PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-672
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 672
NOVEMBER 2008
8
PS 672
NOV 08
9
PS 672
NOV 08
t
he Stewart-Warner and Hupp personnel heaters have been around so long that most
combat vehicle crewmen have the start-up procedures memorized.
You can hold the RUN-OFF-START
switch to START for up to two minutes
for the Stewart-Warner and no longer
than four minutes for the Hupp. If the
heater won’t start in that time, you
have to let it cool down or risk burning
out the ignitor or ignition control
resistor.
But those start-up procedures will
cause no end of trouble if you try to use
‘em on the new A-20 heater, NSN 2540-
01-396-2826!
After holding the switch on START for just 10 seconds, the heater automatically
goes into a 4-minute purge mode. The heater’s fuel supply is cut off and all remaining
fuel inside the heater is burned off.
Because the heater doesn’t start, most operators assume it’s defective and turn it in
for repair.
But the heater’s not the problem! It’s the improper start-up procedure that causes
all the trouble.
To start the A-20 heater correctly, hold
the RUN-OFF-START switch on START for four
seconds, then flip it to RUN. The heater will
go through a quick self-diagnosis and then
should start.
If the heater won’t start when you do it
the right way, check out the troubleshooting
procedures in TM 9-2540-207-14&P.
If your vehicle is an M1A2 SEP or M2/M3
Bradley, refer to your TMs for vehicle-unique
starting instructions.
The heater has two settings, HIGH (60,000 BTUs) and LOW (30,000 BTUs). But
too many crewmen seem fxated on the HIGH setting. Whether it’s mildly cool or
bone-chilling cold, the HIGH setting is what they go For.
IF it’s cold enough to need
the heater, but not below
Freezing, set the heater to
LOW. That
will
provide
ample heat. IF you constantly
run the heater on HIGH,
especially when it’s not all
that cold outside, you’ll burn
out the wick. Then nobody’s
getting warm.
Personnel
Heaters…
all heaters
aren’t
alike
A-20 Personnel Heater…
Choose the Settings Wisely
crewmen,
there’s
cold,
and then
there’s
cold!
knowing the
difference
can help keep
your a-20
personnel
heater up and
running.
Flip heat selector switch to LOW
when temps are above freezing
it’s a little
chilly this
morning.
yeah,
but
it’ll warm
up soon.
my innards are
like a sauna with
my heater going
full blast!
Hold switch to START for four seconds,
then flip to RUN
I’m not
defective!
you’ve just
gotta start
me right!
I’m not like
those other
heaters!
a-20’s
have their
own way of
starting!
672.08-09.indd
1-2
9/19/08
4:54:19 PM
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