New Podder needs Help!
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Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7714
Printed Date: 22 May 2025 at 7:00pm
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Topic: New Podder needs Help!
Posted By: BrianandCrystal
Subject: New Podder needs Help!
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2016 at 9:31am
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Thanks for letting us join!!! We are super excited about our 2016 Rpod 179. Never having a hot water heater or water pump we are unsure how to turn on and fill the hot water heater. The salesman that walked us through did not know how to do it and never mentioned the bypass. Can anyone help us? We would like to fill the water heater without filling our tank if possible so that we can test the water heater. The salesman turned the hot water switch on several times and it did not light up. There was a light next to the switch that says DSI Fault that came on when he turned on the water heater, the water heater switch itself never lit up. The propane was on and it was plugged in, however we do not know if it was set for lp or electric. He left it on for a while trying to figure it out then turned it off when I asked if the water heater should be full of water before operating. He said , oh yeah, you are right. Everything we read about it warns that you will harm the element if you do not operate it properly. |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2016 at 10:31am
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To fill the WH, first, ensure your WH bypass valves are set to summer mode. Next hook up to a potable water source, with a white drinking water safe hose you use for nothing else.Turn on the water. I highly suggest a water pressure regulator, you won't need it at home, but CG's can have huge water pressure and or spikes. Then, go in the kitchen and turn on the hot water. Water will fill the WH and the plumbing lines. When it stops sputtering.. it's good. The "light" for the water heater is strictly on the gas side, and only shows/lights if the WH doesn't light or has a fault. If you have not used your propane for a few days, it's a good idea to purge the lines of air by lighting the stove first.  ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2016 at 10:42am
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------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2016 at 10:45am
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Under the bed, there is a panel held on by 4 screws. You can crawl under the bed or you can remove the plywood bed platform closest to the opening. You will then be able to access the hot water heater. There are three valves. Most likely, it is currently set to bypass the hot water heater. You will get a partial view in one of my pictures in this thread: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712&title=our-escapod-mods - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712&title=our-escapod-mods The top and bottom valves are probably off (perpendicular to the pipes). They need to be turned on (parallel to the pipes). The valve on the vertical pipe between them is probably on. It needs to be turned off. Once you do that, you will be able to connect your water hose to the city water connection and the tank should fill. You will need to open a faucet valve to let air out so it will fill. You can also open the metal hot water heater compartment cover and use the pressure relief valve to vent air. Once water comes out there, you will know that the water heater is full. If he turned on the electrical switch while it was not filled, he likely destroyed the electrical heating element. However, that switch is outside, inside the hot water heater compartment behind the metal panel. It is a small switch toward the bottom left, behind the gas valve. If he did not turn that on, you should be okay. The fact that he tried the heater is not necessarily a problem. What probably happened is that there is air in the gas lines that needs to be purged before gas will reach the burner of the water heater. The same thing happens with the refrigerator. Try to light the stove. You will know if there is air in the lines if the stove does not light. When the air is purged, and the stove lights and burns correctly, then the air should be mostly purged. However, there may still be some in the branches leading to the refrigerator, furnace, and hot water heater. It may take a few attempts to light them, so the DSI fault is not unexpected. However, once you are sure the air is purged, it should light the water heater. If it doesn't, then it is time to take it to the dealer's service department and have them fix it. Does the furnace start up and produce heat when you try it? If so, the water heater is right next to it. If one works, the other should also. A salesman is not the right person to do the walk-through. It should have been someone from the service department who understands how these things are supposed to work. Please let us know if you are able to get this working. We got our 179 in December. The valves for the water heater were explained, but the winterizing valve for the water pump wasn't. I had to discover that one myself. It is similar to the water heater valves. It was set to draw antifreeze, so when I tried to fill my fresh water tank, it was not pumping water, but only air from the winterizing hose. Once I found the valve, all was well. That one is hiding behind the water heater, farther forward in the compartment. p.s. If they did not mention it, please get a pressure limiter valve. You should not have water at greater than 50 psi going into your R-Pod. The pipes might not handle water at higher pressures. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2016 at 10:57am
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As usual Furpod is spot on. I would just add a note on the electric element. IF the electric element is turned on without water in the heater it will burn out almost instantaneously. There is a small black rocker switch on the heater itself that must be switched on to operate on electricity. To protect against the observed salesman stupidity FR typically ships the switch in the OFF position. Check the switch inside the WH compartment. If it's off you are fortunate. Make sure the heater is full and turn it on. With the POD plugged in the electric WH should produce HW in 15-25 minutes. After you bleed the air from the propane lines as Furpod suggests you should also be able to use the gas side. The two systems are totally independent and can be used simultaneously. Using both systems together will cut the recovery time roughly in half. If you find the HW switch was on when the salesman plugged in the Pod without water in the WH he/they owe you a new element. I hope he's close to you. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: BrianandCrystal
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2016 at 11:20am
Thank you so much! Going to check it out now...  You guys are awesome!!! I can't believe so many people have responded so quickly and with so much information.
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