never lit a water heater before......

[suprz]

there i said it!  i have never lit a water heater before and i have no idea how.  i can see inside the "chamber"  where the main burner is and there is a small brass tube that looks like it aims up at a "thermocoupler"  i am guessing that is the pilot light and what i need to light with a lightter when i push down the knob on the control.   i have yet to see any good pics on the internet of what and where i need to aim the lighter......any pointers would be appreciated..... :confused:

[Tim5055]

there i said it!  i have never lit a water heater before and i have no idea how.  i can see inside the "chamber"  where the main burner is and there is a small brass tube that looks like it aims up at a "thermocoupler"  i am guessing that is the pilot light and what i need to light with a lightter when i push down the knob on the control.   i have yet to see any good pics on the internet of what and where i need to aim the lighter......any pointers would be appreciated..... :confused:

From my Pop Up Camping  Frequently Asked Questions

How do I light my Hot Water Heater (HWH)?

As there are several manufacturers of hot water heaters (HWH), read and understand you owners manual.  The first thing I want to say is when lighting the HWH it takes a LONG time holding down the pilot button to get gas flow all the way to the HWH.

Now, in case you don't have the instructions, so here goes the general steps:

Turn the HWH gas valve knob to the "Pilot" position, then push this knob in. Gas will NOT flow unless you are holding this down. It is a safety thing.

Wait at least 1 minute, usually 2 and gas will begin to flow. Now try to light it. It will usually take a couple of tries.

After it lights, keep holding the pilot knob down for 20 - 30 seconds. There is a thermocouple which will cut off the gas if it doesn't have time to heat up, again safety.

Now turn it to the ON position. The HWH should now roar to life.

Do not try to be quick about this, it will only frustrate you. Take your time. There is a very small hole that you need to purge all of the air out of the line through before the gas gets to the HWH, that is why it can take a couple of minutes. I find that lighting my stove first helps in getting gas to the HWH heater, but if this helps you will depend on the configuration of your gas pipes

[suprz]

thanks for the reply.    now if i could find a video!  this weekend is the last one before the "real" maiden voyage of the new PUP  everything else has been tested and works it is only the HWH that needs to be checked... but if all else fails the CG has showers!   gotta figure a way to collect the shower water too...darn drain on the flagstaff is so low to the ground it makes it impossible to use a aquatainer...