Teledyne Laars Series 2 Model: ESC 400N not igniting.

[sandyb]

Greetings...
New to the site...so I hope I am posting in the right place.
I have a Teledyne Laars Series 2 Model: ESC 400 N pool heater that is about 14 years old, and up until this season has been completely trouble free.
This past weekend my daughter and a visiting friend wanted to use the in-ground spa ( the unit has a setting for pool or spa ) never used the pool setting, but as I stated the spa setting has been used for years without a glitch.
When I turn the pool filter on, I switch the valves from pool to the spa, and then turn the switch to spa.
But now I am getting no clicking ( as in the past ) I am getting nothing. ( on either pool or spa setting )
I am hoping that someone may be able to point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer.

Sandy

 

[ps0303]

Sandy, there are many things that could be wrong with your very old heater. Are you handy with a vollt/ohm meter?

 

[sandyb]

rudimentary skills at best....

Sandy

 

[sandyb]

I welcome any suggestions, as far as using a volt / ohm meter. I can figure it out,
I just can't figure out why I would have nothing. When I flip it to spa.

Thanks,
Sandy

 

[ps0303]

So are you saying that when you use the pool setting it works fine?

 

[sandyb]

No Paul...I have nothing on either setting, sorry for not being clear on that.
When I open up the front cover, I have poked around a little, with a meter, and I have 24 volts at a couple of different spots 1) at the what looks like a 24v transformer above the Honeywell Ignition Control block (S8600F)
and at the fireman's test, fusible link, nothing at the spark.

Thanks,
Sandy

 

[dbg]

I have fixed my Teledyne Laars Series 1 EPC II 400 heater, see my recent post. It was due to the thermistor wires got bitten by mouse. Reconnecting the wires fixed my problem. And the trouble shooting steps listed there might be similar to your if you can find the PDF Manuel from the Internet.

 

[sandyb]

after reading dbg's post and based on my suspicions...I bit the bullet and ordered a replacement thermistor...
Each time I (using a multimeter) went from one lead on the thermistor to ground, the gas valve would open and the burners would fire. So I was convinced I had found the problem...yeah right....
After installing the new thermistor I turned on the power and no difference.
But I did notice that as I attempted to connect the 2nd lead from the thermistor, it would complete the circuit and the burners would fire. Momentarily...
I am not sure where to go from here?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sandy

 

[danpik]

Resistive grounding any component should not trigger a result like that under normal operating conditions. If I get time I will look up the manual for that unit and see what I can figure out.

I assume by thermistor you are referring to the water temp sensor

 

[ps0303]

Here is a link to a manual that could help. Pool Heaters Teledyne Laars Series 2 Page 7 of the manual shows you the wiring schematic.

Obvious things to check are the safeties. You can jump each one out or you could bypass them all. I would also check out the on/off switch as well to make sure it's no the culprit.

 

[gilbee]

What kind of filtration do you have? These heaters (all of them do) will not ignite if there isn't adequate water flow through them...I had mine (similar model) not ignite one time due to my filter being dirty...might want to check that before you go through the troubleshooting guides...

 

[sandyb]

gilbee.....I have four filter cartridges, and I clean them regularly. Thanks for responding.
Sandy

 

[ps0303]

Have you looked at jumping out the safeties to see if one of them is the issue?