This Dang Hot Water Heater

[CHunley]

I am wondering how the timing could be off with my Atwood Hot water heater???? This is how I came to this conclusion:

The ignitor board went out, I replaced it. I can light the water heater manually with a grill lighter and it works just fine. The other day while I was staring at it wondering why it would not light on its own, I figured something out. I disconnected the connector to the board, went inside and turned on the switch for the water heater. I came back out and put my grill lighter next to the spark ignitor thing. I then plugged the connector back to the board. As usual, the sparker sparked like it should, but as soon as the sparker quit (remember I still have the grill lighter lit and next to the sparker), the propane came in and it lit right up. This tells me that the timing is off. What I am saying is while the sparker is sparking the gas is not flowing. When the sparker quits sparking the gas flows and it lights with the grill lighter. I must have gotten some wires crossed when I was cleaning things trying to find out if the board was bad sometime ago. I am currently using my rv for work and lighting my hot water heater by hand is getting old quickly being that I light it 2 to 3 times a day.

Come on my fellow rv'ers and help me solve this issue!!!!!

Chris

[Gary RVRoamer]

The circuit board starts the igniter cycle and opens the gas valve at the same time. Opening the gas valve simply means switching on the 12v power to it so the solenoid pulls it open. I wonder if the voltage is low, so that the valve won't stay open while the igniter is drawing power? A corroded connection might be at fault if the general 12v system looks ok.