Aqua-Hot AHE-100-0S3 problem

[Paul Stark]

New BAC members Paul & Wanda
2005 37ft Monaco Patriot Ticonderoga
Aqua-Hot AHE-100-03S

New to this coach, bought as-is, no manuals with the coach.  The Aqua-Hot site does not have a shop manual for model AHE-100-03S.
 
PROBLEM:  After turning on both the diesel and electric switch’s in the motorhome and waiting for around 30 minutes I turned on the Comfort Control in the front half of the coach with a setting of "furnace" and a temperature of 75.  I could hear the aqua-hot running all this time, but no heat in any room, and no hot water. 
The Electronic Controller has the following readings:  Electric Heating Element Status is green.  Heating Status is green.  Heating Zone #5 is green.  Pump#2 is green.  Low Temp Cutoff Status is green.  The Diesel Burner is green for 3 seconds and then red for 6 seconds in a cycle.  All other indicators are dark. 
Anyone else have a similar problem with a solution or a location where I can get this fixed?  Am in Troy, MT.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Paul,
The Coach Assist library has the owners manual for your unit. http://www.aquahot.com/files/owners_manual/AHE-100-03SAqua-HotOwnersManual09-03.pdf
There were very minor changes from the 03S to the 04S, thus no 03S service manual. http://rvhydronicheaterrepair.com/AHE-100-04S.htm  The 04S manual is applicable to the 03S.
Sounds like your burner is not starting or cutting off immediately after it fires. This could be caused by a number of things including electrode mis-alignment or faulty fuel filter.
That said, the unit should still work in electric mode. So you may not be getting heated antifreeze to the interior heat exchangers. Check to see if the lines leaving the zone pumps are hot. If not. a gentle rap with a wrnch will often cause the check valve to open. I'd get the unit working in electric mode before addressing the diesel issue.
Steve

[Keith Moffett]

Hi Paul and Wanda and welcome to the club.  Congrats on the coach but sorry you got no manuals.  In our members only section is a library that should come in handy for you in most other things.
Now, I might be remembering wrong but isnt your AH one with two electric heating elements?
If so you should do pretty well without the diesel for now if we can get the 110V working right.
Do you have the 5 button thermostats?  White and about the size of a pack of cards with 5 grey buttons down the front?  Did you turn them on with the lever on the bottom?  The lever should be to the right for ON.   Now switch the thermostat to "furnace".  The rear thermostat should say zone 1 (bedroom) furnace.  Switch to zone 2 and put it on furnace too.  Go to the front thermostat and most are only zone 1 there so put that on furnace as well.  Now set the required temp way high for now on both.  Make sure the Aqua Hot 110V button is on.  When heat is available the various fans should kick on.
Let us know if this helps.  I dont know of anyone in Troy or Libby with AH experience.
Another step might be www.heatmyrv.com (John Carrillo in Denver) for parts and info.

Good luck 

[Keith Moffett]

Good advice Steve, I forgot to mention the coolant.
Paul, if the expansion tank has run low the AH wont run.  The tank is either in the engine compartment or fuel bay.  I believe yours uses 'Boiler Fluid' but you can get by with some distilled water from Safeway. 

[Paul Stark]

Steve, thanks for the information on locating manuals.  I have tried taping on the pipes coming out of the circulation pumps, but the pipes are still cold.

Keith, I have the electric switch on as we speak and have all zones set to "furnace" and 95 degrees.  However, all the fans are running now also.  The expansion tank is even with the cold level.  How long does the system have to be on to generate hot water?  Also, this is my first Aqua-Hot experience, our past RV's all had furnaces.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Paul,
It could take up to an hour from a cold start running on electric. BTW, verify that you Aqua Hot breaker is on. Also, you must be on shore power or generator for the electric feature to work as it has too  high a current draw for the inverter.
 
Are the small round circulation zone pumps running? If not you won't get any hot fluid to the heat registers (exchangers). You said the fans are running. To the best of my knowledge they will only run when the thermostat switch on the hose coming to the register detects that the heat at the register is sufficient. Reach behind one of the registers and see if the hoses are hot. The one under the bed is usually easy to access.

Not sure of your route. The only Aqua Hot service listed on our service providers list (see Private Members Only board) is Bretz RV and Marine in Billings. Listing only shows shops that members have had experience with.
Steve

[Paul Stark]

Steve,
Circulation pumps 1 & 2 seem to be running (warmer than the other 2), but the hoses are still cold and the Electric switch has been on for well over an hour.  Banged again on the metal where the hoses come out of the circulation pumps and waited several minutes, still cold hoses.  As I said before, as soon as I turn on the Comfort control, the fans begin and cold air comes out of the registers and cold water from the faucets.

I live in NW Montana about 40 miles from Canada.  Billings is almost farther than Seattle, WA from where I live.

[Stan Simpson]

I would not go by the expansion tank as a way to check the boiler anti-freeze level in the tank. Take the cap off of the tank and look, or stick something in that will tell you how full it is. NOT when its hot!

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Paul,
Aqua Hot's web site lists Penner Mobile RV Repair in Sommers MT. 406-250-8861
http://www.aquahot.com/Service-Help/Service-Locations.aspx
Steve

[Keith Moffett]

Paul
Right now this Aqua Hot thing is frustrating but once fixed it is the best thing ever.  Worth every penny to get it fixed.

[Paul Stark]

Steve,
Checked the register under the bed and all hoses are cold.

Stan,
I pulled the cap off of the tank and it is completely full.

Steve,
I found an Aqua-Hot service center in Liberty Lake, WA and waiting for a call back for an appointment.  The one in Sommers is a long way away, over a hundred and fifty miles.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Paul,
You probably already did this, but if not, push the "reset" button. It is on the control unit. Use a toothpick or other non-conductive stick to press it through the hole in the control unit cover.
Steve

[Paul Stark]

Steve,

Found the problem with the electric and it is working.  Because I could hear things running, it never occurred to me to find the breakers (which are not where I expected) and the heater had tripped.  Once I reset the breaker and let the electric run for about two hours, it was working when I went in and checked, both heat and water. 

I have turned the electric off and the diesel on and will see what happens.  Be nice if the tripped breaker was the problem all along, will update in an hour or so.  Thanks to all the people who contributed ideas, it really helps to have support, and I think I learned a little bit about the aqua-hot along the way!

[Paul Stark]

Steve,

Reset the panel and turned back on the diesel switch (had turned it off after an hour of cold air), will wait and see.

Don't know if it has anything to do with aqua-hot, but a breaker with a listing of "DNT LTS & A/V RCPTS" had tripped when I went in to shut the diesel switch off.

Coach is in an RV bay, but too narrow to open the slides.  Been raining for several days and no letup in site. 

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Paul,
Glad you found it. If diesel still acts up, I'd PM the unit with new fuel filter and burner nozzle. Also be sure to align electrodes.  Not too bad a DIY job. Instructions are available on web and I think Roger Berke's site also covers it.
The breaker that tripped should have nothing to do with the AH as I think it is for dinette lights and audio visual outlets. Probably tripped due to a transient on the ac line.
Steve