighten it so the points where in the right place. I need to get the gauge. I've been learning a lot about the Aqua-hot as I didn't know a thing about them a month ago and there is a lot more to learn.
I just looked at the picture of the snap disks and that is what I have and there is continuity though them all.
Just asking but you did disconnect the wires when testing? Take out any other possibilities?
Learn something every day, never in 10 years had any person call the control and high limit thermostats "Snap Discs".
His description of the problem did not suggest a failed thermostat.
Same here. I had to Google it to learn more about snap disc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5eUQkmTwwQ)...bi-metal thermostats
When mine went out last week it had the strangest symptoms.. acted like the box quit working.. then the coil would fire but sounded weak. Then a no fire at all.. turned out to be the thermostats.. blew a high limit.
Glad I was able to help educate but I can't take all the credit as I am not they smart but learning everyday. My friend explained what they were and how they worked.
Good catch David. Please know the coil is not on the high limit thermostat circuit. But the fuel solenoid is on that circuit. Open High Limit thermostat equals no fuel, no fire.
What makes the make and brake in the circuit for the coil to spark. When I was testing them when they didn't work, if I made a
braked the jumper I was using I would get a spark each time I made and broke the circuit. Then I would hold the jumper and some
times I would get a spark.
The Control Unit energizes the coil as it energizes the fuel solenoid 20 or 30 seconds after starting the burner motor. If the flame sensor reports a fire, Control Unit turns coil off but leaves fuel on till Control Thermostat opens or ON/OFF switch is turned OFF. Either event causes the Control Unit to turn the fuel off and run the burner motor for about 2.5 minutes to cool things down and then turns burner motor OFF.
Rudy,
My unit will fail to fire. I replaced the nozzle and filter. If worked for 7-8 times in a row with daily testing, then stopped firing reliably.. Fuel dips out the exhaust (small amount). It will fire occasionally, and make a bunch of white smoke. So if I understand you, I can rule out the high limit thermostat, because I wouldn't be getting fuel, right? What's next?
Rod, You are correct, high limit thermostat is good if you have fuel.
Fuel and no ignition suggest coil or control unit not firing coil. This assumes new nozzle and correctly spaced igniter points.
If you have the black plastic Sperios Control Unit, many of them have been problems. Original silver box from 2002 may be near end of service life of the relays.
All the best sorting it out
I've got it starting great now and the only problem with it is it will shut off. The light will be off and I shut the switch off and turn it back on it will start up fine. This is a problem it had when I first brought it home and it got harder and harder to start back up until
it wouldn't. The biggest problem was the igniter points were way out of adjustment. The only thing I feel is amiss is when it's running
I will here a murmur or a slight hesitation. I have never seen it shut down so it could be in a start up. Any ideas would be appreciated.
It's really hard to trouble shoot when it starts right up.
Typical control box symtom. Eventually turning it off and back on will no longer get it to start back up.
New control box.
Need Rudy's input on this one if your box is new. The black plastic boxes have been known to not work.
Aquahot makes there own box now.. 2 models.. one older and a newer one
WPE-300-900 old
WPE-300-901 New (I believe)
My "black" box on my aqua hot died in December. I installed a new state of the art Aqua Hot box in mine. Don't know the part number.
Rudy will be the man to talk to
Did the plug have to be modified?
No. The only difference is the plugs are on short wires instead of being directly on the box
Aqua Hot does not sell black Sperios Control Unit boxes any more, too many problems with them.
The new box is plug and play. I keep two or more in stock to be prepared to replace black boxes that are acting up. Sold 5 in January.
I can send you one, no tax out of Texas and I will pay ground FedX shipping.
I'm at Whistler right now skiing so I can't do anything until I get back home. How much money is the new box.
You know what they say if you have to ask... Have a seat before he responds :)) Expensive sport we Play ^.^d
Well Oldguy, The control Unit is an educated guess, not an absolute fix. So guessing a $920 Aqua Hot disigned and manufactured Control Unit is some guess. If one can see the burner fail to fire with a test box looking at what is happening, guessing becomes a diagnosis.
Many times with a coach here with me, I can not see it fail, works every time. Replacing the Control Unit is my first guess expecially if the old Control Unit is a black Sperios box. If the intermittant failure to fire continues, wrong guess. I retreive the new Control Unit and replace the ignition coil. One of these two parts will fix intermittant failure.
Now having said all of this, I would want to know the flame sensor is clean and the nozzle is suppling a very fine mist fan spray. Easy to determine if you are here. Fixed an intermittant issure by cleaning a dirty flame sensor and new nozzle last month.
Intermittant failure is so much fun.
Had the same problem as mentioned. Would fire up for a short time and then go out. Went to meet my guru, Rudy, in person. Bought the new box. My THIRD in four years. Works like a charm. Had my old silver box rebuilt, as a spare. Do WHATEVER Rudy says. He 'da Man !!!
If the new box has bigger contacts and higher rated capacitors, it would be a steal. I was trying to get an electrical engineer who built his own box to put his on the forum. He said he was too old to start a business. He took a burned up one he got from Roger (the AH Roger) and re-engineered it with larger contacts and better capacitors. Told me it would outlive me.
Craneman I talked to that guy did you buy his coach? I tried to get information from him and he basically told me the same thing— too old to mess with!!!
I have been studying on using a PLC
( programmable logic controller) to control the aqua hot and if there are any electrical engineer types listening, any and all input appreciated
Just PM me
Thanks
Chris
I believe Tom Lang is an Electrical Engineer.
John
He only wanted $40,000 had full body paint from Xtreme and front and rear light conversion. Lithium batteries, power tilt solar and a dash full of switches to control what was charging what. DW didn't approve of the interior, as he was a bachelor and had full timed in it for the last 2 years. Couldn't convince DW the interior could be fixed and we could sell ours. She then informed me that we had 5 motorhomes at the house including our present one. You all know the rest.
I believe with 5 on the lot you might have been able to hide it and she would never know? :o
The Aqua-hot has gone 24 hours without quitting, the longest it has gone since I bought it.
Craneman with five on the property you could start your own motorhome sales business. Then you could take it in trade lol. Yeah I know every once in awhile something like Carol and Scott's coach comes up and I think wow I could buy that one and sell mine and then I remember that my wife would hit me in the head if I tried that.
It's good to have someone that keeps you real even when it hurts.
I personally only count 2, the '81 and the '99 Foretravels. The rest are junk, anyone want a free '78 Vogue needs work?
Just to let you all know the Aqua-hot is running properly now. I put the old controller back on. I will try the new one again and if
haywire I will send it back. The main problem was the points were way out of adjustment and the coil was intermittent.