We elk camp above 9k in the Rockies in a converted horse trailer hunting rig.

For heat we have a 16,000btu space heater with a oxygen depletion sensor pilot assembly that will not stay lit.

Problem is the pilot assembly is not designed to work above 4,500'. Anyone know how to modify it to not shut off at altitude?

I worked for 25 years in the gas biz, we sold appliances and I'm comfortable doing lots of gas work, was just never a appliance specialist. I've opened the air shutter all the way and restricted the pilot orifice, still has the occasional flair out.

And yes I'm aware of all the potential issues tampering can cause.

Thanks, RR

 

I would say you would have to make the oxygen depletion sensor hole bigger to allow more Oxygen to get in there. I have serviced space heaters, that when the hole gets plugged the pilot goes out, so I would say if you reverse that it would work. and restrict the pilot orfice a little bit. Its worth a try sorry I am not much help never ran into altitude problems out here in PA. I will look into it tomorrow because you have me curious now.

 

I was just out cleaning my garage heater pilot and changing the thermocouple. I noticed that the pilot has an insert in the pipe at the flame end. Mine is equipped for altitude so that must be how it's done. Different inserts for different altitudes.

 

Makes sense, I resorted to placing a short length of wire in the pilot burner tip. Still have issues, may need a larger dia.wire.

RJR

 

I would think since your at altitude, less air, you need less fuel right?

 

Yelp, that's what I'm thinking, the only complication is that the O sensor will shut down the fuel since it's only concerned with the available O. And there's not much at 9500'. Most space heaters with this sensor have a design altitude of 4500'.

What I'd like to do is totally defeat the O sensor and then tune on the pilot flame.

I know one of the members has figured out a "around" to this problem.

RJR

 

I bought an LQ trailer this summer in Indiana. Went out the wife and daughter in Sept and of course we had to have some heat- temps were in the 20's. We were at 8,500 and never had a problem. I would check with the manufacturer on what to do at higher altitudes.

 

In my little popup tent camper have the same problem with the water heater. The furnace works good even at 12k plus, never a problem. The water heat on the other hand sucks at 7k and much above that it is not even worth messing with trying to keep the pilot lit. I think the difference is the heater does not use a pilot but some sort of pilotless electronic ignition when it comes on. Like a pilotless gas stove or oven. Could something like that be retrofitted.

 

You can get a pizo-electric ignition for your water heater. I had a pop up and all of them came with pilot light water heaters. The dealer, Kettelsen's in Denver, installed electric ignition on all of them before they sold them. Mine worked fine at 10,000 ft.

 

Canoetop:
Wouldnt you know I purchased the unit from Kettleson. It does have the electric ignition but all it does is auto light the pilot. They also installed the so called high altitude kit for the water heater. Above about 8500' it is not worth messing with, any hot water I want gets heated on the stove. The electric pilot start just goes constantly trying to start the pilot. If by chance it gets it started it only lasts for a minute or two and then starts trying again. The pilot just wont stay lit at that altitude. Below 7500 feet it seems to work fairly well unless it is very windy. Now the furnace in the unit works great. It has always fired up at any altitude. Kettleson did install the altitude kit for free(or so they said) and they did tell me it helps but would still be a problem way up high. They were right it is. However if yours worked well up to and above 10k then maybe I need to check into that. Perhaps the high altitude kit was never installed. I think the kit was just a different size orifice assembly.

Thanks for chiming in may tear into that this weekend. I had just assummed that it wasnt worth messing with after their disclaimer that it might still be a problem up high.