Gas caliphonts

[clearcut]

I have a small gas caliphont for a 30 foot yacht ( brand unknown but distributed by Challenge Yachts - now defunct). It works OK but the problem is the starter spark will not turn off!! It just clicks away merrily until I remove the battery.

Any ideas folks??

Skipper Clear Cut

[Cowboy Sailer]

Is that we call a geyser in South Africa and a hot water heater in Texas?

[clearcut]

It heats the waterfor the shower, hot tap etc. Gas powered!

[AnchorageGuy]

Sounds like a short in the switch. If you can't open it up then you will need a replacement. Am I correct that this is a push button switch?

[Cowboy Sailer]

We moved to Taiwan and the first night we discovered that we had no hot water. I found that the tankles water heater had a battery powered ignition for the gas flame. When I told my wife that the battery was down and that I had replaced it, she looked amazed and said,"Don't tell me that we have a battery powered water heater!"

[clearcut]

Problem now solved thanks. It is powered by a single 1.5V cell but that wasn't the problem. I noticed a small moving part (switch) a squirt of CRC seemed to do the trick.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by clearcut

Problem now solved thanks. It is powered by a single 1.5V cell but that wasn't the problem. I noticed a small moving part (switch) a squirt of CRC seemed to do the trick.

Ha! My first thought on reading your original post was, "WD-40!" CRC is equally as effective.

[clearcut]

The calliphont is back to its old tricks! The spark ignition won't stop when the water is turned off.

It is a Sakura Brand and the ignition works off water pressure I think. It still comes on OK and ignites but when the water is turned off, the spark just keeps jumping until you either remove the battery (1.5V cell) OR just touch a small lever/contact switch which moves back and forth when the water is turned on or off. CRC applied to the lever no longer seems to work. It just needs the slightest touch!

Help!!

Clear Cut

[Pblais]

With my Bosch it has no battery. The pilot light has a spaker you twist to light the pilot light. The instructions for starting it are pretty much Admiral proof (unless it does not light).

she looked amazed and said,"Don't tell me that we have a battery powered water heater!"

I assume you didn't tell her

[Cowboy Sailer]

Tell me Paul, can you reach the sparker when you are naked and standing in the shower? If not it is not forgetful old folks proof!

[Pblais]

Tell me Paul, can you reach the sparker when you are naked and standing in the shower? If not it is not forgetful old folks proof!

You bet I can It is located on the same bulkhead as the shower valve. It is a self venting unit since it has it's own OPD shutoff so you don't end up dead and wet with the water running. The only issue I have is that it is an old unit so getting the pilot to light is not as easy as it used to be. It can take a little longer to heat up the thermocouple that opens the main burner. Of course any failure closes the main valve since the valve is only opened actively.

To start it you slide the lever to the first position then pressing the interlock button you twist the sparker. The sight glass lets you know if it is lit. You hold it until it heats up enough and then slide the lever to the final position and check to see if the pilot stays lit. From then on it fires the burner as required.

I don't leave it lit all the time. You don;t need hot water all that much and in the heat of summer I don't even need it for a shower. The Admiral likes a little for the dinner dishes. If you crack a port open during a shower the vent heat tends to dry the head up a lot faster and it is comfortable when it is cold outside.