| Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #156792] |
Sun, 15 January 2012 12:18  |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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The furnace in my 76 Palm Beach operates inconsistently.
When I turn on the theromstat the blower operates and then the burner ignites as normal.
It will run until the coach warms up and the thermostat will shut it down. All A-OK for the first cycle.
After cooling down the thermostat will again start the blower but the reset button will trip before the burner is ignited.
After resetting the button; the blower will start and run and then reset button trips again.
Same thing happens if I manipulate the thermostat manually.
After an extended waiting period it will again operate normally for one cycle. Then the reset button pops again on the secpnd start up.
I found the Sol Aire Manual on Bdub's site but it doesn't address this specific scenario in the trouble shooting section.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #156809 is a reply to message #156792] |
Sun, 15 January 2012 16:21  |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Gene,
The Solaire is an obsolete furnace that very few parts are available for, in fact I threw all the spare parts that I had out last year. You need to check the firebox/burner area for cracks. This is a common failure with the old Solaires. Most have been replaced with a Suburban .
See the following shortcut:
http://gmcmotorhome.info/heat.html#solaire
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMCMI
77 Eleganza Custom (For Sale)
1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan
On the road in Tucson
On Jan 15, 2012, at 11:18 AM, gene barrow wrote:
>
>
> The furnace in my 76 Palm Beach operates inconsistently.
>
> When I turn on the theromstat the blower operates and then the burner ignites as normal.
>
> It will run until the coach warms up and the thermostat will shut it down. All A-OK for the first cycle.
>
> After cooling down the thermostat will again start the blower but the reset button will trip before the burner is ignited.
> After resetting the button; the blower will start and run and then reset button trips again.
>
> Same thing happens if I manipulate the thermostat manually.
>
> After an extended waiting period it will again operate normally for one cycle. Then the reset button pops again on the secpnd start up.
>
> I found the Sol Aire Manual on Bdub's site but it doesn't address this specific scenario in the trouble shooting section.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks.
> --
> Gene Barrow
> Lake Almanor, Ca.
> 1976 Palm Beach
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #156978 is a reply to message #156792] |
Mon, 16 January 2012 17:26 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Lemme know what you find out. Mine's doing exactly the same. If I hold thr button in manually, it operates properly - at least it runs and produces heat - but I suspect the reset is there fro a reason. I rather fix the problem than the symptom.
I'm heard that the airflow switch is often the source of problems. It certainly is on much of the aircooled equipment I run. I'll get the part number off the current switch in my Continental transmitters - it's substantially more reliable than the older ones, and day and night better than an air vane on a microswitch.
--johnny
________________________________
From: gene barrow <barrowgene@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 1:18 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help?
The furnace in my 76 Palm Beach operates inconsistently.
When I turn on the theromstat the blower operates and then the burner ignites as normal.
It will run until the coach warms up and the thermostat will shut it down. All A-OK for the first cycle.
After cooling down the thermostat will again start the blower but the reset button will trip before the burner is ignited.
After resetting the button; the blower will start and run and then reset button trips again.
Same thing happens if I manipulate the thermostat manually.
After an extended waiting period it will again operate normally for one cycle. Then the reset button pops again on the secpnd start up.
I found the Sol Aire Manual on Bdub's site but it doesn't address this specific scenario in the trouble shooting section.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
--
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #156995 is a reply to message #156792] |
Mon, 16 January 2012 20:45 |
Wander Inn
Messages: 100
Registered: January 2010
Location: Phoenix Az.
Karma: 0
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Gene;
I was having the same problem, the pilot lite wasn't heating
the thermocouple. I ajusted the thermocouple and that fixed
my problem.
Mike
Mike & Chris Hughes
1977 Kingsley
Phoenix, Az.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #157022 is a reply to message #156995] |
Tue, 17 January 2012 06:38 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Pilot? MIne must be different, it's electronic ignition. As is the frig.
--johnny
'76 23' Transmode Norris
'76 Palm Beach
From: Mike & Chris Hughes <whose38@yahoo.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2012 9:45 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help?
Gene;
I was having the same problem, the pilot lite wasn't heating
the thermocouple. I ajusted the thermocouple and that fixed
my problem.
Mike
--
Mike & Chris Hughes
1977 Kingsley
Wander Inn
Phoenix, Az.
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #157038 is a reply to message #156978] |
Tue, 17 January 2012 09:06 |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma: 3
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Johnny and Others,
Emory emailed me a copy of the SolAire service manual including wiring diagrams (also available on bdub's) which I forwarded to a friend who is an HVAC tech and teaches the subject at a techinal school.
I described the symptoms to him and he concluded that the blower motor because of its age or dirty condition is drawing too much current causing the reset button to trip.
Sounds similar to a "hot start" issue with an engine starter. Works fine when cold but won't crank when hot.
