Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-14-2025, 06:34 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2
Suburban furnace

Suburban Furnace help please!
I have a 1998 SMB and my furnace was replaced a couple years ago. It’s been working great when I’m not connected to shore power. I have two AGM house, batteries and have been driving today over an hour and then plugged into 30 amp at a campsite. The outlets are working to charge items, but for some reason when I click on the switch for the furnace, it does not start.
Ideas?

AkYeti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2025, 10:59 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
larrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oregon Ciry Oregon
Posts: 2,908
Does the furnace operate correctly when you disconnect from the current shore power?

If the answer to the above question is no then check the following.
1. Check the fuse.
2. Does the blower come on? Is not it is a power issue.
3. If blower does come on then it may be the air flow safety switch that is preventing the gas valve from opening. The switch is internal to the unit.
4. If the air flow switch is working then you should hear a click indicating the gas valve.
5. If the gas valve opens and then closes it may be a burner issue of a partially blocked exhaust of combustion air intake. Use a flashlight to look inside the exhaust and intake openings to see if there is an obstruction.

Another thing to check is the burner element. This requires that you remove the unit from the van and then the burner from the unit. Our furnace would go through the safety checks start heating and then turn off. Took it apart and found a spider web on the burner. Once that was gone the furnace worked correctly. Apparently there is a yellow spider that likes the residue left by burning natural gas or propane.

It is possible that the control board has gone bad. I am not sure how to test it.
__________________
Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
larrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2025, 01:45 AM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2
Thanks for all the suggestions. The furnace operates great when I’m not connect to electrical power.
AkYeti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2025, 10:59 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
larrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oregon Ciry Oregon
Posts: 2,908
When on shore power is there power at the furnace? Another thing to check is if there power at the thermostat.
__________________
Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
larrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2025, 06:49 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 475
When on shore power, the "converter" part of the charger will take over supplying 12V power. But you're saying the furnace stops receiving power when the converter is operating? Are all of the other 12V circuits working normally when on shore power? Lights? Fridge?
N147JK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-16-2025, 09:36 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Twoxentrix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,705
Garage
Just throwing this out there; you probably have one or two 110 outlets that have a GFI built in - I’d test them to see if one has tripped…no telling what all they protect down stream.
__________________
TwoXentrix
"AWOL"
Twoxentrix is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:43 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.