Bigdog Aqua-hot mutiny

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Bigdog Aqua-hot mutiny

February 24, 2024, 12:47:52 am

UPDATE: Not good news at the bigdog residence. AH tech came by and found that at some point we must have contacted the ground with the AH exhaust pipe. The muffler clamp is bent and the exhaust pipe is shoved backwards. The impact ruptured the tank. So we in fact did lose all the burner fluid over time and the burner and electric element kept trying to heat nothing. Everything is fried badly. So we are left with a heck of an issue. AH doesn't rebuild these old models. And here we sit 1,500 miles from home with no hot water or ability to shower.

Suggestions from the brain trust is appreciated. Do we look for an old AH? buy a new one and have the required relay bridges built to adapt it? Or just walk away and sell the coach as a BIG project?
Our first move will be to call our insurance to start a claim for the impact damage. Although that might be problematic making a $20K new AH claim given the retail value of this old coach might be $35-$40K.

One good note. Our genset does not have a bad stator and just needs a new voltage regulator. Voltage was swinging from 158V to 11V.

Re: Bigdog Aqua-hot mutiny

Reply #1 – February 24, 2024, 08:53:27 am

Well Jerry, one of the things that will stop both heat sources is low coolant in the heater tank for your model of heater. Get into the basement, access the heater, remove the radiator cap located on top of the tank. The fluid level should always be lipping full. If not fill with 50/50 engine coolant or just distilled water in a pinch. Check radiator cap, if needed, replace with 13 lb from auto parts store. Check the overflow line at the radiator cap. Must be supple with no splits and have a hose clamp. If split, remove, cut off an inch or so and reattach.

Now, the low coolant has allowed the reason of no heat to be the two high limit thermostats to open. They are located behind a cover just above the burner. If being popped is the reason of the no heat, they must be replaced. They do not have a reset button.

If this checks out, call me after 8 am central. Please have a Volt Ohm meter with one lead grounded and we will see if we can sort it out.

Again, after 8 am CENTRAL. I am willing to help from 8 to 8. Got a call last night at 6:30 pm Pacific, 8:30 Central. I just will not answer outside of 8 to 8 unless we have discussed your need to talk beyond those times earlier.

I have helped a person that called at 4 pm pacific to share he would be home at 6:30 pm pacific. Could I help him then to which I agreed.

All the best as you get going again.

Re: Bigdog Aqua-hot mutiny

Reply #2 – February 24, 2024, 10:23:37 am

Quote from: Rudy – February 24, 2024, 08:53:27 am

Thank you Rudy. I'll check the coolant and get my multimeter ready.

Re: Bigdog Aqua-hot mutiny

Reply #3 – February 25, 2024, 04:54:11 pm

Coolant is fine. So like you said Rudy. Likely one of the limiters has gone away and shut down everything. Fortunately it is warm (84F) here in Tucson, so the heat strips easily take away the AM chill. Just no showers right now.

I have a mobile AH guy coming on Tuesday.

I'll post up what the tech finds.

Re: Bigdog Aqua-hot mutiny

Reply #4 – February 25, 2024, 08:37:06 pm

Personally, if I found one of the thermostats bad, I'd temporarily bypass it to see if the AH would work. If it did start working, I'd let it heat for a while, take a shower and disconnect it again. Check with Rudy to see if that's ok.

Re: Bigdog Aqua-hot mutiny

Reply #5 – February 26, 2024, 01:34:44 am

Quote from: Dave Larsen – February 25, 2024, 08:37:06 pm

Personally, if I found one of the thermostats bad, I'd temporarily bypass it to see if the AH would work. If it did start working, I'd let it heat for a while, take a shower and disconnect it again. Check with Rudy to see if that's ok.

I asked the tech question here looking for any quick fix things to look for while we waited the short time till the tech arrives. (He is also fixing our genset) if the tech were not just a couple of days out, I would def be diving deeper under the AH hood and messing around with the great info Rudy and the forum graciously provides.

Our friends at the park have offered up their coaches showers.

Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #6 – February 27, 2024, 03:16:53 pm

Posted our issue in the tech forum. But it has moved to being a ruined AH and where to go from here.

To recap. From the bent exhaust clamp and said exhaust being pushed back which ruptured the tank. It is clear that the pipe hit the ground/pavement. So all the fluid leaked out (over flow tank shows full) and the burner as well as the electric element kept on try to heat. Needless to say. Everything was massively hot and much was literally fried. We are lucky it didn't start a fire.

So our choices have come down to: Starting a claim (which we will do) with our insurance to see if we are covered for this type of road accident. And if we are covered, Will it be a total loss because of the retail value of this coach compared with a new AH?

Find an old used AHE-100-02S unit to install?

Or just walk away and sell the coach as a project/parts for someone more monied than we are who has a coach barn/tools to take on such a project.

Have read that a new unit adapted to an old coach is a massively expensive thing to do ($20K)

As always. Any suggestions from the forum are welcome and much appreciated.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #7 – February 27, 2024, 03:54:13 pm

Quote from: bigdog – February 27, 2024, 03:16:53 pm

As always. Any suggestions from the forum are welcome and much appreciated.

That sucks.

My #1 suggestion would be to review the situation with Rudy.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #8 – February 27, 2024, 04:27:26 pm

Perhaps Copart in Kentucky has one?

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #9 – February 27, 2024, 05:26:11 pm

When looking at replacement options in January, I found a tested used unit at Visone RV...it was under $7K shipped. Right now they only have 01S and 04S units but they get a lot of turnover. Don't know the differences between the -02S but Rudy probably does.

https://rvappliances.visonerv.com/cgi-bin/f/rvfurnaces.pl?

