Troubleshooting Your RV Water Heater Control Board
Finding out your rv water heater control board has bit the particular dust right before a shower is usually basically a transitional phase with regard to campers. It constantly seems to occur at the most severe possible time—usually whenever you're miles from the nearest parts store and covered in a level of campfire smoke cigarettes and trail dust. One minute you're looking forward to a very hot soak, and the particular next, you're looking at a fun time of ice-cold water wondering why the particular heater isn't throwing on. It's annoying, sure, but in the grand plan of RV maintenance, it's actually one of the even more manageable things can tackle yourself.
Most of all of us don't think about the control board until it prevents working. It's tucked away behind a -panel, silently doing the job day right after day. But that will little circuit board is essentially the particular "brain" of your water heater. It manages the ignition, monitors the flame, and makes certain the gas control device opens and shuts when it ought to. When it does not work out, the whole system just sits there, uninterested and unresponsive.
How you can Tell in the event that the Board Is definitely Actually the Issue
Before a person run out and spend a 100 bucks on a new part, you've got to ensure it's actually the particular rv water heater control board that's causing the drama. These systems are pretty basic, but they have a few "fail-safe" points that can imitate a poor board.
The most common symptom associated with a failing board is the dreaded "three-try lockout. " You'll hear the water heater try to light—that familiar click-click-click of the particular igniter—but the fire never catches, or it catches for a second plus then dies. After three attempts, the particular board gives on with safety reasons plus locks itself straight down. If you've examined your propane storage containers and you understand the gas is definitely flowing, there's the good chance the board isn't "seeing" the flame or isn't sending sufficient juice to the igniter.
An additional red light is total quiet. If you change the switch within the RV and absolutely nothing happens—no clicking, no sound, no nothing—you might have a blown fuse on the board itself or the complete circuit failing. Sometimes, if you look closely on the board, you can actually see the damage. Appear for "burnt" areas, cracked solder joints, or that unique smell of fried electronics. If this scents like a toasted toaster oven, it's toast.
Why These Boards Tend to Fail
You might be wondering why an item of solid-state electronics might just quit. Nicely, RVs aren't exactly the most stable environments. They're basically homes that endure a minor earthquake every time they're driven lower a highway. In between the constant oscillation, the humidity, plus the temperature shifts, it's a magic these boards final as long because they are doing.
Wetness is probably the biggest monster of the rv water heater control board . Because the water heater is accessed through the outside from the rig, the area isn't 100% airtight. Rain, heavy haze, or even simply high humidity may cause corrosion upon the circuit footprints. Over time, that will corrosion eats aside on the copper, and eventually, the connection breaks or cracks.
Then generally there are the pests. I can't tell you how many instances I've seen mud daubers or spiders set up shop right following to the control board. Their nests can trap dampness against the consumer electronics or even result in a short. It's usually a smart idea to keep these exterior vents screened off, but even then, tiny creatures find a way in.
Testing Before You Replace
When you're handy along with a multimeter, you save yourself some guesswork. First, check the thermal cut-off—that's the little wire with the clear plastic tubing over this. If that's blown, your heater won't get any strength, and contains nothing in order to do with the board. It's a five-dollar fix as opposed to a hundred-dollar one.
If the particular cut-off is fine, check the volt quality coming into the board. You need to be seeing a solid 12 volts. When the power is right now there but nothing is coming out towards the igniter or even the gas control device, the rv water heater control board will be the most likely culprit.
One "old school" trick is to simply unplug the wiring harness in the board and plug this back in. Sometimes, the pins obtain a little bit of oxidation in it, and just the act of reseating the connector can clean off enough of this junk to get a good connection again. It's a "it might work" fix that expenses zero dollars, so it's always worth a shot.
Choosing a Replacement: OEM vs. Automotive aftermarket
When a person finally accept that you need a new rv water heater control board , you'll normally have two choices. You are able to move with the initial equipment manufacturer (OEM) part—the same one that included your Atwood or Suburban heater—or you are able to proceed with an aftermarket replacement option.
In the RV world, there's one name that comes up continuously: Dinosaur Electronics. It sounds like a scam, but they actually make some of the best replacement boards in the industry. Many experienced RVers swear by all of them because they're frequently built a little bit tougher than the particular stock boards. They will usually have the thicker protective coating (called a conformal coating) that helps them stand up to humidity and vibration very much better than the factory versions. As well as, they generally come with a better warranty.
That's not saying the OEM planks are junk—they'll get you back in very hot water just fine—but if you're arranging on keeping your rig for a long period, updating to a "Dino board" is a solid move.
Installing the Brand new Board
The particular good news will be that replacing the particular rv water heater control board is a project that almost anyone can perform. You don't need to be an electrical contractor. It's usually kept in by simply one or 2 screws, or sometimes it's just trapped on with some heavy-duty double-sided recording or a plastic material bracket.
Before you begin, make sure a person turn off the ability to the water heater and close off the gas, just to end up being safe. Take a picture of the particular wiring before you disconnect anything. Despite the fact that most boards are designed so you can't really plug things within backward, having a photo for reference point will save you a lot of second-guessing later on.
Once you've swapped the boards, plug everything in, turn the energy and gas back again on, and provide it the test. In the event that everything went best, you should hear that beautiful whoosh of the burner igniting inside a couple of seconds.
Keeping the New Board Joyful
Once a person have your fresh rv water heater control board installed, you most likely don't wish to accomplish this again for some time. The little bit associated with preventative maintenance will go a long way.
Every time you de-winterize your rig or do an in season cleanup, take the peek inside the particular water heater burning tube. Clean out any spider webs or dust. Look into the board for any signs of moisture or new "tenants" (bugs). Some people even use a specialized electronic cleaner spray on the particular contacts every year in order to keep things bright and conductive.
It's also smart to check the close off throughout the exterior water heater door. In case the gasket is definitely cracked or lacking, it's letting in way more water than it need to, that is a direct danger for your electronics. A five-minute job along with some weatherstripping can save your board from an early grave.
From the end associated with the day, a failed rv water heater control board is a nuisance, but it isn't the conclusion of the world. Using a few basic equipment and a little bit of patience, a person can get the particular hot water moving again and get back again to what really matters—enjoying the Great Outdoors without smelling like it. Just keep in mind to double-check individuals connections, and perhaps maintain a spare board in your "just in case" package if you're setting up on some serious boondocking. You'll say thanks to yourself later when you're enjoying the hot shower in the middle of nowhere.