Results for "flame-sensor"

Propane Medium 30 minutes 126 👍 2

RV Water Heater Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit: Thermocouple Troubleshooting Guide

Three different RV shops quoted me $400+ to fix my Suburban water heater's pilot light that won't stay lit and I'm wondering if I can tackle this thermocouple issue myself. the pilot lights up just fine, but the second I let go of that button it dies. I can hold it down for like a minute and think I've got it, but nope - releases and it's gone.

I'm wondering if this is one of those thermocouple things I keep hearing about? Like, is that the little sensor thingy that's supposed to keep the gas flowing when there's a flame? Pretty sure that's what's acting up but want to make sure before I start messing with it. …more

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Appliances Medium 2-4 hours 112 👍 0

RV Water Heater Not Hot Enough: Fix Lukewarm Water Issues

Looked forward to our two-week cross-country trip starting tomorrow until I discovered my RV water heater that used to produce scalding hot water now barely gets lukewarm. Both the electric and gas functions appear to be working - I can hear the gas igniting and see the electric indicator light - but the water temperature just won't get hot enough for a decent shower.

I've been dealing with this for weeks now and it's driving me crazy. The water gets warm, but nowhere near the hot temperatures I used to get. Is this a common problem with RV water heaters? What are the most likely culprits when you're getting lukewarm water instead of hot? I really need to figure out what's causing this and how to fix it before my next camping trip. …more

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Ac Refrigeration Medium 4-6 hours 107 👍 0

RV 3-Way to 12V Compressor Fridge Replacement: Cut Power Use 80%

Three weeks into owning this RV and the previous owner left me with a power-hungry Norcold 3-way absorption fridge that's absolutely demolishing my 600AH battery bank daily.

I keep hearing people rave about switching to 12V compressor fridges like the Dometic DMC4101, claiming they'll solve all my power woes. But here's the thing - everyone says "it uses way less power" but nobody gives me actual numbers! I need the cold hard facts: exactly how much power will I save making this switch? Will it really make that big of a difference, or am I just trading one expensive problem for another?

Please tell me someone has real-world experience with the power consumption difference between these fridge types! …more

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Best RV Batteries

4.5 (15,400 reviews)

Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 107 👍 0

Norcold RV Refrigerator Won't Stay On Propane - Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Called my buddy at midnight when my Norcold RV refrigerator quit staying lit on propane — need to figure this out before our food spoils by morning. and by dream, I mean my Norcold refrigerator has decided it's too good for propane! The thing fires up just fine on LP gas - I can hear it purring away like a happy cat. But then, like a fair-weather friend, it abandons me after an hour or two and shuts itself off.

I'm starting to feel personally rejected by my own appliances. The electric mode works perfectly fine, but when I'm boondocking, my generator and I aren't exactly best friends either. I've heard this could be a thermocouple issue, burner problems, or maybe the control board throwing a tantrum. How do I figure out which component is giving me the cold shoulder (pun intended)? Any diagnostic tips to help me troubleshoot this temperamental beast? …more

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Appliances Medium 3-4 hours 101 👍 0

Dometic R31 Stove Review + Gas Pressure Test Guide

Walked into my RV this morning to find my Dometic R31 stove flames randomly dying again - probably a dumb question, but is this normal? I've been looking at the Dometic R31 as a potential replacement, but I want to make sure I'm making the right choice before spending the money.

What's really concerning me is this gas pressure test mentioned in the installation manual. It talks about connecting some kind of gauge to a test port on the regulator, but doesn't specify what type of gauge or what pressure readings I should expect. I'm pretty handy with basic repairs, but gas systems make me nervous and I want to do this safely. Has anyone actually done this test, and is the R31 reliable enough to justify the upgrade from my problematic Wedgewood? …more

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Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-4 hours 83 👍 0

Norcold N611 NO CO Error Code: Complete Repair Guide for Flashing Warning Lights

Staring at my 2007 Norcold N611's flashing NO CO lights shutting everything down — is there a DIY fix under $50 since I can't swing a $300 service call? The fridge loses cooling and then locks out completely. I can reset it and it works for a few days or weeks, then the same cycle repeats.

