Monitor GF 3800 propane heater

[rutzebach]

I see lots of posts for the kerosene/oil heaters, but not propane. After 2 years of operating it suddenly started giving me a E13 code after failing to ignite. I took off the front panel and can see the sparker working, but for some reason it does not catch. It was sporadic for a while, refuses to start at all now. While I can see the flame trying to light in the window, the burn light does not come on. My propane tank is 20% full and there are no apparent kinks in the line and other propane appliances, hot water, cook stove, work fine. Any ideas on what the problem might be?

[HayZee518]

e-13 indicates no fuel. 20% full doesn't have adequate pressure to occupy the main burner. fill the tank and try it again. check that the flamerod isn't sooted up.

[rutzebach]

Thanks HayZee, I was thinking it might be the low tank, though dealer didn't think so. Unfortunately the propane guy left me in the lurch this fall when his small truck was out of commission. I'll have to get by on small tanks this winter, a 2 mile ski in with a sled!

I did check the flamerod and it was clean as could be, as well as the burn chamber. As would be expected of a two year old propane monitor.

Its interesting that it seems to get hiccups in the electronics when I have my laptop charging. It is related to my off grid power system, but that is the only time it happens. The costs of living in paradise.

[HayZee518]

check the quality of your inverted battery power. blower motors don't like anything other than a pure sine wave. square wave can be transformed but at a reduced output because the upper half of the sine wave isn't there.

[rutzebach]

I do have a sine wave inverter, but it is first generation (10+ years old), so I'm guessing that something in the laptop charging must lop off the ends of the sine wave or something like that. A nuisance, but something I can work around. I've considered getting a small high quality inverter just for the Monitor, but if I can keep my tank full I should be OK. Thanks again for the feedback! ben