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QUESTION:I have a Coachman Camper Van with an old furnace that has a pilot light.
I would like to replace with a new one without pilot light.
What furnace do you suggest?
How much does it cost?
Where can I get it?
I do my own work.
ANSWER: I cannot disagree with you on the reliability of some of the
DSI boards, but I for some reason I do not have to replace boards on
Hydro Flame furnaces very often, (IMHO- it has to do with the cooling
of the board, and where it is placed in the furnace- but that is just
conjecture) .
Generally, if you are having repeated failures of the DSI
board, then there is something else wrong with the installation-
usually ( but not always) not enough ducting, causing the furnace to
overheat and cycle on the limit switch (which also means the board is
getting "cooked".) Also, a lot of times the board isn't really bad,
but a lot of shops just put one in automatically when they get a
furnace in to repair, and it will fix it because they have moved a
dirty or coroded connection that was the real problem to begin with
(this really makes me mad, because it reflects on the entrie
industry.)
As to the repair of the boards, I would be *very* carefull
fooling around with them. I have seen "repaired" boards that failed to
"lock out" the gas valve when the ignition failed- not saying it can't
be done, but I would rather the furnace manufacturer keep the
liability than assume it myself (I would say this even if I wasn't a
tech.)
Finally, in support of your argument, suburban has changed
vendors, and design, of their new DSI boards, from Fenwall to ITT
(which means I have to buy a new tester), so I kind of think they
agree with you (plus the fact that I have people every year ask if
they can still buy a pilot model
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