Hot Water Heater and Refrig Problem

[striker]

Have a 2007 Fleetwood (now Coleman) E-2 (off-road pop-up)  Lighted the hot water heater tonight and it kept "roaring" for about 10 minutes before I shut it off. While it was on, I tried lighting the refrigerator. It seemed that the pilot would come on but go off once I removed my finger from the start pilot setting. (It was dark so I could see a small light through the opening.) I had previously lighted the indoor grill without a problem.

Since the hot water heater made it's noise for longer than usual, I wondered if the propane could be low. If this is the case, it could also impact the refrigerator not lighting. I tried loosening and lifting the two tanks but I wasn't certain how low they were. No indicator is available. I've only camped for about 10 days since I've had it. Think I usually cut off the hot water heater and power when I'm away during the day. (I do only boondocks camping.) Could the symptoms be caused by a low level of propane?

Thanks for your help.

[He Ruide]

Striker,

If you have two full tanks they should last for more than 10 days.  However, lets try a couple things.

1.  You can determine how much propane is in the cylinders using two methods.  You can pour hot water on the out side of the cylinder and note where frost develops. That is the level of propane in the cylinder.  Alternatively,  you can weigh each cylinder with a bathroom scale.  On the collar of the cylinder you will find the tare weight (that's the weight of the cylinder empty). Subtract that from the weight that you measure and that will tell you the weight of propane in the cylinder.  BTW, I don't recommend having both cylinders connected and turned on.  Doing that prevents you from knowing when one is empty and you end up with two empty cylinders.

2. The length of time that the water heater will be on is based on the temperature of the water in the tank.  However,  make sure the tank is full by turning on a hot water tap and confirm that water is coming out.  

3. The fridge doesn't have a pilot. The little flame is the burner.  When you press down the red button that ignites the propane similar to an igniter on a grill (its function is different than the water heater where you have to depress the button to lite the pilot).  If the burner lights and then goes out then you don't have a constant flow of propane.  That could be caused by a number of things including air being in the line or spider webs restricting the flow of propane. Also sometimes it take several tries before the burner will light.

So I would recommend confirming that you have propane in the cylinders, water in the water heater tank, that the water heater works, and then try the fridge.  Note during the day an easy way to know if the fridge burner is on is to QUICKLY touch the exhaust at the top ( its on the right side of this photograph) . If it is warm then the burner is lite.

Hope this helps.

Ruide

[coach]

Frost unlikely unless the contents were extremely cold from use. First you'd see condensation like on a cold beverage, eventually frost on big BTU users like turkey fryers.

"Because propane is a liquid you can easily tell how full your propane tank is, be it the small hand held tank or a larger tank for the gas grille or camper. Simply pour hot water down the side of the tank, wait a second or two and then slide your hand up and down the tank. It will remain quite hot where there is no propane behind the steel wall of the tank, however the heat will be rapidly absorbed from the tank surface by liquid propane. So, you can tell where the liquid level is by feeling the temperature gradient on the tank surface with your hand. Where the tank goes from hot to cold is where the liquid level is. Simple, huh?"

There is a thermocouple in the fridge flame. When it gets hot it sends micovolts to the gas valve to 'tell' it to stay on. The fridge flame changes size based on the thrmostat/knob settings. Regular maintance is reguired to clean the burner, chimney and orifice.

[striker]

Thanks to both of you for your responses.

[He Ruide]

Striker,

You are welcome.  Take care.

Ruide

[coach]

Frost on cylinders

I'd like to see pics of frost from hot water.

[bartletts]

I have a Fleetwood Yuma with a 6 gallon hot water heater, I think the same one you have on yours. I found that I tripped the leak valve on the propane tank once from opening the valve too fast. It allowed me to run either the fridge or the water heater, but not both, and the stove would light by itself but the furnace wouldn't. A full shut down of the propane system and then slowly opening the valve again cured it.

[striker]

I was aware of that issue. I've heard that if you open them too quickly it activates the propane leak sensor and it shuts off the line.