|
11-13-2019, 07:43 AM
|
#1
|
Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 78
|
First time using Aqua-Hot in freezing temps
This is our first trip in freezing temps with our new-to-us 2013 Allegro Bus 43qgp. I had “exercised” the AH system (both water heater and “Zone Thermostat” coach heat) to be sure it worked and I understood the system.
Arrived in Pigeon Forge, TN about sundown. Got everything setup and turned on both electric and burner switches on AH panel. Set all three thermostats to 74 degrees and AH heat was working as advertised. After about 30 minutes we left for dinner, then came back to a COLD motorhome. The zone fans were running (I think), the inside temps were down to 50 degrees, the AH Electric switch was on and the switch was eliminated. The AH Burner switch was on; however, the light on the switch was NOT illuminated. I checked the AH electronic panel and there was not a FAULT light illuminated. I turned the AH Burner switch OFF, waited about a minute, then turned Burner switch ON. The switch illuminated and AH burner ignited. I waited about 10 minutes, then set thermostats to 74 degrees. All worked great and heated motorhome great, each Zone cycling as necessary. WHY did it do this?
THEN about an hour or so later my wife gets in shower; Zone heaters turn off (as advertised, AH - “Domestic Water Priority System”), AH provided endless hot water. After her shower, the Zone thermostat heat attempted to come back on, but didn’t AND the light extinguished on the AH Burner switch. AGAIN, I checked for Fault lights -none. I went back through the same process-
Thermostats Off
Burner switch Off for one minute
Burner switch ON
Wait 10 minutes, turn ON Thermostats
ALL IS WELL and ran all night without issue.
It seems as if once the system comes on to heat domestic water it does this? Perhaps something to do with Pump #3 coming on?
Thanks for any help on figuring this out!!
__________________
2013 Allegro Bus 43QGP
2017 Chevy 2500HD Toad 2022 GMC 3500HD SRW Toad
2016 Jeep Wrangler Toad
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
11-13-2019, 09:47 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Full time RV'er
Posts: 5,126
|
Sure sounds like a call directly to AH would be the way to go. Sounds like there's a bug in the firmware. Might need an upgrade.
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 10:26 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Rogers, AR
Posts: 2,601
|
Since you have a 2013 unit, do you have any idea if the AH unit has had it's recommended annual service? If not, I'd do that first.
See U-tube for service procedure.
__________________
2019 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 40M w/2021 Equinox
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 10:49 AM
|
#4
|
Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 78
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by alank
Since you have a 2013 unit, do you have any idea if the AH unit has had it's recommended annual service? If not, I'd do that first.
See U-tube for service procedure.
|
Hasn’t been one year since annual service.
__________________
2013 Allegro Bus 43QGP
2017 Chevy 2500HD Toad 2022 GMC 3500HD SRW Toad
2016 Jeep Wrangler Toad
|
|
|
11-13-2019, 10:55 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 6,557
|
Recommend you join Roger Berke's Hydronic Heating forum.
RV Hydronic Heater Repair - Home
Roger is a wealth of information and also supplies parts.
Next time it fails, tap on the electronic controller and see if it re-starts.
__________________
97 Monaco Windsor- Sold
07 Monaco Executive McKinley- Sold
04 Monaco Signature Chateau IV
|
|
|
11-15-2019, 10:16 AM
|
#6
|
Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 78
|
After inconsistent operation I called a local RV repair to check it out. It malfunctioned several times last evening but would reset every time. I got up about 4:00 am and all was well; however, by 7:00 am it malfunctioned again. The RV repair guy came this morning and it never malfunctioned while he was here. So I had him do an annual service, which will probably do the trick. The flame sensor checked out fine, there was a lot of carbon buildup on the probes.
I hope it works without failure now!!
__________________
2013 Allegro Bus 43QGP
2017 Chevy 2500HD Toad 2022 GMC 3500HD SRW Toad
2016 Jeep Wrangler Toad
|
|
|
11-16-2019, 06:57 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 6,557
|
When mine was intermittent, it was the electronic control box. Frerichs Electronics can test, rebuild, or exchange your Aqua Hot control box.
www. Frerichselectronics.com
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikwallace
After inconsistent operation I called a local RV repair to check it out. It malfunctioned several times last evening but would reset every time. I got up about 4:00 am and all was well; however, by 7:00 am it malfunctioned again. The RV repair guy came this morning and it never malfunctioned while he was here. So I had him do an annual service, which will probably do the trick. The flame sensor checked out fine, there was a lot of carbon buildup on the probes.
I hope it works without failure now!!
|
__________________
97 Monaco Windsor- Sold
07 Monaco Executive McKinley- Sold
04 Monaco Signature Chateau IV
|
|
|
11-16-2019, 11:14 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,292
|
I've had the same problem.....my unit is a 450D of the same age as yours.
Question for you....does your unit sound like it runs at different rpms? Mine did, and exibited the same symptoms you described.
Culprit in my case: the electric motor that spins the turbine for the diesel burner was going bad. I took my unit apart, and bench tested the motor still hooked up to the turbine for load. I used a 12v car battery for power. I was able to run the motor, until it failed on the bench, this time it was dead for good.
What was happening, was to make the light go out on the diesel burner switch inside, the motor failing was causing the burner to fault out and shut down. The stir pumps kept running, the thermostat inside kept calling for heat, but at that point with the burner faulted out, it won't run. That is until you cycle the burner switch and everything starts all over again....everything operating seemingly as normal. This continued for me until cycling the burner switch no longer worked, it was dead. I just got a little lucky that the bench test allowed the motor to run erratically one last time, and died permanently.
The confusing thing is, on the panel in the basement, all indicator lights remain green!
This little motor is not a cheap item, but what do you do right? This is my experience so far, I'm waiting on the motor to get here. This very well may be your problem as well. Listen for the rpms of the motor when you switch on the diesel burner. If it varies faster and slower up and down....I'd be looking at the motor.
Here's a pic of what it looks like with the cover off the burner turbine assembly (black plastic shroud). Hope this helps you.
__________________
BILL {aka-"Admiral"-"Deuce"-"W.D."}
2014 Itasca Ellipse 42QD, Freightliner Maxum, 450HP Cummins ISL, 3000 Allison, Roadmaster Nighthawk II, 2011 Lincoln MKX.
2012 Newmar Canyon Star (first coach) FMCA F428511.
|
|
|
11-17-2019, 04:53 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Annapolis MD
Posts: 264
|
How is the AH working now? Did service fix it?
__________________
Pat & Julie (and Harley)
Annapolis MD
2019 Entegra 40P
|
|
|
11-17-2019, 03:47 PM
|
#10
|
Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 78
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Motang
How is the AH working now? Did service fix it?
|
Thanks for all the info!!
So far, so good! It’s working fine so far and has not failed once since the Annual Service. It’s been below freezing every night since the repair and it’s working great. If all components work properly it seems like a great system. I’ve got 7 heat exchangers plus the one in the basement and they’re providing adequate heat. Keeps it nice and toasty!!
__________________
2013 Allegro Bus 43QGP
2017 Chevy 2500HD Toad 2022 GMC 3500HD SRW Toad
2016 Jeep Wrangler Toad
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|