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Topic: Atwood GCH10A-3E not lighting on propane (Read 316 times) previous topic - next topic

Atwood GCH10A-3E not lighting on propane

At Quartzsite my hot water heater some times did not cycle resulting in a red light on the hot water switch below kitchen sink. Past two weeks it has stopped lighting. At Q I found a loose ground wire on control board.

I have 12 volts going to both sides of thermostat, ECO switch and to solenoids. No sparking at electrode. I pulled connector at board to igniter and it reads 4 volts. Does this indicate a bad board? It looks to be original board. 

Would the Dinosaur UIB64 be the best replacement? Thanks, limping along on 110 side of water heater, but want to get this fixed.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Atwood GCH10A-3E not lighting on propane

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Realmccoy –
Would the Dinosaur UIB64 be the best replacement?
Looks right.  Can't go wrong with Dinosaur boards.  If you have any question about which one to choose, give them a call.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Atwood GCH10A-3E not lighting on propane

Reply #2 –
You can remove one of your furnace boards and put it in the wh to see if that works. It does have a 15-30 second delay. If the WH works your old board is bad. Easy way to check the board. Don't put the WH board in the furnace though as it doesn't have a delay
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Atwood GCH10A-3E not lighting on propane

Reply #3 –
Installed a Dinosaur UIB64 control board today. Also installed a new igniter electrode, cleaned up the mounting bracket for igniter, removed and sprayed cleaner in gas jet, vacuumed out burner chamber, inspected chamber with scope, and was rewarded with a hot water heater running on propane. Will drain and clean tank tomorrow.

The board works on Atwood/Dometic furnaces and hot water heaters. It comes with 6 + 4 pins and edge connectors. A jumper configures it for older six pin edge connectors like on my tank.

Apparently newer Dometic hot water heaters suffer from very poor quality control boards and reading reviews some late model tanks have gone through three China boards before the owners gave up and bought a Dinosaur Board. It's not cheap, but it works and holds up according to RV techs and owners.

The original board looked tired after 25 years of service.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.