PV Series
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Introduction
The new Bradford White RG1PV & RG2PV water heaters are designed to provide reliable performance with
enhanced standard features. New design features include reliable spark to pilot ignition system, enhanced
diagnostics, simplified servicing, quiet operation, additional vent lengths, and Bradford White Defender
Safety System
®
(not available on all models).
Spark to Pilot Ignition System - employing the spark to pilot ignition system promotes reliable and consistent
pilot and main burner ignitions to provide hot water on demand.
Integrated Immersion Thermostat/Gas Control Valve with LED - was developed for ease of troubleshooting
by providing simple diagnostic codes to pinpoint an installation or component performance issue.
Powerful Blower - will eliminate problems with difficult venting situations.
Quiet and Cool Blower Operation - blower noise is significantly reduced for both interior and exterior
environments. Cooler operation increases blower life by reducing bearing wear and noise.
Rugged Wiring Connections - receptacle type connections promote error free wiring.
Increased Vent Lengths - increased venting performance is achieved while maintaining Energy Factor &
FHR (not available on all models) performance.
The RG1PV & RG2PV water heaters use a combustion system where flue gases are combined with dilution
air to reduce the flue gas temperature in the blower. The diluted flue gases are evacuated to the exterior
through low temperature vent materials. The gas control maintains water temperature, ignition sequence
and regulates gas flow. A safety circuit consisting of a pressure switch and blower temperature switch
verifies proper conditions exist for safe and reliable operation. If a situation outside of normal operating
parameters exists, the gas control diagnostic LED will flash a code to positively identify an operational issue.
This service manual is designed to facilitate problem diagnosis and enhance service efficiency.
Please read the service manual completely before attempting service on this new series of power vent
models.
How the Safety System Works
During normal operation, air for combustion is drawn into the water heater through the opening in the jacket.
This air travels down and around the combustion chamber and enters through holes in the very bottom of the
corrosion-resistant combustion chamber. The air then travels up through the oriented flame arrestor plate
louvers, where the velocity of air is increased and its direction altered. The air then mixes in a normal
manner with supplied gas and is efficiently combusted, producing low NOx emissions.
In the unlikely event trace amounts of flammable vapors are present in the air flowing into the combustion
chamber, the vapors are harmlessly ignited by the burner. If flammable vapors are in sufficient quantity to
prevent normal combustion, the flammable vapor sensor recognizes this and shuts down the pilot and main
burner. Should the flammable vapor continue to burn, the flame arrestor plate prevents the flames from
traveling backwards and igniting vapors outside of the combustion chamber. This feature is only on models
with inputs less than or equal to 75,000 BTU/hr.
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