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GCV 40 100 Burner and pilot shuts off when heating up
My GCV-40 water burner and pilot will shut off during a prolonged heating cycle. It act like the gas supply is suddenly turned off. The pilot can be re-lit without a problem each time and it will resume heating.
The problem only occurs if the heater has to run for more the 15 or 20 minutes. If the heater reaches the set temperature quickly enough the burner shuts off normally and the pilot will stay lit. If a lot of hot water was used it may take two or three trys to get up to the full set temperature.
I cleaned the screens, flame looks good, pilot looks good.
Anybody have an idea on what is going on?
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The thermostat shuts off the main burner.The pilot light gas is controlled by the thermocouple which the side of the pilot flame has to envelop. If the flame is too small or too far away from the flame, it shuts the gas off to the pilot. The thermocouple generates a small voltage which keeps the pilot gas open. It can over time fail itself, so look at replacing it. The thermostat sounds like it's failing too.
check the thermal coupling for the pilot light. if it goes out it will shut down gas supply, its a safety feature to put out pilot light if the thermal coupling is bad. to prevent gas from leaking and causeing a fire. check coupling.
Sounds like the burner flame may be too strong (jumping out from burner tube) . Some people think the louder the better, but that is not correct. When burner shuts down like that, it has a tendency to snuff out pilot as well. Adjust your air shutter at burner so that the flame is a nice blue, or with just a hint of orange/yellow at the tip. Whatever setting that keeps the flame solid from burner tube, and not a big gap between tube and flame. Signs of soot (black) up the cover, or side of trailer means it's running too rich, and you've gone too far thus needs more air. Keeping the flame blue but still right out of the burner, actually heats better, is quieter, and should eliminate that pilot getting snuffed out. Pilot should also be a nice blue flame as well. There may be a problem with positioning of the burner tube as well, but doubtful if it has been running well in that position before. Let me know what happens.
it's the thermocoupler ( about $20 ) that is bad replace it. if that doesnt do it it is the box with the on/off/ pilot button ( about $175 ) I found a complete unit at www.americanrvcompany.com for $275 plus shipping ($300 total) and that is how i fixed the exact problem with mine.
a tankleess water heater doen's have a piliot? but check the vent outside make sure nothing is blocking it, if it detects the exhaust thru the cold air intake it will shut off and over heat, other then that it would have to be the control board
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