Propane Fired Heater Problem

[Cody]

<font color=e87400>Hi.



It's memorial weekend & I have to work. I have a silver eagle heater that I'm just putting back into service. It's been down about 2 years. It's comming on but the flame is going out after about 3 seconds. The spark remains. This unit is around 7-8 years old, & is fired by the electrode typs set up, unit runs on 12v

Any Help would be appreciated.

Cody

PS I posted this on the other board I visit too. I'm hard-up for help on this thing. I should know what the problem is but it's eluding me </font>

 

[Larry L.]

Sounds like a thermostat problem to me.

 

[Mark]

What type of burner does it use?

Robertshaw? White Rogers? Fenwall?

I believe they use the Phoenix LPG burner, not the
most common unit for use in the pressure washer industry.

Could be a thermocouple .......... Need more data...

 

[Cody]

<font color=e87400>Mark.

I don't know what kind of burner it is. I always assumed burner types were more of a diesel thing than propane. I just figured the burner assy was tossed together by Silver Eagle. There's really not much to the things. A computer, Fuel celenoid, transformer, electrodes, then the standard thermal cutoff & flowswitch.

I think I have it now. I banged on the fuel celenoid & it began a different pattern. So I'm assuming that there's either trash in it or it's just sticky from sitting for so long. I've had to tear one apart before & it wasn't to productive. It's held together by 3 little 3/32 thick bolts, all three snapped off.

I'm wondering if I could find a new replacement celenoid locally but I'm not optimistic.

Cody.</font>

 

[Cody]

<font color=e87400>I got this fixed for the most part. It was the gas solenoid. I was able to take it apart & get it back together then it worked fine.

Still one quirk though. The unit heats up fine, but it's a little quirky. Not sure yet of the exact pattern but what seems to be happening is when the unit gets heated up & you release the trigger, stop the flow, when the flow is restarted the unit burps one flame & goes out. I can pop the flow on & off repeatedly & this happens. If I just run the gun for a few minutes with no flame on <i>(note: now the system is cooling)</i> I can pop the gun again & the flame will come on & remain on. Also when the flame is not on the electrodes are sparking fulltime.

Not sure what would cause this. Seems to be related to temperature though since the unit "seems" to fire on & off fine when it is cool. Would the thermal cut-off cause this. If so why does the flame not work only after you actuate the flow. Shouldn't the thermal switch kill the flame at some point. This does not "seem" to be happening.</font>

 

[LaRoy]

Cody,

I also have a Silver Eagle propane fired unit. It sounds like a fuel supply problem for sure. It could even be a low battery - insufficient juice to keep the fuel solenoid activated, or the solid state control box. If it is the solenoid or control box you can get a new one from Silver Eagle.
One other possibility is a cracked ceramic on one of the electrodes. This will result in erratic ignition.

These units are designed to shut the fuel off after 2-3 seconds if no flame is detected as a safety feature. If you have a cracked ceramic and keep triggering the gun on and off, you can create a buildup of raw fuel in the burner area that will cause quite an explosion when it finally does ignite. (burned most of the hair off my arm & face - he-he!)