Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - Printable Version
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+--- Thread: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild (/showthread.php?tid=8174)
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - Jack Houpe - 10-04-2024
Carl I'll tell you a story we really don't need a aqua hot in our coach we have inverter heat pumps and one good for 15 degrees plus for a standby a diesel air heater like in truck cabs the only reason we use the aquahot is for hot water and preheat the engine so the 120v element is all we use. I installed a flat plate heat exchanger along with a small diesel water heater like used on truck engines to make a on demand type hot water heater and in doing all this I used plastic fittings to experiment with different configurations and found what worked the best and left for Orange Beach Alabama for the winter ignoring to replace those plastic fittings with brass, the second night we pulled into a campground and I was happy that nothing blew up on our third journey in the coach but when I walked by the AH door smelled antifreeze and upon opening the door found every single one of those plastic fitting has mutated into odd looking creatures. I of course went to lowes and bought all the 3/4" brass fittings and replaced all of them I'm certain I was just a few minutes from a roadside disaster.
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - cwl1979 - 10-04-2024
Today the Aqua hot went back into the coach. ITS"S ALIVE!!! That said I'm pretty darn happy its installed and plumbed back in and zones work, preheat pump works. everything works except a couple fans on the heaters inside.
Here's a couple install pics and the you tube link to a video i had my son take... careful its shaky
https://youtu.be/llMA9VQjD18
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - Jack Houpe - 10-05-2024
11 days total rebuild and rewire I would call that a miracle if it were me.
Very impressive work you have displayed you will do well here in my opinion.
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - Richard - 10-05-2024
Fantastic job. I love the shutoff valves, if mine ever comes out, it will get the valves.
Thank you for taking the time to contribute. You are SO going to fit into this gang.
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - cwl1979 - 10-05-2024
Thanks guys.
I had 3 wires i couldn't identify in the bundle of burned up crap under there and i just figured they went to the temp gauge on the master panel. That would cover at least 2 of them and i assumed the other was a ground as it was black. I woke up this morning with the thought... They wired something backwards and were using the automotive relays to reverse the polarity. i followed the directions in the install and service manual exactly and most of the blower fans don't work. I bet they it was an afterthought of how to fix it without rewiring things up above.
From the pre tear out pictures where everything is burned up i just cant make out all of what they were reversing.
Anyone willing to post a picture of how their Aqua hot is wired? At least anyone with the 2 automotive relays so i can troubleshoot this?
Those 2 relays are not in the manuals anywhere.
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - Trainer - 10-05-2024
Carl, just a a note to store in memory, some relays, added by coach builder, are there to convert a 12 vdc thermostat signal to a ground signal. Many A/C circuit boards send 12 vdc thermostat signals. The AH zone wires are ground signals.
Take a jumper cable that is connected to ground and touch the living room thermostat connection. Tthe zone pump and living room fans will come on.
Not being there, I can not say this is connected to your problem. Just sharing info.
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - cwl1979 - 10-05-2024
(10-05-2024, 10:05 AM)Trainer Wrote: Carl, just a a note to store in memory, some relays, added by coach builder, are there to convert a 12 vdc thermostat signal to a ground signal. Many A/C circuit boards send 12 vdc thermostat signals. The AH zone wires are ground signals.I do believe this is exactly the problem and why they used the automotive relays to reverse the signals for the salon and bedroom thermostats.
Take a jumper cable that is connected to ground and touch the living room thermostat connection. Tthe zone pump and living room fans will come on.
Not being there, I can not say this is connected to your problem. Just sharing info.
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - cwl1979 - 10-05-2024
I got the automotive relays wired in today and cleaned up the wiring. I'm still waiting on my 12 gallons of coolant concentrate and my overflow tank. Those should arrive Tuesday. I'll post final pictures once its done
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - Trainer - 10-06-2024
Carl, Camco and Starbrite gallons of boiler fluid need to be cut 50/50 with distilled water. That allows them to transfer heat a lot better.
RE: Aqua-Hot tear out and rebuild - whited44 - 11-08-2024
I think mine needs rebuilt too. At least to some extent. It fires, and runs on electric. Pumps work too. I think my woes are at the check valves. I've tried whacking them with a plastic hammer, and also pre priming the pumps with the pressure tester. Any other things I can try before taking apart the check valves??