What exactly does the NO CO error code mean and what causes it? Need to understand what's happening before I start throwing more parts at this problem. …more

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Propane Easy N/A - informational 79 👍 0

RV Tankless Water Heater Problems at High Altitude: Performance & Efficiency Guide

Already followed my RV tankless water heater manual's high altitude instructions, but I'm still getting terrible performance and efficiency issues at mountain campgrounds between 5,000 and 8,000 feet. My travel trailer came equipped with a tankless on-demand water heater from the factory, and I'm concerned about how it will perform at these higher altitudes.

I've heard that propane appliances can have issues with combustion efficiency when there's less oxygen available in the thin mountain air. Specifically, I'm wondering about quantifiable performance losses - like what percentage of heating capacity I might lose per thousand feet of elevation gain. I'm also concerned about potential operational problems like flame failure or the unit shutting down completely at certain altitudes.

For context, most of my regular camping is done below 2,000 feet where the water heater works fine, but these upcoming mountain trips will be well above 4,500 feet elevation. Should I be worried about the tankless system's reliability at these altitudes, or am I overthinking this? Would I be better off considering a replacement with a traditional tank-style water heater if I plan to do more high-altitude camping in the future? …more

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Appliances Easy N/A 77 👍 0

Dometic RM2453 Ignition System: DSI vs Pilot Light Truth Revealed

Spent three hours yesterday trying to figure out if my 2001 truck camper's Dometic RM2453 uses DSI or pilot light ignition and I'm still completely lost. I've been trying to light what I thought was a pilot light, but I'm having issues with it staying lit and producing adequate heat for cooling. The flame seems very low and blows out easily, even though my thermocouple is reading over 20mv which should be sufficient.

After doing some research, I'm now questioning whether this model even uses a traditional pilot light system. I notice there's no wire going to the gas valve for electronic activation, and the only control appears to be the eyebrow board on top. Some sources suggest these units use DSI (direct spark ignition) instead of a standing pilot.

Can someone clarify definitively whether the Dometic RM2453 uses a pilot light system or DSI ignition? Also, does this model have variable burner output stages, or is it just a single on/off operation? Understanding the correct ignition system will help me focus my troubleshooting efforts in the right direction rather than chasing a pilot light that may not even exist on this model. …more

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General Easy 30 minutes 76 👍 0

Winter RV Storage Heating: Complete Guide to Using Portable Propane Tanks for Freeze Protection

I woke up to ice crystals forming in my Integra Ethos RV's plumbing lines this week and now I'm panicking about freeze damage during winter storage. The RV will be parked at my property for several months in below-freezing conditions.

I'm considering using a portable propane tank setup (20lb grill bottle, with a 100 lb bottle also available) instead of relying on the RV's main propane system. My Truma Combi Comfort Plus heating system offers 14,000 BTU Gas and 2 x 850 watt electric heaters, with heating mode set at Gas & Electric.

I want to connect an external propane source using specific brass fittings and adapters, with a regulator set at 11 inches water column pressure. The internal temperature will be set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the unit on stand-by all winter long.

Specifically looking for guidance on connection methods and safety considerations when using external propane tanks for winter RV storage heating. …more

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Propane Medium 30 minutes 73 👍 0

Suburban SDN2U Water Heater Won't Stay Lit: Thermocouple Position Fix

Spent hours replacing the thermocouple, cleaning the burner assembly, checking gas connections — but my 2025 Jayco's Suburban SDN2U water heater still won't stay lit. I've heard this is a known problem on 2024-2025 models and that it might need a thermocouple position adjustment to match the working burner.

Before I attempt anything myself, I'm really concerned about making things worse or creating a safety hazard. Should the thermocouple tip be positioned in the outer flame cone like the working burner? I'm also worried about voiding my warranty on this new RV - would this type of adjustment be covered under warranty, and should I document the issue before trying any DIY fix?

I want to make sure I approach this safely and properly. Any guidance on whether this is something I can adjust myself or if I should insist on professional repair would be greatly appreciated. …more

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Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 72 👍 0

Dometic RV Refrigerator Not Cooling on Propane: A Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Nobody can agree on what's wrong — my neighbor blames the thermocouple, the RV dealer says it's the burner assembly, YouTube claims gas pressure issues, yet my Dometic refrigerator works fine on shore power but won't cool on propane. However, when I switch to propane mode for boondocking, it's a completely different story.

