Heater only works on AC

[Smooth]

I have a 96' coleman Santa Fe that I just got out of storage and found out the heater only works when the camper is plugged in.  I charged the battery, so I don't think that is it.  When I turn the furnace on when using battery only, the fan comes on, but the ignighter never clicks to start the heat, so it just blows air.  When I plug the camper in, everything works fine.  Any ideas?

[PattieAM]

Although you are plugged in, the fan still utilizes the battery and it must be about 10.5-13.5 V DC (at the furnace) for the fan to properly work and open the sail switch for the ignitor to function.

You can check the website:  http://www.atwoodmobile.com for more information.

[AZsix]

I have a 96' coleman Santa Fe that I just got out of storage and found out the heater only works when the camper is plugged in.  I charged the battery, so I don't think that is it.  When I turn the furnace on when using battery only, the fan comes on, but the ignighter never clicks to start the heat, so it just blows air.  When I plug the camper in, everything works fine.  Any ideas?

I have the same problem with mine. I haven't gotten to the bottom of it yet but since temps are in the 90's here it's not a priority for me right now. Everything else works just fine with the battery but it seems as if I just don't have enough juice to make the heat come on. Keep us posted if you solve your problem and I'll do the same.

[rccs]

Just a thought but are you sure you have the battery hooked up right? On the Coleman popups  the black wire is the + and the white wire is the - . If you have them reversed the furnace blower would be running backwards and it would not fire because the sail switch would not get the air flow it needs to open. It would not make any difference to the lights because they are resistive load and polarity makes no difference to them. Like I said though, just a thought since I am not real sure you would get power through your converter with the battery hooked up backwards.

[McCampers]

Just a thought but are you sure you have the battery hooked up right? On the Coleman popups  the black wire is the + and the white wire is the - . If you have them reversed the furnace blower would be running backwards and it would not fire because the sail switch would not get the air flow it needs to open. It would not make any difference to the lights because they are resistive load and polarity makes no difference to them. Like I said though, just a thought since I am not real sure you would get power through your converter with the battery hooked up backwards.

Man you guys with all this techno-talk.  You remind me of click and clack.  Resistive load?  Polarity? Sail Switch?  WOW!  I'm just a moron, and take it to the RV doctor.

[AZsix]

Just a thought but are you sure you have the battery hooked up right? On the Coleman popups  the black wire is the + and the white wire is the - . If you have them reversed the furnace blower would be running backwards and it would not fire because the sail switch would not get the air flow it needs to open. It would not make any difference to the lights because they are resistive load and polarity makes no difference to them. Like I said though, just a thought since I am not real sure you would get power through your converter with the battery hooked up backwards.

I think I have had them hooked up wrong. Seeing how everything else I have worked with has the black wire going to ground I just assumed (wrongly it seems) that the black wire on my pup went to negative. I am pulling the pup in front of the house today and I will switch the wires and see what happens.

Thank you very much!

[AZsix]

Just a thought but are you sure you have the battery hooked up right? On the Coleman popups  the black wire is the + and the white wire is the - . If you have them reversed the furnace blower would be running backwards and it would not fire because the sail switch would not get the air flow it needs to open. It would not make any difference to the lights because they are resistive load and polarity makes no difference to them. Like I said though, just a thought since I am not real sure you would get power through your converter with the battery hooked up backwards.

You get my genius of the week award! :# I changed the wires to the battery hooking the black to positive and the white to negative and lo and behold......I have heat! Now that temps are in the high 80's and low 90's I have heat on battery power.  :-()  At least now I know I can camp this fall and not have to worry about freezing.

Thank you so much for that information. Who would have thought it would be something so simple? (well besides you)

[denbert]

Well see?  The click & clack techno talk saved a trip to the RV doctor.  

[AZsix]

Well see?  The click & clack techno talk saved a trip to the RV doctor.  

This forum has saved me many a trip to the RV Dr.

[rccs]

Glad to see that was all that it took to solve your problem, didn't realize that my reply was so "techno" though. What I did with my wires that connect to the battery was to put red tape on the black wire near the end that connects to the battery and black tape on the white wire near the end that connects to the battery to make it easier to remember which one goes where since that is the colors that are normally used for + and - when working with 12 volts DC.

[McCampers]

Awesome great job!  So join us Next time on Click and Clack we'll tell you how to .........