Water Heater Problem

[Hoagie]

This question concerns the Suburban Water Heater in our 2006 Starcraft TravelStar 21SSO Hybrid. This water heater has electronic ignition, with the power switch located in a panel above the refrigerator. Next to the switch is an indicator light labeled "Reset" which in normal operation is not illuminated.
 
On a recent trip we spent 4 nights camped at less than 1000 feet above sea level. (Santa Cruz, CA area.) We then packed up and relocated to a campground at about 8000 feet above sea level. (Mammoth Lakes, CA) For the 4 nights in Santa Cruz and the first 2 nights in Mammoth we had no problems. Plenty of hot water. Beginning on the next to last day of our trip the water heater would not light. The "Reset" light was illuminated. I tried cycling the power, but this did not help. A fellow camper thought maybe the orifice was carboned up due to the lack of oxygen at 8000 feet. But his water heater (an Atwood) as well as others in the group had zero issues.
 
Any ideas on where to begin looking for a solution? We are home now at an elevation of a couple of 100 feet and the water heater still won't light, with the Reset light illuminating whenever I flip the power on.
 
TIA

[dthurk]

We were looking at just about the same situation with the Suburban heater in our 2007 Fleetwood Saratoga.  The solution was as simple as patience.  I would turn on the switch for the heater to light up on propane.  As soon as I hit the switch, the red light would come on.  I'd turn it off and on again with nothing happening.  I'd begin to check everything, yep this is on, yep this is set correctly.  Was thinking about taking it to a dealer to troubleshoot it.  Then...I turned it on and left it on with that durned red light glowing.  In about 60 seconds, the thing fired up and lit.  The red light went out.  All was well.  

Don't know why things changed for you, but you may want to give this a try.  Worked for us.

[Recumbentman]

Have you verified you voltage to the heater. The electronic ignition needs a min. of 10.5 VDC to work
I would also check for loose wires and Dirty electrodes
Good luck and let us know what you find the problem to be. :U

[Recumbentman]

Hoagie

Well what did you find out to be the problem :compumad:
share your findings

[Hoagie]

Okay. I apologize for not following up on this. Been busy with other stuff lately.
 
Anyway, I'm going to put this down to a battery bank that had depleted due to overnight use of the furnace, preventing it from providing the minimum voltage required for the electric ignitor. This coupled with the fact that even after charging on the generator in the morning I never left the switch on for any amount of time. Just flipped it on, saw it indicating "Reset" and flipped it back off.
 
After reading Recumbentman's post I went out this past weekend (trailer has been on shore power for over a week at this point) flipped the switch, waited a minute and the Reset light cleared and the heater fired right up.
 
A little patience in the morning after charging on the generator would have done wonders.