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MojaveJoe · 05-02-2007, 05:31 PM

Fired up my Atwood GC10A-4E 10gal gas-elect, electronic ignition water heater today on the gas side. After 1 hour it was still flaming away heating the water.

At 30 minutes I finger tested the water and it was getting kinda hot, at 1 hour it was almost scalding. I turned it off to be safe.

Any ideas what's happening?
Could sure use your help sorting this one out.

Thanks,
Joe

MojaveJoe · 05-02-2007, 05:31 PM

Fired up my Atwood GC10A-4E 10gal gas-elect, electronic ignition water heater today on the gas side. After 1 hour it was still flaming away heating the water.

At 30 minutes I finger tested the water and it was getting kinda hot, at 1 hour it was almost scalding. I turned it off to be safe.

Any ideas what's happening?
Could sure use your help sorting this one out.

Thanks,
Joe

E Z Livin · 05-03-2007, 09:50 AM

It not turning off would say the thermostat is bad. Not sure why it would take an hour to heat up thou.
On outside of my heater, you will see a black rubber square. With power off, pull this back and you will see two thermostats. You can unhook the wires, push in and twist and they will come out. They come preset most of the time from the factory and are sold in sets of two.
Mine also went out this past weekend and I had to change them. When they cool down, you can hear them reset and close the circuit. And on the the scalding part, they should open and stop the heating. Notice they at least one is stamped on the back with the temperature and put the new ones back the same way as one is the emergency thermostat.
If it went to hot, the valve should have opened to let the water excape.

MojaveJoe · 05-03-2007, 11:10 AM

Checked TStat this AM. No movement toward tank when pushed with finger. Both it and the ECO next to it seemed tight. Did a continuity test and it showed a dead short, water at about 50F. Pulled and cleaned all elect connections outside on WH.
Started it up on gas. An hour later it had turned off. The water tested at 150F at the kit sink. A continuity test of the TStat showed circuit open. Which is correct for burner off condition.

Cycled the WH 3 times by running hot water until WH came back on. Turned off each time at 140-150F.

Looks like I was mistaken. Like many have said in other posts here, this Atwood WH has a preset thermostat that is very hot. I think the TStat is set for 150F, the Emergency Cutoff Off about 180F, and the T&P Relief Valve about 210F

You basically just need to get used to it.

FWIW
Joe