| Its a cold one [message #363570] |
Wed, 21 April 2021 05:35  |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
Karma: 0
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So Im up in Green Bay area camping. Came up to help my daughter and her fam. She just had a baby girl last week and Im here to entertain her 2 year old son. Last night at about 1am the furnace (a Suburban) decided to stop working. The fan will cycle on but it appears the ignitor isnt working. I pulled that out and cleaned it but no go.
Its 5a now and 28deg F. Hopefully I can find a shop in a few hours that can help.
Ch ch chcheers!
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363571 is a reply to message #363570] |
Wed, 21 April 2021 05:55  |
WCB75
Messages: 42
Registered: May 2015
Location: Tampa,Florida
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Assuming you were plugged in to 110 power, I’d be sure that the converter is charging your house battery.. it sounds like the voltage dropped and the sail switch in furnace is not being closed by the blower speed, caused by low voltage. Or if the battery was being charged and voltage was up during the evening you could have a faulty control board.. I would suggest having the furnaces cleaned, checked, and serviced..
Bill and Mary Kay Boeyen
76 23' Birchaven 455
Tampa, Florida
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363574 is a reply to message #363573] |
Wed, 21 April 2021 07:29 |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
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Im on shore power and that seems fine. I have the 60lb tank that is full. First thing I checked was if stove would light and it does. Thinking either the ignitor or its controller went bad.
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363633 is a reply to message #363574] |
Fri, 23 April 2021 17:42 |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
Karma: 0
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Well, today I took the coach over to a shop about 20 min from the campground. And of course the furnace worked for them.
Evidently something stuck loosened on the drive over so...
They cleaned it out a bit and looked it over, said it's fine.
I hope it stays fixed cuz tho tonights not going to be too bad, but there are some more real cold nights coming up.
Cheers
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363636 is a reply to message #363570] |
Fri, 23 April 2021 20:46 |
WCB75
Messages: 42
Registered: May 2015
Location: Tampa,Florida
Karma: 0
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Could be that the drive over charged the house battery enough to get the voltage back up causing the fans speed to increase enough to let the furnaces sail switch close letting the furnace fire up and run... again, be sure that the converter is charging the house battery when coach is plugged in.. furnace will fail once 12v drops and causes the fan speed to slow causing the sail switch to stay open. Just saying.. does not hurt to check voltage to the house battery when plugged in..
Bill and Mary Kay Boeyen
76 23' Birchaven 455
Tampa, Florida
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363646 is a reply to message #363570] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 02:08 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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This sure sounds like a low voltage problem slowing down the fan causing the sail switch to fail to transfer. I have never had a Suburban apart but, if possible, lube the fan motor bearings.
Stick a voltmeter meter on the furnace and see what voltages you are dealing with when it runs correctly and compare them to when it fails.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363647 is a reply to message #363570] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 07:09 |
Tilerpep
Messages: 404
Registered: June 2013
Location: Raleigh, NC
Karma: 7
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Don’t forget to check/address air flow too. If you stored stuff in the intake or vent paths, hose plugged or squashed kind of stuff. Easy test and you get more heat this way as well - take the front panel off and run it with cabinet open. All heat straight out the front no distribution pipes.
1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath
Raleigh, NC
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363649 is a reply to message #363647] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 08:28 |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
Karma: 0
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I think you guys are on to something vis the house batteries. But if Im plugged into to shore power, why would the batteries even matter?
If the batteries are not charging from shore (and I have reason to believe they aren't) what can I do here and now?
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363651 is a reply to message #363649] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 08:46 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Silvernort wrote on Sat, 24 April 2021 09:28I think you guys are on to something vis the house batteries. But if Im plugged into to shore power, why would the batteries even matter?
If the batteries are not charging from shore (and I have reason to believe they aren't) what can I do here and now?
Shane,
The house bank can be a 100% SOC, but bad connections like dirty clips holding that fuse could be the issue. If you measure the voltage at the bank and then at the board on the heater when the fan is running, this might just tell you. Remember that the fan motor is a significant draw 6~7 amps is not uncommon. If you have that condition just start checking connections. If you find any electrical connection that is warm, start there.
Another cheap, dirty and a little risky trick would be to buy a cheap assed battery charger and first try hooking right to the house bank. If that doesn't get it, rig up so you can use it to power the heater board directly. The risk hear is that this cheap (not inexpensive, I mean cheap 10 Amp charger) can and probably will make the house bank outgas. This means you will need to keep an eye on the level in the cells.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363654 is a reply to message #363651] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 10:44 |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
Karma: 0
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Well fudge. My multimeter didn't make it into my "things to bring" this trip. Not sure why I would take it out to begin with.
My connections at the batteries (2 x 6v) look good and they quite obviously take a charge readily from the alternator. After a charge from driving they have enough capacity to run the furnace over night. So, I could pick up a charger or just run the engine before bed.
There's almost 4 more weeks left in this trip so I need to figure this out.
Cheers
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363655 is a reply to message #363654] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 11:02 |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
Karma: 0
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BTW Im still not understanding why the batteries matter at all if Im on shore power and all other electrical things are happy with that.
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363656 is a reply to message #363655] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 11:07 |
blur911
Messages: 166
Registered: December 2020
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Karma: 4
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Silvernort wrote on Sat, 24 April 2021 11:02BTW Im still not understanding why the batteries matter at all if Im on shore power and all other electrical things are happy with that.
The furnace runs on 12VDC, not 120VAC, so, it runs off the batteries. Your 120VAC to 12VDC charger/converter is probably kaput and so your house batteries aren't being charged by it.
Burl Vibert
Kingston, Ontario
1976 GMC 26 foot, Sheridan reno, don't know original model but we call her Roxie
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363659 is a reply to message #363656] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 11:53 |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
Karma: 0
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blur911 wrote on Sat, 24 April 2021 11:07Silvernort wrote on Sat, 24 April 2021 11:02BTW Im still not understanding why the batteries matter at all if Im on shore power and all other electrical things are happy with that.
The furnace runs on 12VDC, not 120VAC, so, it runs off the batteries. Your 120VAC to 12VDC charger/converter is probably kaput and so your house batteries aren't being charged by it.
Got it. Thank you. Watching my grandson right now, so as soon as I get back to the GMC I have some ideas on what to do. Again, thanks all!
Cheers
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363660 is a reply to message #363659] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 15:06 |
LNelson
Messages: 335
Registered: December 2008
Location: Springfield, MO
Karma: 0
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100% of the time I have had this problem in an RV it was because I was not getting proper voltage to my furnace.....100% of the time. When your battery depletes from load, you will see your voltage at the battery go down. I had an RV whose furnace would not work at 11.9 volts. Just sayin. I am thinking your converter is shot so it is not charging your battery. That is why your furnace is not working when the rig is "plugged in". Go get that multimeter.....if you are not close to Harbor Freight, then go to ACe Hardware, Lowes (electrical dept), Home Depot (electrical dept). Got to be something close to where you are. Let us know what you find.
Larry Nelson Springfield, MO
Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut
now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
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| Re: Its a cold one [message #363661 is a reply to message #363660] |
Sat, 24 April 2021 15:56 |
Silvernort
Messages: 95
Registered: June 2019
Location: Rock Springs, WI
Karma: 0
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For right now I dug my Diehard battery maintaner out of the "might need it box" and bought a cord from Menards. So far working good. Gives some time to decide if I need to go farther with this or just wait till I get home.
Cheers
Shane Harvey
1973 26' "Packer Backer", 1976 Palm Beach, 1965 Dart
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