Interior ignition for a water heater?

[frank_a]

Seems to me I once heard someone say you could get a kit for like $65 to change a normal propane powered water heater from external ignition to an internally switched ignition. After cruising the web for a while, maybe I heard wrong?

Has anybody done this? The last trailer we had (an '83 Sunline T-1550), came to us with a bad water heater. I swapped it out for new one with an interior switch for ignition, and boy, was that great. On the other hand, I am very glad that trailer is gone and we now have an egg!

Frank

[Steve L.]

I bought and installed such a kit for my Suburban. Works great, one of my better mods. I'll look to see if I can find a part number somewhere.

I have a thread here on fgrv somewhere with details and photos.

Found...
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tor-21965.html

[frank_a]

Originally Posted by Steve L.

I bought and installed such a kit for my Suburban. Works great, one of my better mods. I'll look to see if I can find a part number somewhere.

I have a thread here on fgrv somewhere with details and photos.

Found...
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tor-21965.html

Wow! Excellent, thanks Steve. Just what I was looking for.

Frank

[frank_a]

Originally Posted by Steve L.

I bought and installed such a kit for my Suburban. Works great, one of my better mods. I'll look to see if I can find a part number somewhere.

I have a thread here on fgrv somewhere with details and photos.

Found...
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tor-21965.html

After reviewing this link Steve, it is interesting and maybe all I can do, but what I was hoping to find was a way to turn the pilot on with a switch from inside the trailer. I.e., you don't have to go out at all. I put a Suburban water heater in my last stickie that was like that.

Thanks again!

Frank

[Steve L.]

You're showing some distinct motorhome tendencies: show up, back in, quick dash to connect the shore power, don't leave the trailer after that. (I'm just kidding for heaven's sake.)

[frank_a]

Originally Posted by Steve L.

You're showing some distinct motorhome tendencies: show up, back in, quick dash to connect the shore power, don't leave the trailer after that. (I'm just kidding for heaven's sake.)

Heaven forbid! Argh! No, not a motorhome!

Actually Steve, it was the install of a new water heater in an old stickie that led me to this question. It had an electric ignition switched from inside, like this one: Suburban 6 Gallon Water Heater SW6D - $274.00

[Bob Miller]

The reigniter kit is still available: Suburban 520821 Reignitor Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive

I would guess that the cost of all the parts needed to convert an existing manual pilot to an electric control system would quickly approach the cost of a new water heater. But, because your existing heater is fairly new, it will have some recovery value from it's next owner.