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Old 10-23-2017, 05:58 PM   #1
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atwood furnace problem

We have a 2016 coleman 2855 with an atwood furnace. We had no problems in april and this past weekend was the first time we have tried to use it since then. No luck. The red diode would blink once then 3 second pause. The blower will not even try to start. I looked at the ignition control board and it looks like there could have been some water on it. there was some dried rusty powder on top and bottom. any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Old 10-23-2017, 06:39 PM   #2
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Had a similar issue with mine last year. I could take the outside cover off... hit the blower motor with the heel of my hand a couple of times, and it would finally come on. Of course, as soon as it warmed up & turned off... same issue when it cooled back down again. I looked all around, tried blowing any trash out with my compressed air hose... nada.

Finally got a tech to look at it, and he found the issue within 2 minutes. Removed the blower motor shroud, and showed me that a contact which was attached to the inner part of it (called a Sail Switch), and that it was sticking. As soon as he tapped it with a small screwdriver, it made contact, and the unit began running. Replaced that, no further issues. $12 of the part, and 5 minutes to replace it.
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Old 10-23-2017, 07:18 PM   #3
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The sail switch could be stuck as Tom suggested or it could be an air flow problem. Meaning, not enough air getting to the blower motor to activate the sail switch. Perhaps a mouse has built a home in the intake air duct or something is covering the air intake.

However, with the blower not being able to activate I'd say the sail switch is out of the equation. Rusty powder on the control board might be the problem. Water could have shorted or grounded some of the components or the limit switch might have corroded terminals.

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/hflamefurn04.pdf
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Old 10-23-2017, 07:21 PM   #4
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the board is what im leaning towards but figured i would check with others. the camper is still under warranty from camping world but it will cost me as much to drive it there as it would for me to buy the part and do it myself.
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Old 10-23-2017, 07:28 PM   #5
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the board is what im leaning towards but figured i would check with others. the camper is still under warranty from camping world but it will cost me as much to drive it there as it would for me to buy the part and do it myself.
Can you post a photo of the board? Also it is imperative to find out how the water got in there.
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Old 10-23-2017, 09:21 PM   #6
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Even if it's not the problem now, cover those outside vents with a bug screen, perfect size for mud dauber and wasp nests.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:54 PM   #7
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i cannot post a pic at the moment. I am looking for a surefire way to test the board. It has power to it. no power going to the blower. I want to check the sail switch and the limit switch to make sure they are ok but I am still 95% sure its the board.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:54 PM   #8
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Good plan
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Old 10-23-2017, 11:38 PM   #9
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i cannot post a pic at the moment. I am looking for a surefire way to test the board. It has power to it. no power going to the blower. I want to check the sail switch and the limit switch to make sure they are ok but I am still 95% sure its the board.
You might try to brush the gunk off the board with a toothbrush and a little alcohol. Blow the board dry and give it a test.
One of the flow charts shows the power going to the motor comes from the relay. That relay may be on the board or separate.

The link I provided gives the flow chart and sequence of operation. Power to the board flows through the limit switch and sail switch so they can be thought to be ok before you tear into it. That leaves the relay to power the blower motor as suspect.
I don't know which furnace you have but the sequence should be the same, however the flow chart may be a little different.
The model number of the furnace will help us with this problem.
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Old 10-24-2017, 11:41 AM   #10
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thanks. Model : afmd 30111
I should be able to check switches today when i get home from work.
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Old 10-26-2017, 05:44 PM   #11
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looks like ill be ordering a ignition control board. Checked with camping world and they cant get me in until december. I can buy the board for what it would cost me to run down there anyway. Any suggestions on a replacement brand or should I stick with the atwood board?
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Old 10-26-2017, 05:52 PM   #12
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looks like ill be ordering a ignition control board. Checked with camping world and they cant get me in until december. I can buy the board for what it would cost me to run down there anyway. Any suggestions on a replacement brand or should I stick with the atwood board?
Sticking with an Atwood board will be costly. It is very possible, like so many companies, Atwood doesn't make the boards proper. Most circuit boards come from one of the 'ese' providers.
However there is a provider that supplies many boards to many RV establishments.
Ignitor Board Index page
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Old 10-26-2017, 06:10 PM   #13
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Thanks. I found the atwood for $90 on amazon and the dinosaur for $95 Waiting to hear back from a few more emails to see what happens before I order
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Old 11-06-2017, 09:29 PM   #14
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ok...new dinosaur board is installed. Blower starts right up and heater ignites....for a few seconds then shuts down and retries. Any thoughts? I have some but figured id ask first before I try a bunch of stuff unnecessarily.
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Old 11-06-2017, 09:39 PM   #15
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ok...new dinosaur board is installed. Blower starts right up and heater ignites....for a few seconds then shuts down and retries. Any thoughts? I have some but figured id ask first before I try a bunch of stuff unnecessarily.
You say it "retries"... are you saying it doesn't relight when it retries, or that it relights & shuts back down in a continuous cycle?

If it doesn't relight, I'm thinking possible propane-flow issue. If it just continues recycling, I'm out... someone else will have to chime in.
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Old 11-06-2017, 10:13 PM   #16
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relights for a few seconds then stops burning. Gas flow was one of my thoughts as possible issue.
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Old 11-07-2017, 12:18 AM   #17
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I am not totally satisfied it is a propane or heater problem.. all gas fireplaces etc furnaces such as that have a part within them that keeps the pilot light burning. Its called a thermopil or thermocoupling. both do basically the same thing. If the pilot light is not burning gas will not flow. The thermocoupling works in conjunction with the heat of the flame and produces a small voltage which is sent to the propane valve and tells it there is a flame burning and its ok to open the valve for gas to flow. Without this device you could turn on the gas heater and gas would flow until something else ignited the gas thus an explosion, fire or both.
I would check and see if you can get a new thermopil which hooks on right where the pilot lite burns. easy to replace and keeps the pilot burning. without it the pilot will not stay burning and the gas will not flow.
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Old 11-07-2017, 01:17 AM   #18
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I am not totally satisfied it is a propane or heater problem.. all gas fireplaces etc furnaces such as that have a part within them that keeps the pilot light burning. Its called a thermopil or thermocoupling. both do basically the same thing. If the pilot light is not burning gas will not flow. The thermocoupling works in conjunction with the heat of the flame and produces a small voltage which is sent to the propane valve and tells it there is a flame burning and its ok to open the valve for gas to flow. Without this device you could turn on the gas heater and gas would flow until something else ignited the gas thus an explosion, fire or both.
I would check and see if you can get a new thermopil which hooks on right where the pilot lite burns. easy to replace and keeps the pilot burning. without it the pilot will not stay burning and the gas will not flow.
Basically you are on the money when speaking of an appliance with a standing pilot flame. DSI appliances don't have a standing pilot, they sense heat from the igniter. The method of operation with DSI is controlled more so by the control board and its adjunct components.

In DSI furnaces, the igniter serves in place of a pilot light. In newer furnaces, the igniter also serves as a flame sensor, providing feedback to the ignition control board to verify that ignition was successful.
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Old 11-07-2017, 01:51 AM   #19
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Thanks Dancer.. i did not know that...
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Old 11-07-2017, 01:56 AM   #20
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Thanks Dancer.. i did not know that...
You're welcome and I'm still learning these things myself.
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