Question 2003 FR Sandpiper 30GT Control Box in AC keeps clicking

[SteveS]

As stated, I have a 2003 FR Sandpiper 30GT and the Control Box in overhead AC keeps clicking only when I run the Furnace. The furnace WILL Ignite and run but that Control box will be constantly clicking all night long. I changed the control box, changed the thermostat (Non Digital), even tried a new digital TStat that came with the new control board but that just made the blower start and stop constantly. Furnace is a Suburban SF30. and doesn't matter if it is on shore or battery power. Can anyone point me in a direction to test or look? Bad ground? Converter? The control module in the furnace itself? This even has my local RV dealer Stumped

 

[SteveS]

No replies at all... Did I put this in a wrong section?

 

[Gronk]

Not in the wrong section, but, it has me stumped. On your new digital T'stat, when you say the blower was going on and off, do you mean the furnace blower or the A/C fan?

 

[SteveS]

That would be the furnace blower. The AC works fine with the original Tstat and board. I haven't tried the AC with new Tstat and board. I do believe the furnace may have gotten wet though as I pulled it out and had to replace the floor under it.

 

[Gronk]

Did the box click before you pulled the furnace?

 

[SteveS]

Yes, that's why I pulled it to see if any mice chewed any wires or something was disconnected

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Is the fan motor free spinning? If not it may be an overload switch.
It could be the thermal switch, likely hooked to a paddle of some sort or the thermal switch that keeps the heat exchanger from getting to hot. All would come into play if the fan was not running at speed.

 

[SteveS]

The fan spins freely, the heater works as it should. Heats up and blows throughout the ducts. It's just that control board up in the AC unit that constantly clicks. I even hooked the Tstat up directly to it to bypass the wires going through the ceiling and wall to the original tstat location. Thanks for trying to help me with this. Last year I just stuffed foam padding around it so I could sleep at night haha.

 

[Gronk]

Steve, You have a Dometic/DuoTherm AC, correct? If you do, that seems to be a common issue from what I have read. What some have done to make it stop is change the temperature differential from one or two degrees to as much as four degrees. I have no idea why that works, but it may be worth a try.

 

[SteveS]

I do not have a digital tstat to do that with. This is a 2003 model. I have read that as well with some of the newer models. I researched this problem for quite some time before asking for help or throwing a bunch of money at it. I appreciate your help

 

[Gronk]

Now you rally have me stumped. Here is what SHOULD be a wiring diagram. Do you know which relay is doing the clicking?

 

[SteveS]

Well, I am not sure on this diagram. It would be the Relay on the board up in the AC that the wires from my Tstat hook up to. when i put my finger on it I can feel it clicking constantly. I actually have my Camper up North for hunting but I am working away at the moment or i'd take a pic of it and show you. It is not the Board that is mounted on the furnace itself

 

[Gronk]

Steve, is it a constant timed click or is it more random? More random would suggest a loose connection and a timed would possibly be the new board you installed with the thermostat may be the culprit. Have you contacted the place you got the parts from?

 

[SteveS]

Constant click. Yeah, they said once I installed it I was unable to return it. I actually put the old board back in because the new board and tstat just made the blower on the furnace constantly kick on and off. I'm actually thinking of just buying a brand new TT soon anyways. Maybe sell this one off to someone who camps in the summer time. I'm a Winter/Hunt season Camper ?

 

[SteveS]

I do appreciate you trying to help me because I thought this would help others that may come across this problem. I may try to buy a new furnace just to see if it was something on mine that was bad. I did clean all connections to eliminate that problem. Much thanks to your time in this matter. I'll be up there this weekend so if you need me to check anything I will be available.

 

[Gronk]

This clicking is what started this whole episode then the swapping of parts? Hmmmm. You said the furnace got wet....... OK, then in my mind the next step is to either try removing the board on the furnace and cleaning it as best you can because there *may* some foreign substance on the board allowing some voltage to trickle to someplace it shouldn't be OR do a search for Dinosaur Electronics and buy a new board for your furnace.

 

[SteveS]

Thank you gronk. I have looked them up and only run around $120. I'll try that next. Much appreciated

 

[Gronk]

I just thought of something. Before you purchase a new board, try disconnecting the furnace and see what happens. If the clicking is still there then a new board won't solve anything. If the clicking is still there then look at trying to disconnect the AC.

 

[SteveS]

Ok, it will be Friday before I can do it though ?

 

[Gronk]

I am going to be on the road for a few days, so that will work out good.