water heater switch light

[reo]

On my 2008 19 ft bambi, when I turn on the water heater with the interior switch, the red light next to the switch comes on for a few seconds and then goes off and stays off. I'm guessing it is going off when the burner is lit. Is this normal or should the light remain on while the water heater is turned on, to remind you that it is on?

[Minno]

That's normal operation. If the red light stays on, or comes on again and stays on, it means the burner did not light. Then you turn the switch off, wait a couple of minutes and try again.

If you run out of LP and replace the tanks, quite often it'll take a couple of cycles to purge the air out of the line and get the burner to light.

Chris

[barts]

When I installed our new water heater, I had to mount the switch as the original water heater had a manual pilot flame. I used two LED panel lights, one green and one red; the green is wired to the water heater power (shows the heater is ON) and the red is wired to the trouble line from the heater, and it behaves as yours does.

- Bart

[reo]

Thanks barts, where did you pick up the hot line for the water heater. I really would like to ad a heater on light just so I won't forget and waste gas.

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by reo

Thanks barts, where did you pick up the hot line for the water heater. I really would like to ad a heater on light just so I won't forget and waste gas.

Oh...if only a furnace could use propane as efficiently as a water heater does! You can suck two 30lb tanks dry in a week or less during heating season, but I last filled my tanks in MARCH, and finally ran the first one dry last week. I don't worry about forgetting to turn the water heater off any more.

Paula

[barts]

Originally Posted by reo

Thanks barts, where did you pick up the hot line for the water heater. I really would like to ad a heater on light just so I won't forget and waste gas.

On our '71 Tradewind the desk next to the water heater compartment had an overhead light; I took a line from that for the water heater. Since the switch is next to the desk, I also added a 12V lighter plug (w/ a 15A circuit breaker) in addition to the water heater pilot lights and switch... and the water heater power is protected w/ a low amp fuse. The components are all mounted on a piece of 1/8" aluminum plate... here's a zoomed picture:

[Mexray]

I guess this comes under the situation that if all else fails, read the instructions...I'll plead the 5th on this one....

Right from the Atwood manual...

"GAS OPERATION. When the gas switch (electrical flip switch) is turned on, the unit will make three attempts to light. If for any reason there is no ignition, the unit will lockout and the red lockout lamp will illuminate."

After finding out why it didn't light, you reset the routine by turning the flip switch to OFF and wait 10 seconds...

Ours also illuminates the RED pilot lamp while the electronic ignition is in the process of lighting off the gas - then goes off, telling us we're flaming away - but we can hear it as well...just as you described...

Ray