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Moonstruck · 04-12-2013, 02:35 PM

I am working on a '69 Tradewind with an Atwood 10 Gallon water heater.
I had something similar to this on my 67 Caravel - with a thermocouple, pilot light and a UNITROL controller.

My problem is she doesn't behave quite like the one on my caravel. If I rotated the red dial fully down - lowest temperature - it would revert to just the pilot light. This one just keeps burning.

I haven't had time this evening to discover whether it would just burn and burn. But if there's a fault on the thermostat I think that's what will happen.

Any solution?

Marc

Minno · 04-12-2013, 02:47 PM

The beige knob on the top of the controller has a pilot setting. As far as I understand these things, that's the only sure way to set the control to pilot only.

The red knob, when set to the lowest setting, will run the burner until the water reaches that temp setting, which will still provide warm water. If the the controller is indeed bad, a possible failure would be as you describe where the burner will continue to run, providing extremely hot water. If that happens, the pressure release valve should pop and allow the now over pressurized system to bleed pressure off.

At the lowest temp setting, I'd let it run for awhile and see if it shuts off. Give it 5 to 10 minutes. If you're concerned, check the temp of the water at the closest hot water faucet. You don't need a thermometer to get a sense of if the water is too hot. But of course, be careful checking until you know the water heater works properly.

If the control has failed, it needs to be replaced.

Cheers,
Chris

Moonstruck · 04-12-2013, 03:22 PM

Thanks for that!

As I said, the one in my Caravel could be turned right down to off, which I would set it to at night.

I will run it for longer tomorrow on a low setting and discover if its over-running.

Marc

falcon-N-Air · 09-21-2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonstruck

I am working on a '69 Tradewind with an Atwood 10 Gallon water heater.
I had something similar to this on my 67 Caravel - with a thermocouple, pilot light and a UNITROL controller.

My problem is she doesn't behave quite like the one on my caravel. If I rotated the red dial fully down - lowest temperature - it would revert to just the pilot light. This one just keeps burning.

I haven't had time this evening to discover whether it would just burn and burn. But if there's a fault on the thermostat I think that's what will happen.

Any solution?

Marc

Marc,

I have the same Bowen/Atwood water heater in our 68 Tradewind with similar issues, just curious to what you ended up doing with the one in the 69 Tradewind you were working on.

Moonstruck · 09-23-2013, 04:22 AM

Hi Falcon,

I am afraid I cannot be of any help on this. The Atwood I was working on had been out of service for some time. After running it for a while it started to behave itself and since I've heard nothing from my friend - who is living in his TradeWind for the summer - I assume it's working ok.

Since the whole contraption is controlled and operated by the Thermostat they are usually the source of problems - and replacing is the cure - it's pretty much unserviceable.

On the subject of my friend living in his TradeWind for the summer. His eldest daughter was a tad unhappy to be giving up her big bedroom to sleep with her two sisters in close proximity. I advised him to hold a BBQ and invite all her school friends. She is now very happy to be the coolest girl in school! After all - her dad has an Airstream!!

richinny · 09-23-2013, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonstruck

On the subject of my friend living in his TradeWind for the summer. His eldest daughter was a tad unhappy to be giving up her big bedroom to sleep with her two sisters in close proximity. I advised him to hold a BBQ and invite all her school friends. She is now very happy to be the coolest girl in school! After all - her dad has an Airstream!!

PRICELESS!