Hot water heater
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7843
Printed Date: 13 Jul 2025 at 7:09pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hot water heater
Posted By: DawgLady
Subject: Hot water heater
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2016 at 7:50pm
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New to podding and don't understand how to make sure hot water heater is on electric when plugged in at camp ground and how to switch to gas when dry camping. Thanks for your help. ------------- Dawg Lady 2016 R-180 "Lizzy" Georgia |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2016 at 7:57pm
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Well.. to use electric, you plug into shore power and turn on the switch in the WH compartment, outside. To run on gas, you push the water heater switch inside the pod, after turning on the gas at the tank. ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2016 at 8:04pm
FIRST: MAKE SURE THE WH IS FULL. You will damage it if you run it on electricity without water. Second: Verify the bypass valves are in the summer position. The middle valve handle should be perpendicular to the pipe; the other two should be parallel to the pipes. Third: Turn on the small black electric switch at the bottom left of the outside WH compartment. You may have to remove a small cotter pin in the switch handle. Forth: At this time the WH will heat if the RPOD is plugged in. It is automatic when you're connected to shore power. Fifth: Make sure the propane lines are free of air by running the stove top 10-20 seconds. If you want to run on propane simply turn on the gas WH switch inside the RPOD. The red light will come on momentarily and go out and you should be able to hear the gas burner. It will run on propane until you turn off the wall switch. For faster heating when you're connected to shore power you can run both gas and electric sides. If you leave both propane and electric on at a CG the electric side will maintain temperature without using propane. It all becomes automatic at that time. ------------- 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: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 6:15am
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Can't stress enough to make sure that tank is full before throwing that electric switch.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: DawgLady
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 8:12am
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Thanks bunches! ------------- Dawg Lady 2016 R-180 "Lizzy" Georgia |
Posted By: Don Halas
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 10:38am
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We got our Rpod last July and have been in it a total of about 12 nights. Until this year, post de-winterization I tried to get hot water with the electric but it didn't appear to be operating. I thought perhaps I'd 'blow-out' the heating element in error and ordered a replacement. When the replacement came I checked the resistance of it and the one in the heater and they were the same. Also checked and there was power both at the AC switch and the element terminals.
So, I tried it again and the heater works. But it takes much much longer to heat than propane. About an hour or more I'd guess. So the lesson I learned is that the AC power takes a long time. If you need hot water quickly or in any volume use the propane option. Otherwise once on shore power be patient and you can rely on the AC to keep a reasonable amount of water hot on demand. |
Posted By: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 11:25am
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What do you mean when you say you thought you'd "blow out" the element? ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 11:43am
I take some exception to this claim. My measurements indicate the gas side is about 50% faster, but from 77F water the recovery times are 23 and 35 minutes for gas or electric respectively and 14 minutes for the combination. The Suburban spec sheet shows full recovery of 10.7/6 gallons per hour, but that's from very cold water as I discussed. http://rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3601&KW=recovery&PID=34220&title=water-heater-recovery#34220 - http://rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3601&KW=recovery&PID=34220&title=water-heater-recovery#34220 ------------- 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: Don Halas
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 3:17pm
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Blow out meaning firing the AC up without water in the tank.
Well I live in CT and not likely that my hose water or anything stored in the tanks was 77F when I tried this two weeks ago. And this is just an observation, not meant to be considered fact. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 4:16pm
Well I confess I didn't consider CT in mid April. My main point was the gas system is only 50% more effective than the electric side. We use both simultaneously if we need hot from a "cold" start, but otherwise the electric element works fine. That said, even the dual systems won't help the long shower problem  . Still going to get cold. ------------- 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: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 4:23pm
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Oh. I thought you meant blow out with compressed air in the fall and I was confused. Thanks. ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2016 at 10:50pm
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Only thing I would add is to use the circuit breaker inside to turn off the electric element instead of going outside to switch that hard-to-get-to-switch. Really the recovery time for just the electric element is academic, since if you have electric it is best to use both, as mentioned above. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 5:27pm
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I have always used my hot water heater on gas. There is a small piece of metallic tape over the electric switch so I have never used it. Is there a reason that is there? From what I am reading on this thread, there is no reason not to just leave the switch in the on position as long as the heater has water in it. Is that right? Is there a way to know for sure if there is water in the heater? ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 6:01pm
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I was told the same thing about leaving the button on, but every now and then you forget and BOOM go the electric element ( only have done it once). So I keep mine off and turn it on as part of my set up routine.
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 7:12pm
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I'm still wondering about the metallic tape covering the switch. I bought my pod used. Is it possible my hot water heater doesn't have electric? ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 8:48pm
There is a good reason the PODs are shipped with protection on the switch. It makes you think before you turn it on and make sure the tank is full. If the switch is there and only taped you're good to go as soon as you fill the WH and hook up. Some PODs had a metal clip through the rocker to prevent accidental damage. Check the WH model number. If it's SW6DE it is gas and electric. ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 10:07pm
The good reason? Previous owner never used it. All pods have 2 way water heaters.
Peel the tape off, burn some electrons. ------------- |
Posted By: Don Halas
Date Posted: 02 May 2016 at 10:28am
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Plugged in at home I have no need to waste my electricity keeping water hot so I'll flip the AC switch as part of setup. It will be very apparent if I forget.
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Posted By: IssaquahWVU
Date Posted: 20 May 2016 at 12:23am
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Man, I feel REALLY dumb (with an engineering AND architecture degree). This gas/electric/WH/this before that ughhhhh. I'm going dry camping and going to need a warm shower. Fresh water tank is full --- I have a generator --- full propane tank --- how do I heat my water WITH AND WITHOUT the electric. Apparently a photo sequence would help me out since my RPOD knowledge is like reading Chinese to a hillbilly.
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Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 20 May 2016 at 12:34am
If you want hot water while boon docking, just make sure there is water in the tank, turn the propane supply on, purge some air by lighting the stove top burners for a minute, then flip the DSI switch (located right next to your DSI fault light) inside the POD. That's it. If it's working properly it will light the burner on the HWH (make take a few tries) and you'll have all the hot water you need.  I wouldn't bother with using a generator to heat water, propane is way more efficient.
------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
Posted By: IssaquahWVU
Date Posted: 20 May 2016 at 12:44am
Posted By: IssaquahWVU
Date Posted: 20 May 2016 at 12:45am
Super ... second question. Tried getting my range top to ignite and it won't. Do I need to match light each time?! Also, DSI?
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 20 May 2016 at 8:06am
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Unless things have changed recently the stove top is manual light. Use a match or one of those trigger operated fireplace lighters. No DSI here.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |