Atwood Water Heater ?

[edge68474]

So I go out to the MH and just for drill I turn on my water heater with propane, switching at my control panel. Nothing happens. So I go out and look into the compartment and wiggle some wires, POOF, it fires up. Then it quits. I read the manual, check on the fuse, it's ok. I go the heater and pull all the wires and reconnect them, turn the 12v switch for propane again and poof, it starts. Then quits. So I again wiggle this one wire which has a kind of bulbous thing in the line and it fires up. I think it is still running. Just a minute, I am going to check, lol. Yep, still is.
I will attach a pic, but what I want to know is what is that wire with the bulbous things in the line. It's a brown wire. And can you replace it only instead of the whole wire bundle.
Thank you for your help, very much appreciated. Going on 73 and still learning, OH YEAH. Means I'm Alive don't it.




EDIT: It's the wire that looks to be shrink wrapped, sorta

[TonyMac]

That thing is a thermal cutoff. It will cut power to the gas valve if the thermal cutoff gets too hot. Safety device.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K9KNRB5...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[Old-Biscuit]

Yes it is the 'thermal cut out'---one shot fuse that blows at 190*F IF flame should blowback out of combustion chamber (cause chamber is obstructed/dirty etc)


If it blows it HAS to be replaced


Wiggling it means that the spade connector is LOOSE on the terminal of t-stat, terminal for t-stat is loose, spade connector is loose on the brown wire etc
Loose connections make for lousy circuits.


Yes if needing to replace it just unplugs at both ends----usually come in 2 pack WHY I am not sure cause they should NOT be a common replacement item
???

[edge68474]

Ok. You guys are Great. I now know what it is and what it does.
Thank you very much.