He also said that a replacement motor csn be found.
CAUTION!! Possible Carbon Monoide Leak
GMC'er Bob Burkitt and Miguel Mendez have told me that there are cracked heat exchanger problems with many of the Sol Aire furnaces and recommend replacing with a new Suburban.
So today I am going to pick up a carbon monoxide detector and check the furnace. If none is detectable I'll pull th e furnace and have my friend inspect the heat exchanger for cracks and then decide whether to replace the motor or install a new furnace.
Thanks to all.
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #157062 is a reply to message #157038] |
Tue, 17 January 2012 12:49 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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I have a CO detector in the air blast from the furnace. So far, nada. But it will stay there, with fresh batteries for the duration. I'll lay my trusty AmpClamp <tm> on the blower motor leads and compare to the patent plate. Overcurrent is normally caused by lack of lube or worn bearings, both of which I can heal./ I believe my GMC manuals also have the infor on the Sol-Aire. If not, I'll pull 'em from bDub's.
I've done nothing to the box save reconnect it and try it, I'll do a close inspection and then address the motor.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 Palm Beach
From: gene barrow <barrowgene@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help?
Johnny and Others,
Emory emailed me a copy of the SolAire service manual including wiring diagrams (also available on bdub's) which I forwarded to a friend who is an HVAC tech and teaches the subject at a techinal school.
I described the symptoms to him and he concluded that the blower motor because of its age or dirty condition is drawing too much current causing the reset button to trip.
Sounds similar to a "hot start" issue with an engine starter. Works fine when cold but won't crank when hot.
He also said that a replacement motor csn be found.
CAUTION!! Possible Carbon Monoide Leak
GMC'er Bob Burkitt and Miguel Mendez have told me that there are cracked heat exchanger problems with many of the Sol Aire furnaces and recommend replacing with a new Suburban.
So today I am going to pick up a carbon monoxide detector and check the furnace. If none is detectable I'll pull th e furnace and have my friend inspect the heat exchanger for cracks and then decide whether to replace the motor or install a new furnace.
Thanks to all.
--
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #157081 is a reply to message #156792] |
Tue, 17 January 2012 15:57 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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I have been hearing the old "sol aire" furnace leaks CO. so not much help out there.
If I had lots of other things fixed on my coach. I would be more apt to bring a new furnace up to the top of the "to do" list.
I have plenty of Carbon monoxide detectors running in the coach. so I am not too worried. and I have taken my burner out. and it really is in pretty good shape.
my furnace works great some of the time. other times, it is annoying. I have been using it more now, to warm the coach up so I can work inside it.(today it is 5 degrees out).
with the good advice you just recieved. I thought i would put my furnace problem out there for debate:
when my furnace fires. it either works. or it runs for a few minutes. and trips the reset. I shut off the thermostat. press the reset. then turn the thermostat on. and it fires and starts running again.
sometimes I need to run the reset proceedure once. sometimes 3 or 4 times. never had to more then 4 or 5 times. usually 3 is the magic number.
after it runs for a few minutes It usually stays running until it gets to temp.
I am thinking there is a thermo safety that is not warming up fast enough. and it is thinking it is not started?
does anybody have any ideas? or where that thermo switch might be?
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help? [message #157125 is a reply to message #157081] |
Tue, 17 January 2012 19:46 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Well, what's the chances the motor warms up and the bearings in it loosen up a bit over a few minutes. This will let the motor speed increase and its current draw decrease. Thus, if it's tripping out on overcurrent it might reduce enough to stop the tripping as it frees up. Or as it spins faster, it might put more air across the flow switch which might be marginal. Mine does the same, I'll report the results of testing.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
________________________________
From: Jon Roche <lqqkatjon@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Sol Aire Furnace --Help?
I have been hearing the old "sol aire" furnace leaks CO. so not much help out there.
If I had lots of other things fixed on my coach. I would be more apt to bring a new furnace up to the top of the "to do" list.
I have plenty of Carbon monoxide detectors running in the coach. so I am not too worried. and I have taken my burner out. and it really is in pretty good shape.
my furnace works great some of the time. other times, it is annoying. I have been using it more now, to warm the coach up so I can work inside it.(today it is 5 degrees out).
with the good advice you just recieved. I thought i would put my furnace problem out there for debate:
when my furnace fires. it either works. or it runs for a few minutes. and trips the reset. I shut off the thermostat. press the reset. then turn the thermostat on. and it fires and starts running again.
sometimes I need to run the reset proceedure once. sometimes 3 or 4 times. never had to more then 4 or 5 times. usually 3 is the magic number.
after it runs for a few minutes It usually stays running until it gets to temp.
I am thinking there is a thermo safety that is not warming up fast enough. and it is thinking it is not started?
does anybody have any ideas? or where that thermo switch might be?
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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