The propane burner does ignite and I can see the flame burning, but the refrigerator simply will not cool down at all. It stays at ambient temperature no matter how long I leave it running on propane. I've checked and the propane tanks are full, and my other propane appliances (stove, water heater) work fine, so I know gas is getting to the unit. The cooling unit itself seems fine since it works great on electric.

I'm wondering if this could be related to the burner assembly, thermocouple, or something with the flue system? I'd really like to understand what the most common causes are for this type of issue where electric mode works but propane mode doesn't cool, and what troubleshooting steps I should take to diagnose and fix the problem. …more

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Best RV Water Heaters

4.4 (6,800 reviews)

Propane Hard 3-4 hours 69 👍 0

Atwood 8535-III Furnace Replacement: Best Direct & Alternative Options for RV Heating

This 1998 Holiday Rambler's Atwood 8535-III is dying and I can't swing a $300+ service call — any DIY replacement options under $200? It's been repaired multiple times over the years, but now it's getting rusty and parts are nearly impossible to find. I'm worried about safety issues if I keep trying to patch it up.

I really need to replace it with something reliable, but I'm nervous about compatibility issues. Will a newer furnace even fit in the same space? Are there any direct replacement options that won't require major modifications to my RV's heating system?

I'd feel much better having a proper replacement recommendation rather than guessing and potentially creating bigger problems. What are my best options for replacing this old Atwood 8535-III? …more

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Propane Medium 2-3 hours 69 👍 0

Atwood 8525 Furnace Propane Smell: Safety Issues, Causes & Step-by-Step Fix

After three trips to the RV parts store staring at furnace components with absolutely no clue which one will actually stop my Atwood 8525 from reeking of propane. After replacing the burner assembly on my 2002 Holiday Rambler's Atwood 8525-iv-dclA furnace (which is one of two furnaces in the coach), now it smells like propane inside the RV when it's running. Zero leaks when it's off, but fire it up and suddenly my rig smells like a gas station.

I'm pretty sure this falls under the 'this could kill me' category of RV problems, but I'm not entirely sure what I messed up during the burner replacement. Could this be a safety issue with how I installed the burner, or am I looking at something more serious like a cracked heat exchanger? What are the main causes of propane smell from these furnaces during operation? …more

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Appliances Medium 1-2 hours 66 👍 0

RV Oven Main Burner Won't Light But Pilot Works - Quick Fix Guide

Since getting my 2018 Forest River Cherokee, the main oven burner refuses to light even though the pilot works fine. Our RV oven has been rock solid for two years, but now the main burner absolutely refuses to light even though the pilot flame is burning perfectly fine. I've checked everything I can think of - propane tanks are full and wide open, all the stovetop burners work great, pilot stays lit consistently. I've tried every temperature setting on the dial, waited different amounts of time, even tried relighting the pilot multiple times.

This has to be some kind of component failure, right? The pilot flame looks strong and blue, but when I turn the oven on, the main burner just sits there doing nothing. What are the most common parts that fail in this scenario? I really hope it's something I can diagnose myself before calling a repair tech. Any guidance on what typically goes wrong when you have this exact symptom would be incredibly helpful! …more

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Propane Medium 30 minutes 65 👍 0

Non-Swivel Propane Pigtail Hoses for RVs: Options and Swivel Repair Solutions

Halfway through getting quotes to fix my leaking propane pigtail hose, I'm staring at a $180 estimate and wondering if there's a cheaper non-swivel option or DIY repair trick. I need a 1/4" inverted flare pigtail, preferably with a 90-degree bend, but I'm dreaming of one WITHOUT those annoying swivel joints that seem determined to ruin my day.

I've been out here playing propane whisperer, lubing up the joint with WD-40 and sweet-talking it, but this thing just won't seal properly. Are there actually propane pigtails made without swivel joints, or am I chasing unicorns? And if I'm stuck with swivels, what's the secret sauce for fixing these leaky little troublemakers? My neighbors are probably getting tired of the smell of propane mixed with my colorful vocabulary! …more

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