Battery won't start furnace

[AKpopup]

Hi, when we're plugged in at home, the furnace starts and works fine.

When we're out camping without electrical power, the lights turn and the furnace fan blows but the heater does not ignite.

Any suggestions/  We bought a brand new battery too.

[tlhdoc]

If you could answer a few questions it would help us figure this problem out.  Is anything blocking the exterior vent on the furnace?  Mud daubers are known to do that.  Could there be air in the propane line going to the furnace when you were camping?  Did you turn the propane on at the campground (sometimes we over look the simple things)?  How long did you leave the furnace on?  Had you used any other propane item in the camper before you tried to use the furnace?  Did you use the furnace at home after it didn't work at the campground?

[tknick]

If you could answer a few questions it would help us figure this problem out.  Is anything blocking the exterior vent on the furnace?  Mud daubers are known to do that.  Could there be air in the propane line going to the furnace when you were camping?  Did you turn the propane on at the campground (sometimes we over look the simple things)?  How long did you leave the furnace on?  Had you used any other propane item in the camper before you tried to use the furnace?  Did you use the furnace at home after it didn't work at the campground?

one more thing to add to Tracy's list, do you hear a clicking sound when the furnace is trying to light on either battery or electricity?  The clicking is the electric ignitor trying to light the propane.  If you hear the clicking it means electricity is going everywhere it is supposed to in the heater.  Then, the problem is not electrical but probably propane related and refer to Tracy's post.

travis

[countrymech]

We have the same problem with our '95 Coleman Royale. The problem is that they fan is not reaching a high enough RPM to lift the sail switch. If the Sail switch fails to lift, it won't let the gas valve open. Gotta love that safety factor.
Our furnace will run on shore power but the batteries don't spin the fan fast enough. We were going to have the system checked out but opted to buy a Portable Buddy Heater instead. It works better for dry camping as it doesn't drain the batts and we just tie into the propane tanks via extension hoses. We went camping a couple of weeks ago and it worked like a champ. Good luck with your quest.

[AKpopup]

Hi, thanks for replying.

No - there's nothing blocking the outside furnace vent.

No, I don't hear the ignitor trying to turn on when its on the battery.  I do hear it when we plug the camper in.

I don't think there's a block in the propane line.  We used the propane stove while we were out camping and it lighted and worked fine.

I'll try and charge the battery again.

Any more helpful would be appreciated.  Have a good weekend.

[AKpopup]

Hi, thanks for replying.

No - there's nothing blocking the outside furnace vent.

No, I don't hear the ignitor trying to turn on when its on the battery.  I do hear it when we plug the camper in.

I don't think there's a block in the propane line.  We used the propane stove while we were out camping and it lighted and worked fine.

I'll try and charge the battery again.

Any more helpful would be appreciated.  Have a good weekend.

One more thing - I must of let the furnace blower run for 5 minutes plus (I hoped that the furnace would turn on) before I turned it off.  It was just blowing cold air.

[tlhdoc]

If you didn't hear the igniter trying to light the furnace, then I would think your battery doesn't have enough power.  Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[tknick]

weak battery sounds like the problem all around.  not firing the ignitor, nor spinning the fan fast enough to activate the sail switch as previously mentioned.  try lighting the furnace after your battery has been completely charged.  if you still can't do it, you should check the voltage at the battery and then at the furnace to see if there is a noticable drop.  if there is, you may need to run a new feed from the battery or the converter (depending on how it's wired).  another culpret could be the battery itself.  don't know how old it is or how you've charged it.  something else to check.

travis

[AustinBoston]

Do you have a fridge that runs on 12V? DO NOT use the 12V setting if you plan on dry camping.  That can take 50% or more of your battery's charge.

It is also possible that the sail switch is sticking and needs lubricating.

Austin

[AKpopup]

Do you have a fridge that runs on 12V? DO NOT use the 12V setting if you plan on dry camping.  That can take 50% or more of your battery's charge.

It is also possible that the sail switch is sticking and needs lubricating.

Austin

Hey - we got it fixed!!  My husband had the battery incorrectly hooked up (isn't it always the obvious fixes?).   Yeah!!  We just spent a nice weekend on the Kenai Peninsula.

Thanks for your suggestions -