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #10 – February 27, 2024, 05:51:24 pm

That sucks big time Jerry! Michelle is spot on with getting Rudy's help on this.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #11 – February 27, 2024, 05:58:57 pm

First Rudy..!!

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #12 – February 27, 2024, 06:06:40 pm

Talked to Rudy on the phone. Looks like a trip to Houston might be in order to have a new unit from John Carrillo installed.

Not too keen on big cities, But you have to do what needs doing.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #13 – February 27, 2024, 08:02:10 pm

Queston for Rudy:

In a case like this, is it better in any way to install a new Oasis instead of a Aquahot?

Loss/gain? $$$??

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #14 – February 27, 2024, 08:09:42 pm

Dan, the Oasis is a good heater. But the change over will take time to install. A reman from Carrillo is plug and play, one day deal. All wires are replaced in the same location as are pipes and fuel lines. Nothing needs to be rerouted or abandoned due to 2 zone pumps instead of 3.

I believe a reman will be less money, less hassle and provide fine service and longevity. Now, a new Oasis vs a new Aqua Hot 600D, price and hassle gets to be nearly the same.

My choice is always a reman from Carrillo over new anything. One year warranty on the entire heater.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #15 – February 27, 2024, 10:01:53 pm

Quote from: bigdog – February 27, 2024, 06:06:40 pm

Talked to Rudy on the phone. Looks like a trip to Huston might be in order to have a new unit from John Carrillo installed.

Not too keen on big cities, But you have to do what needs doing.

If your coming from the east you get to Rudy before Houston

Keith

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #16 – February 28, 2024, 01:24:32 am

Quote from: hdff – February 27, 2024, 10:01:53 pm

If your coming from the east you get to Rudy before Houston

Keith

No such luck. We are in Tucson headed to Walla Walla Wa. Via Rudy's in Houston. Adds 2,000 miles to the 1,300 mile trip home. But what ya gonna do with a ride that needs major fixing?

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #17 – February 28, 2024, 08:16:56 am

After coming from the west and all the nightmare traffic- Rudy's place is an oasis

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #18 – February 28, 2024, 08:26:06 am

Look at this as a positive.

You will get to meet the famous Rudy.

On the way to Houston you can stop at Buc-ee's between San Antonio and Houston.

While in Houston you can visit Nasa and Galveston.

While here, Nacogdoches is only about 180 miles north east and you could check out FOT, MOT, and go by and meet Keith.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #19 – February 28, 2024, 08:27:43 am

Quote from: erniee – February 28, 2024, 08:16:56 am

After coming from the west and all the nightmare traffic- Rudy's place is an oasis

If you drive through at around 4 AM during the week, traffic isn't bad.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #20 – February 28, 2024, 01:08:39 pm

Remove it and fix it.. Its not hard just getting it out and putting it back in. Rebuild it while you are in it. Tank can be welded and the parts are not too bad overal to update wrap with new copper.
Search the forum and you will find a couple people who have done it.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #21 – February 28, 2024, 04:09:44 pm

Quote from: turbojack – February 28, 2024, 08:26:06 am

Look at this as a positive.

You will get to meet the famous Rudy.

On the way to Houston you can stop at Buc-ee's between San Antonio and Houston.

While in Houston you can visit Nasa and Galveston.

While here, Nacogdoches is only about 180 miles north east and you could check out FOT, MOT, and go by and meet Keith.

I'm thinking of getting an autographed 8X10 from Rudy

As for traffic. We will simply put on the extra miles to go well around all the naughty bits. We have a cousin in Flatonia (between San Antonio and Houston) So a family stop will be nice.

Already met the MOT folks a few years ago (2018) when they checked on our bulkheads and installed new airbags and Koni's.

Also got our genset regulator ordered. (mo money) It was not an easy process with Powertech. The data plate for my Genset is missing. So powertech was ZERO help. And a prior owner had GLUED the current regulator to the electric box

So I had to attack it with a prybar to remove it and find I have a Basler 63-4.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #22 – February 28, 2024, 05:32:34 pm

Makes me want to prefer propane furnace and propane hot water tank equipped coaches. AH is great for heating coach interior and water, but have unique expensive issues, especially for older coaches. How about keeping coach, using electric space heaters, roof heat pumps, electric blanket, and electric hot water heaters. Some have installed add on diesel-powered heaters.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #23 – February 28, 2024, 06:04:57 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – February 28, 2024, 05:32:34 pm

Makes me want to prefer propane furnace and propane hot water tank equipped coaches.

Having had both, we much prefer hydronic heat and hot water, and will never have another coach that has propane.

Re: Aqua-Hot torched itself

Reply #24 – February 28, 2024, 06:07:34 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – February 28, 2024, 05:32:34 pm

Makes me want to prefer propane furnace and propane hot water tank equipped coaches. AH is great for heating coach interior and water, but have unique expensive issues, especially for older coaches. How about keeping coach, using electric space heaters, roof heat pumps, electric blanket, and electric hot water heaters. Some have installed add on diesel-powered heaters.

This failure was not the fault of the Aqua-Hot unit. This issue lay at the feet of Foretravel itself. How? one might ask. Well, in the goal to maximize bay storage. Foretravel hung a water pipe exhaust that sits about 2"-3" below the belly skin smack in the middle under an already low riding coach with very soft suspension. It then runs feet towards the front then crosses over to the drivers side. All it took was a bump that bottomed the suspension or a steep transition between roads and parking lots to shove that pipe back and tear the weld where that pipe enters the boiler tank.

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