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Old 07-11-2015, 06:38 PM   #1
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Need help turning the HW heater off

Can anyone here suggest an easy way to disconnect the ignitor on my water heater-I am really afraid my DH (with dementia) is going to push the wrong switch which is next to the pump switch and my WH is drained and bypassed--we really have never used one much since an electric coffee pot takes care of our needs..there must be something to unplug! Janalee
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Old 07-12-2015, 04:47 AM   #2
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I don't know about your camper but removing the fuse would do it the only problem would be if there was some thing else on that fuse it wouldn't work either other wise open the outside door to the heater and disconnect the connection to the heater controller.
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Old 07-12-2015, 05:53 AM   #3
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I don't know about your camper but removing the fuse would do it the only problem would be if there was some thing else on that fuse it wouldn't work either other wise open the outside door to the heater and disconnect the connection to the heater controller.
Mainah...and what would the heater controller look like? There is a connection to a small panel that has a rubber "boot" over it..could that be it?
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Old 07-12-2015, 09:55 AM   #4
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Janalee,

I moved your post to a new one so it does not get buried in Jerry's HW heater fix it post.

Help us understand "which" hot water heater in which camper you are talking about. I thought you had a Coachman motor home now.

Do you have the year of the heater and or model number? and better a pic looking at the outside of it with the cover down.

If it is an Atwood and a more new one, there is the gas side (you talked about the ignitor") and then the 120 VAC electric side.

In your case, you want to stop both sides from working so an accident does not happen.

Reason for knowing the year of the model as if it is an Atwood in late 2003/early 2004 models they changed the way the electric element was integrated into the system. On these newer units it is easier to disable the entire heater at the heater control board. We can tell you which connector to unplug.

If this is a pre 2003 Atwood, then the electric element part is totally separate from the gas control and we need to address that differently.

Give us some tech data of what make, model and year of HW heater and we can help better get you fixed up quick.

Thanks

John
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Old 07-12-2015, 10:00 AM   #5
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I looked up your profile, is this the 1998 Coachmen MH?

Again need the Make, model and year of the heater in case the prior owner change it and take a pic on the heater outside the camper with the cover down so we can see the heater internals.

I do not know if Coachmen used a Suburban or and Atwood HW heater. While the basic concept is the same, they are different products.

Thanks

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Old 07-12-2015, 11:17 AM   #6
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Atwood G6A-8E

The model number of my 1998 Coachmen Atwood propane only ,water heater,posted above.Now I am trying a picture..stayed tuned!!
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Old 07-12-2015, 11:26 AM   #7
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Old 07-12-2015, 11:31 AM   #8
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John..as I mentioned earlier,there is a wire going from the ignitor to a board (upper right)and it has a black boot covering that end...is this what I would disconnect at the boot end? At least that's what I,in my limited electrical knowledge,has figured out! LOL!!
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Old 07-12-2015, 05:25 PM   #9
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Can you just disconnect the wires in the switch inside the coach? This way you don't have to worry about shutting down the gas if you disconnect the igniter.
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Old 07-12-2015, 05:36 PM   #10
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Can you just disconnect the wires in the switch inside the coach? This way you don't have to worry about shutting down the gas if you disconnect the igniter.
Had already pondered that idea,but I have now decided to make a cover of some kind as I did in my Sunline (I used the tin container from some lozenges)..the switch isn't by itself in this unit so I have to really use some ingenuity. The disconnect would solve it but if I ever wanted it operational, I couldn't do it myself. Would you believe everything is mounted so high in here,only 6-footers can reach even the lights and vent crank handles!! At 5'3 I don't stand a chance w/o a step stool! Thanks all....Janalee
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Old 07-12-2015, 06:16 PM   #11
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Try using the u-shaped clamps used for electric cables on the side of a house. They are different widths to cover just one switch on the panel. You could still access the switch by putting your finger inside the clamp (like a trigger guard).
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Old 07-12-2015, 06:19 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by j52wf View Post
Try using the u-shaped clamps used for electric cables on the side of a house. They are different widths to cover just one switch on the panel. You could still access the switch by putting your finger inside the clamp (like a trigger guard).
Will check out that possibility..thankz!
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Old 07-13-2015, 04:07 PM   #13
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mainah is an unknown quantity at this point
You have both 120 volt heater and gas. If you remove the red wire marked ECO that will defeat the gas valve if it's not plugged in the electric heat will not come on and they usually have a separate switch. If you are parked why not just fill the tank?
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Old 07-13-2015, 04:37 PM   #14
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You have both 120 volt heater and gas. If you remove the red wire marked ECO that will defeat the gas valve if it's not plugged in the electric heat will not come on and they usually have a separate switch. If you are parked why not just fill the tank?
Mainah...my WH is gas only, not combination. I don't use the water heater as I mentioned before,so the water gets very rank sitting here in the heat. I try very hard to not use the camper water to drink..DH doesn't understand that...so sometimes he drinks it if I'm not watching closely. It's a very difficult situation I have here...it is easier to bypass it than to drain and flush every so often. I will probably just cover that switch until my nephew disables it.
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Old 07-14-2015, 05:34 AM   #15
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mainah is an unknown quantity at this point
Yes if the water isn't used it does get a bit nasty I looked again and yeah I think what I saw was the red tag on the pressure valve and assumed it was a heater element. You can just remove the red wire on the terminal marked ECO, they just unplug and it will not light it is the wire that opens the gas valve.
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Old 07-14-2015, 08:51 AM   #16
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I called Atwood today and the tech explained such a simple way to disable my WH !! Disconnected the power supply from the circuit board..it is a 4-wire connector with red,blue,green,and brown wires..the brown wire cuts all power to the unit. Simple fix--should have called them first!!
Now..in looking for their phone number, I found a sale on their WHs at almost 70% off thru Stuccu.com being sold with FREE SHIPPING!!!!!
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Old 07-14-2015, 03:19 PM   #17
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Yeah that is what I was trying to tell you!
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Old 07-14-2015, 10:09 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janalee View Post
I called Atwood today and the tech explained such a simple way to disable my WH !! Disconnected the power supply from the circuit board..it is a 4-wire connector with red,blue,green,and brown wires..the brown wire cuts all power to the unit. Simple fix--should have called them first!!
Now..in looking for their phone number, I found a sale on their WHs at almost 70% off thru Stuccu.com being sold with FREE SHIPPING!!!!!
Hi Janalee,

Sorry so long getting back to you, this part number Atwood G6A-8E is a gas only electronic control unit. And what Atwood told you was what I was going to suggest if it was. Just wiggle that white 4 wire connector off on the top of the black brick control board in your picture. Yo can put a piece of electrical tape over it if you want. That kills all power to the unit. Then no firing the ignighter or gas valve. You really do not want to pull the rubber boot of as a method of trying to shut it down.

I was concerned if it had the 120 volt ac element on the back side of it. But that you do not have with that part number. It would of been a GC6A-8E with the electric element. Need the C for combination unit.

Glad you have this all sorted out now.
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Old 07-15-2015, 10:18 AM   #19
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Thanks to all of you for your help! It was an easy,reversible fix after all!
I think I have everything working quite well now and all my adaptations done...wish we could still travel but just not in the cards for me anymore..:«{
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