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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: DSI Fault Indicator
    Posted: 11 Jul 2018 at 3:26pm
Originally posted by onazip

So, if I understand correctly.  The interior WH switch on the panel is only for heating with Propane and the exterior switch is only for Electric?  This was NOT explained to me by the dealer during my walk-thru.  And, I didn't know to ask.  


This is correct. They are independent of each other.

Also, for fastest heat up or recovery, if both sources are available, you can run/use both at the same time.
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Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2018 at 9:00pm
Thanks very much for your reply furpod.   SO I juts set up the Pod for the evening and hit the electric water heater switch on the outside water heater panel.  The DSI Light came on when I set the inside water heater panel to "on".   The propane igniter fire several times and then stopped. I did npt have the propane tank set to "open" so there was no propane for the igniter to ignite.  The DSI Fault light has not gone out and we have hot water.  So my questions are as follows;

1)  Why does the propane igniter fire when I have selected electric as the water heater method, e.g. the outside water heater panel is set to "On"?  I would expect the igniter "NOT" to active and try to ignite the propane.
2)  If number 1 above is normal, then if I have my propane value open "and" electric selected it would seem to me that both the electric and propane trying to heat the water.  Perhaps the propane finally senses that "electric" is the chosen heating method and just stops.
3)  What the hey does DSI stand for?

Thanks for indugling my ignorance.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2018 at 12:11am
Originally posted by Halibut57

1)  Why does the propane igniter fire when I have selected electric as the water heater method, e.g. the outside water heater panel is set to "On"?  I would expect the igniter "NOT" to active and try to ignite the propane.
The igniter will fire regardless of whether there is propane or not. It's just trying to light it. The igniter does not have knowledge of whether there is propane or not.

Originally posted by Halibut57

2)  If number 1 above is normal, then if I have my propane value open "and" electric selected it would seem to me that both the electric and propane trying to heat the water.  Perhaps the propane finally senses that "electric" is the chosen heating method and just stops.
No connection. The two heating systems (electric and propane) are independent, and neither "knows" about the other. If they are both on, then the water will just heat faster.

Originally posted by Halibut57

3)  What the hey does DSI stand for?
I think it means Direct Spark Ignition.
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2018 at 7:07am
GG has your answers.

The two heating systems are completely separate. Neither system "talks" or is connected to the other. They even have separate thermostats. In fact the propane thermostat is set a few degrees lower then the electric, so if both are available, and it's just "maintaining" water temperature, it will only use the elec. side, so as to save your propane.

The DSI tries to light, because you turned it on. With no gas turned on, you are guaranteed to get a "DSI Fault", because the system couldn't ignite.

And yes DSI means Direct Spark Ignition, which means it doesn't have a "pilot light", but ignites as needed.
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Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2018 at 11:17am
THanks again furpod.  Nice to understand my Pod a bit better.  Have a great summer.
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Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2018 at 11:19am
Thanks Glue Guy - between you and "furpod", I believe you pierced the void.
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Richand Cindy View Drop Down
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Posts: 328 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2018 at 3:40pm
Going back to earlier posts one needs to test whether the water heater is working on propane alone.  Turn off the electric switch on the outside.  Make sure the propane is on and working (you can light the stove).  then turn on the heater switch on the inside of the pod which is turning on the water heater using propane.  The DSI will light but will go off in a minute or two.  If the DSI light does not go off you the heater will shut down (after about three attempts to light) and not provide hot water.  You need to get the unit repaired.  You can then shut off the switch go oustide and turn on the electric switch (make sure the hot water tank has water - turn on hot water faucet and get a stream flowing).  You will have hot water using electric only.  Propane half of the water heater breaking unfortunately is not an uncommon issue.
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Jul 2018 at 4:24pm
Originally posted by Richand Cindy

Going back to earlier posts one needs to test whether the water heater is working on propane alone.  Turn off the electric switch on the outside.  Make sure the propane is on and working (you can light the stove).  then turn on the heater switch on the inside of the pod which is turning on the water heater using propane.  The DSI will light but will go off in a minute or two.  If the DSI light does not go off you the heater will shut down (after about three attempts to light) and not provide hot water.  You need to get the unit repaired.  You can then shut off the switch go oustide and turn on the electric switch (make sure the hot water tank has water - turn on hot water faucet and get a stream flowing).  You will have hot water using electric only.  Propane half of the water heater breaking unfortunately is not an uncommon issue.


Actually.. getting water out of the faucet does not tell you the WH has water in it. If the valves are set to "bypass" the very thing they do is send water through the system.. bypassing the water heater.

Also, when "testing" the WH, A) it may take a few attempts to light before it does. Don't assume because it doesn't light in the first attempt, that it has failed. Give it a few tries. and B)Generally, if it doesn't light, it's because of issues in the burner tube due to bugs or wasps. Occasionally, the brain goes bad.

The water also needs to be "coldish" when testing, otherwise the DSI won't ignite, because the thermostat isn't calling for heat.
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Posts: 3 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jul 2018 at 3:23pm
Thanks to all of you for this wealth of information, so much more than in the owner's manual! I'm a newbie to my fabulous r-pod, and getting a little concerned reading this thread. I did not know the water heater can be run on electrical, that's great. I just checked and the switch on the outside is off, so have been running on propane without any difficulty (have been out 4 times now). I have 2 questions: (1) in the flurry of a chaotic leave from our site near Glacier National Park yesterday (highly recommended, by the way), I turned off the propane tank but missed turning off the WH switch inside the pod, noticed it was on when I got home about 6 hours later and turned it off. Will this cause permanent damage? (2) I have seen lots of differing advice on how to care for the water heater between adventures (usually 2-4 weeks), all the way from "do nothing" to "drain the hot water tank, remove the anode, etc." What do you more experienced folks recommend? It gets winterized at the end of the season. If this is not the appropriate place to ask these questions, please redirect me to a different thread. Thanks much! 
The mountains are calling, and I must go.
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1446 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jul 2018 at 4:18pm
You didn't hurt the water heater by turning of the gas at the tank.  What to do about the water in the water heater between trips really depends on your own preferences and concerns.  If you are filling your tanks with well water (not chlorinated) you might want to drain or flush between trips.  If it's chlorinated water you have more leeway.  Many people don't drink pod water, they just use it for washing dishes, showers, and flushing the toilet.  Again, you have more leeway then. 

I flush my tank, including the water heater, probably twice a year, once at the beginning of the season, after winterizing, and probably again in July or August.

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