Camplux Water Heater Not Lighting, Lukewarm or Shutting Off
On this page (8 sections)
The Short Answer: A portable Camplux lights only when enough water flows to open its gas valve, the batteries power the spark, and propane reaches the burner, so check water flow, batteries, and the cylinder first. Most other complaints come from the limits of a small heater: too much flow gives lukewarm water, and too little switches the burner off. Portable units without a vent connection are outdoor-only.
Know which Camplux you have
Camplux sells two broad types:
- Compact portable units, usually battery ignition, propane and garden-hose style fittings. These have no vent connection and are made for outdoor use, such as camping, cabins, outdoor showers and washing.
- Larger fixed models, installed with a vent and permanent gas and water connections according to their installation manual.
Check the rating label for the model, fuel and maximum flow, and keep the manual for that model. The advice below is mainly for the portable units.
How a portable unit lights
On compact portable Camplux heaters, turning on the hot water is what starts the heater. Flow through the unit opens the gas valve and triggers the battery-powered igniter. No flow means no spark and no gas. So when it won’t light, check water first, then batteries, then propane. Other battery-ignition tankless heaters, such as Marey’s, fail to light for similar reasons; see Marey tankless not igniting.
Common symptoms
| Symptom | Usual cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No clicking at all when water runs | Too little water flow or pressure, or dead batteries | Flow, the inlet filter, and the batteries |
| Clicking, but no flame | No propane reaching the burner | Cylinder full and valve open, regulator hose connected, gas knob on |
| Lights, then goes out within seconds | Wind, low propane, or flow dropping | Shelter from wind, a fuller cylinder, steady flow |
| Lights only at high flow | Water flow near the minimum to open the gas valve | Inlet screen, hose kinks, pump or supply pressure |
| Water only lukewarm | Flow too high for the heater’s capacity, cold inlet water, or gas set low | Reduce the flow, raise the gas setting, use a low-flow shower head |
| Too hot, then shuts off | Flow too low, so the overheat protection trips | Increase the flow or lower the gas setting |
| Hot, then cold, then hot | Flow near the minimum, or pump pressure cycling | Steadier flow, a cleaner inlet screen, check the pump |
| Water dripping from inside the case | Internal leak, often after freezing | Stop using it. Contact support or replace |
| Display shows a code (models with a display) | Model-specific fault | Look up the code in the manual for your model |
When it won’t light: checks you can make
- Batteries. Fit fresh batteries of the type the manual specifies, with the polarity correct. Weak batteries can produce a few clicks with no ignition, or no clicks at all.
- Water flow. Open the tap fully. Check for kinked hoses and a clogged inlet filter screen, usually at the cold-water inlet; the manual shows how to clean it. On a campsite or well pump with weak pressure, the flow may be too low to switch the heater on. The manual for your model lists its minimum operating pressure.
- Propane. Check that the cylinder isn’t empty, its valve is fully open, and the regulator hose is connected as the manual shows. Cold weather lowers the pressure from a small cylinder, and a nearly empty cylinder may not supply enough gas.
- Gas and water knobs. Many portables have separate knobs for gas and water. Set them as the manual describes for starting. A very low gas setting with high water flow can make lighting unreliable.
- Wind. Position the heater out of direct wind, outdoors and with the clearances the manual requires. Gusts can blow out the flame during ignition.
- Freezing. If the heater was left outside below freezing with water in it, it may be iced up or cracked. Let it thaw completely and check for leaks before trying again.
Don’t loosen gas fittings to check for gas, and don’t keep the igniter clicking over and over with the gas on and no flame.
Why capacity matters
A tankless heater’s temperature rise depends on how much water passes through it. Halve the flow and the rise roughly doubles, for the same burner. Compact portables have small burners. Typically they’re sized for one fixture at modest flow, such as a low-flow shower head or a sink, and less so in winter when the inlet water is cold. Stiebel Eltron’s tankless specification sheets show the same relationship between flow, temperature rise and power, though their figures apply only to their own models. If the water is lukewarm at full flow but hot when you turn the tap down, the heater is working. It is just at the limit of what it can do.
Routine care that prevents problems
- Clean the cold-water inlet filter screen as the manual describes, especially on well, lake or campground water.
- Fit fresh batteries at the start of each season.
- Drain the unit completely before freezing weather, following the manual, and store it dry. Water left inside can split the heat exchanger.
- Keep the burner area and air openings free of insects, webs and debris during storage.
When it needs more than adjustment
Contact Camplux support or a qualified technician if:
- the flame is yellow, sooty or lifting
- you smell propane at the heater (close the cylinder valve if it’s safe to reach, and move away)
- it lights only with the gas turned unusually high, or still won’t light after fresh batteries, good flow and a full cylinder
- the case leaks
- the heater shuts down over and over even with steady flow
Don’t open the case to work on the gas valve or burner, and don’t loosen gas fittings. On a compact portable, a failed heat exchanger or gas valve usually means the unit is replaced rather than repaired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use my Camplux in an RV shower or a garage if I open a window? A: No. A portable unit without a vent connection releases its combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, where it runs. Use it outdoors only, as the manufacturer’s labelling requires. For RVs, use a water heater designed and installed for the RV, such as the models covered in RV water heater troubleshooting.
Q: Why does it click but not light only on cold mornings? A: Small propane cylinders lose pressure when cold, and very cold inlet water can make the heater shut down at the gas setting you normally use. Keep the cylinder off cold ground, and give the heater more gas or less water flow.
Q: Can a Camplux portable supply a whole house? A: No. Compact portable models are sized for one outlet at modest flow, and they aren’t designed or listed for indoor installation. A whole house needs a properly sized and vented water heater.
Manuals and supporting references
These links distinguish general safety information from model-specific documentation. A manual directory helps you locate your unit’s instructions; it does not establish that every model uses the same parts, codes, or test values.
- PG&E: recognizing and responding to a gas leak (opens in a new tab)Emergency actions for suspected fuel-gas leaks.
- CPSC: carbon monoxide fact sheet (opens in a new tab)Carbon monoxide hazards and emergency response.
- Stiebel Eltron: Tempra engineering specifications (opens in a new tab)Flow, temperature-rise and power relationship; product ratings apply only to the named Tempra models.
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