Atwood Heater Troubleshooting

[AK_Truck_Camper]

Hello all!
Just bought a 2000 year model Bigfoot 2500 9.6 camper. I bought it in Colorado Springs, where I left it in a storage lot, before I drive it to AK in 3 weeks.

So....it has a 30,000 BTU Atwood forced air heater. It works completely normal EXCEPT that the on-off switch on the thermostat doesn't turn it off. The only way to shut down its operation is to pull the fuse. Again it works completely normally otherwise turning on and off according to the thermostat setting.

Any ideas on what might be going on. Any suggestions on which wires to check and where with my multimeter?

Appreciate any insight.
Thanks,
John

[AK_Truck_Camper]

Wanted to post that my new basic electronic thermostat works great and took care of my issues. I am not sure my original thermostat was OK, I think I just didn’t use enough pressure on the off switch.
Appreciate the help.

[Old_Islander]

I think this is the existing one?



I know the OP has ordered a replacement, but for others, I had the same problem. The 'off switch' on mine was so sticky, it wouldn't turn off. This thermostat can be disassembled, and when I did, some slight sanding of the plastic arm under the metal contact (in the red circle), a touch of grease, and it works like new.

As others have suggested, this furnace does not just shut off the instant this switch is moved to the 'off' position. The flame immediately stops but the fan continues for maybe a minute or more, until it's internally cooled...

Hope the new thermostat solves your problems.

[TazFord]

I’ll have to give it a try. My current thermostat when set at 70 seems to turn on at 60 and off at 80

[S_Davis]

TazFord wrote:

AK Truck Camper wrote:

rrupert wrote:
Do yourself a favor and get a simple non programmable digital model. They are very easy to install and give much better temperature control. Lowes, HD, and Walmart all sell them.

Done! It arrived today, a super basic Honeywell digital! Can’t wait to get it installed!
Thanks for the advice.

So does a residential thermostat actually work in an RV. I’ve been curious but just thought not. Give us an update AK

As long as the thermostat has internal battery power it will work, most of the newer stats can work on power supplied buy the heating appliance or if that is not available batteries in the stat.

[TazFord]

AK Truck Camper wrote:

rrupert wrote:
Do yourself a favor and get a simple non programmable digital model. They are very easy to install and give much better temperature control. Lowes, HD, and Walmart all sell them.

Done! It arrived today, a super basic Honeywell digital! Can’t wait to get it installed!
Thanks for the advice.

So does a residential thermostat actually work in an RV. I’ve been curious but just thought not. Give us an update AK

[TazFord]

ticki2 wrote:

bigfootgrey wrote:
Hi John
The on/off switch on the top of our thermostat takes some effort to return it to the off position. I felt like it would break the first few times I tried it. It will make a postitive click when returned all the way. Congratulations on the purchase of your Bigfoot.

Bob & Cathy

Yes it takes an effort to click to off position .

Ditto

[AK_Truck_Camper]

chuckklr04 wrote:
30k btu? wow, overkill for a TC.

In Louisiana it would be overkill, but this one will be used for Winter camping in Alaska!
I’ve tent camped with outside thermometer pictures taken at -50F.

[chuckklr04]

30k btu? wow, overkill for a TC.

[AK_Truck_Camper]

rrupert wrote:
Do yourself a favor and get a simple non programmable digital model. They are very easy to install and give much better temperature control. Lowes, HD, and Walmart all sell them.

Done! It arrived today, a super basic Honeywell digital! Can’t wait to get it installed!
Thanks for the advice.

[AK_Truck_Camper]

rrupert wrote:
Do yourself a favor and get a simple non programmable digital model. They are very easy to install and give much better temperature control. Lowes, HD, and Walmart all sell them.

Done!! Thanks for the advice!

[AK_Truck_Camper]

tattoobob wrote:
Use this to post pics http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=3

After you turn the thermostat off The fan will run until the heat exchanger cools to a pre set temperature.

Does it turn on and off as the thermostat reaches temperature?

Thanks for the photo posting advice!
Yes, it turns off and on as it reaches temperature.
I ordered a Honeywell Digital today. I think that is going to take care of all my problems. Thanks so much.

[rrupert]

Do yourself a favor and get a simple non programmable digital model. They are very easy to install and give much better temperature control. Lowes, HD, and Walmart all sell them.

[AK_Truck_Camper]

Found my wiring diagram and breakdown this afternoon that included specifics of the thermostat, wow, that thing really is basic. My issue almost certainly has to be in the thermostat itself and not the heater, since it only has 2 wires!. I’ll probably just get a new one, but put some muscle into the old one first and post what I find.
Thanks again!

[joerg68]

Yes, that is the type I was thinking. As others have said, that switch can be hard to move. That might be the issue right there already.

The mechanical thermostat can be replaced by an electronic one. There should be just two wires there that control the furnace, and all the thermostat does is connect one wire with the other and disconnect it again when the set temperature has been reached.