Fans and AquaHot stop working intermittently on 06 Beaver

[distaff]

This has happened twice now in our 06 Beaver Patriot Thunder, both times the same combination of symptoms:

1. None of the three vent fans can be operated from the wall switches. If I open the vents manually the fans will start, but if I push any of the three switches the little yellow light will come on but nothing happens. At the controller box the light does not come on.
2. The Diesel AquaHot won't start, the electric will, but no the diesel. When I push the button the yellow light does NOT come on, and the light at the controller does not come on.

The first time it started working a few hours later, the second time it took 2 days, then both the fans and the AquaHot began working.

Given that we drive in very cold weather I'd like any help I can get to find the source of this fault.

[Steve Ownby]

It's possible you are having a 12 vdc problem. Your house batteries provide the 12 vdc power and the Aqua Hot in particular is sensitive to low voltage conditions. The motor that drives the vent covers also pulls more power that the fan motor. If you have a house battery or batteries that are failing it can cause strange things to happen.

Steve O

[Pusherpilot]

Check the AquaHot for a fault led, mine gave me the low voltage lite and I have to reset it. This happens when I lose 12vdc house power. I had trouble with that a couple of years ago and wired around the solenoid that is operated by the "salesman" switch on the dash. Last month the house batt kill switch failed and I had to jumper that one too. I got another switch from MegaTech of Oregon and replaced the bad one. Havn't had a problem since. In our couch the giveaway that the power had been getting erratic was that the radio would be on all by itself but not actually playing anything!! Also the 12vdc lights would flicker and dim.
Ron

[distaff]

Thanks for your thoughts. I should have mentioned that I was on shore power when we had these issues. I think the points about 12v source being low are interesting but it won't be the batteries. I have 6 fairly new deep cycle 6v batteries that will run the microwave, fridge, and 42 inch tv at the same time (although not on purpose and not for very long).

I am wondering what root cause would take out both the AH and the vent motors, and you are right that low 12v source would do it, but I wonder if there is a common link to the two that is not shared by the rest of the 12v systems as we have seen no dimming of the 12v halogen lights or any other 12v problems.

[Roger Berke]

Paul

The next time your Aqua-Hot shuts down; check the electronic control board that is in the basement adjacent to your Aqua-Hot. That should tell you what is going on.

You can review the shop manual for your Aqua-Hot to identify which lights should be illuminated, here: Aqua-Hot Heating Systems Inc.

- Roger Berke -
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