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Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

July 26, 2011, 09:13:36 am

Anyone know of a certified Aqua-Hot Tech in either the Trenton, NJ area or the Buffalo, NY area?  I am now in Trenton but will be going to Buffalo at the end of next week.  Yes, I know there isn't a lot of call for this in these areas, but that's where I am.

My A-H diesel won't start.  I know there are some things to check but I would like someone experienced to look at it.

Thanks, Larry

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #1 – July 26, 2011, 09:26:41 am

Aqua-Hot Heating Systems Inc.

Larry,

Understand you wanting to find a tech for your aqua-hot, but they are really not complicated. Trust me, if I can fix a couple  problems I had with mine, anyone can. 

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #2 – July 26, 2011, 01:08:29 pm

Larry

From the Aqua-Hot Service Locator, here: https://www.aquahotparts.com/eSource/ecom/eSource/lookup/storelocator.aspx?store=

Aqua-Hot Authorized Service close to where you are located.

Risco INC.
25 WEST HIGHLAND AVE.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
(732) 872-7722   

KASTCO RV
MOBILE SERVICE
CRANFORD, NJ 07016
(908) 875-6375

The diesel burner failing to light is one of the hardest things to troubleshoot without some very expensive tools to help.  Additional help on my Forum, below.

- Roger Berke -
Moderator - http://www.Forum.RVHYD.com

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #3 – July 26, 2011, 01:13:28 pm

Thanks Roger - I had checked this out - both of these places are a distance from us - and prior experience with Risco was less than perfect.

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #4 – July 26, 2011, 01:31:31 pm

Larry

There are not that many Authorized Service people in the northeast.

Some basic things to check.

• Do you have at least ¼ tank of diesel fuel?
• Try restarting the diesel a couple of times.  Sometimes the burner will light on the second or third try.

What model of Aqua-Hot is in your coach?  I would guess that you have either AHE-100-02S or AHE-100-03S.  The troubleshooting is different for these two models.

- Roger Berke -

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #5 – July 26, 2011, 05:37:59 pm

Roger, thanks for your continued help on this.  I do have plenty of fuel and have retried to start it mutiple times.  It turns out the Kastco RV place is closer than I thought - about an hour away - I am going there on Thursday.

FYI - I have an AHE 130 03X ----- and I have taken the cover off enought times myself to know I just don't want to do it again 

Larry

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #6 – July 26, 2011, 07:05:31 pm

Larry

Unusual model to be installed in a Foretravel.

More information on different Aqua-Hot models, here:  Aqua-Hot Model Information    This listing is still under construction.  According to the model number you should have dual 2000 watt heating elements and an electronic control board.  It should look like AHE-100-03S, but have dual element setup.

Photos would be appreciated, so that I can add this model to my listing.

If you have electronic control board, what lights are illuminated?

Let me know how it goes with Kastco.

- Roger -
 

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #7 – July 27, 2011, 02:17:13 pm

Roger, I joined your RV HYdronic Heater Repair forum and see that this model is not on your list.  Yes, I belive it does have duel 2000w heaters.  Here is a picture of the control board.  The lights that go on when I turn on the "diesel" switch are: Low Temp Cutoff, Diesel Burner, Pump #2, Heating

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #8 – July 27, 2011, 07:17:57 pm

Larry

The "Heating Status" light should be illuminated (means that thermostat is calling for heat).  If so the correct lights are illuminated.  The "Low Temp Cutoff Status" light is not used on your model.  It will probably be illuminated all of the time (used on Hydro-Hot units).

Should look like this inside.

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #9 – July 31, 2011, 04:47:20 pm

Yes, it looks like that picture.    My appointment to have it looked at got shifted to next Wednesday ---- and in the mean time, I tried it one more time and of course it started.  Worked fine.   

The next day, today, I tried it again and no go.  So, what is the first thing to look at?      Loose wire?  Bad thermostat that is just had one more connection in it's life? 

It has been hot hot here (as across the northeast) - does that have anything to do with it?

Thanks, Larry

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #10 – July 31, 2011, 04:54:44 pm

If you are running it on electrical power it will not run on diesel (coolant inside the tank is to hot) until it cool down.

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #11 – July 31, 2011, 05:25:05 pm

Larry

The first thing I try to do when I troubleshoot, is to try to determine at what point in the start up sequence the Webasto faults.

The next thing that I try is to use Webasto test box to test the Webasto.  This test box allows us to very simply test the motor, fuel solenoid, ignition coil.  You can actually run the Webasto with the test box.  Bi-passes all of the safety devices.  Test motor to see if it will run, test fuel solenoid and high limit thermostat (hear solenoid click) and fire ignition coil (you can hear spark).

My version looks like the photo below.  To run, motor on, push and hold fuel, push spark until burner lights.

If the burner will not light, then I remove the Webasto and troubleshoot the fuel system.  Webasto in bay standing up, motor on, push fuel (briefly) and observe fuel spray pattern.  This quickly verifies that the nozzle is not plugged and you have fuel pressure.

This troubleshooting is not really a do-it-yourself project as you need some very expensive testing equipment to determine what is wrong.

I am working on some things to try to make this easier, but I am still testing and developing.

- Roger Berke -

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Re: Aqua-Hot Tech needed - Trenton, NJ area or Buffalo NY area

Reply #12 – August 01, 2011, 10:21:13 am

Thanks for the continued ideas.    The diesel has not started when the water is cold so that is not the problem.  Of course hard to shoot an intermittent problem.  Roger, if you develop a simple test device for the average person, you will become rich!

Larry

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