Water heater electric switch
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=8568
Printed Date: 03 May 2024 at 7:01am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Water heater electric switch
Posted By: cdsmith
Subject: Water heater electric switch
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2016 at 4:58pm
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I just finished replacing the toggle switch for ac on the hot water tank...
So after taking the old switch apart,and seeing the "quality" of the switch, I'm asking if anyone uses the circuit breaker for the on/off switch instead of the actual on/off switch by the tank? Thanks cd |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2016 at 6:09pm
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Quite a few plodders do. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2016 at 6:12pm
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Many do. We don't.
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2016 at 8:14pm
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Ours has been used quite a bit, we continue to use the toggle switch. Maybe the quality on the older units were better than the ones installed today.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2016 at 10:01pm
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I used the breaker whenever I was camping or at home between trips. The only time I used the outside rocker is when I drained the WH, to make sure I didn't power up without water in the heater.
------------- 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: cjscinta
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 5:43pm
| So is it best to just leave water in the water heater between trips or drain it all out? |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 6:02pm
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Leave it in between trips. At the beginning of each year you should drain the whole system and sanitize the FW water system with 1 cup Clorox to a full fresh water tank. Run it until it refills the HW heater and all the plumbing. Let it sit overnight and flush. Drain the whole system if you expect freezing temps.
------------- 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: Leo B
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 7:52pm
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+1
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: flat6s
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 8:53pm
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I drain the wh and the entire water system after each trip. I pull the anode out and clean out all the debris in the hw tank. I dry out the Hot water heater and store it with anode out. Imho sanitizing the system once per year does next to nothing. Many, many places where we all camp, supplies well water that is not chlorinated. That is a problem. Water sitting in the system for any period of time is subject to rapid bacteria growth. I have been in the water works business for 46 years and I have seen problems from not draining the system time and time again. Of course, I never consume water from the camper water system. I only drink bottled water when camping. I already know that a lot of campers are going to disagree with, and thats fine. I am only stating what my experience has taught me. Thanks Joe
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 9:25pm
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Yes Joe you are right. We never drink bottled water after finding out how it is manufactured and how the bp7 plastic in those water bottles breaks down, healthier to drink well water, at least for me. Our 177 has had its water system sanitized twice since we purchased it in March 2011. Well water only in the fw tank and we do drink out of it on a regular basis when camping. As the saying goes, different folks, different strokes. I guess if I were in a do or die situation I would consider putting city water in my fw tank or would consider bottled water if I had no other alternative.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: flat6s
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 10:57pm
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Hi Jato... Yep, I know plastic creates health problems when consuming food and drink from plastic containers, I'm just not convinced that the plastic fresh water tanks in our trailers are any better.
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 11:46pm
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you have a good point there! We also carry extra well water with us in either glass or #2 plastic containers which is a better option.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 8:41am
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Ideally it would be great to have a 10 cent deposit on all those water bottles. Would most likely result in cleaner roadways and less plastic trash going to our landfills. In Michigan where I reside as well as other states that have a deposit on returnable cans/glass bottles there is a marked difference seen along roadways. The plus side to that is even in Michigan there are plenty of people who still throw their cans/bottles out but there are plenty of people who see it as a way to make pocket change who go out and 'clean up.' We have done this ourselves when in the UP of Michigan and while riding our bicycles will make a quick 3 or 4 dollars just by getting off the bike and picking up the cans. The state that really stands out to me is Florida along I-75. Talk about trash, literally probably see tons of trash, bottles, cans, plastic bags right along the roadway; pretty sad. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 9:10am
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We do the same - I take several gallons of our well water with us on weekend trips, and on longer trips we'll buy bottled water. The pod's water is only for showering, hand washing and flushing. ------------- 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: cjscinta
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 11:32am
| So then do I really need a water filter attached to my white hose? I mean what's the point right? Are there podddrs out there who do drink the water? If I sanitize the tank a couple of times per season and use a water filter why wouldn't the water be safe to drink? |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 11:43am
I always use a filter on my white hose, even when filling the FW tank. The main reason is for sand and grit. It saves cleaning the faucet screens and maybe the pump check valve. At least that's my theory. I drink the water with no reservation, but the filter will not do much for bacteria. ------------- 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: hogone
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 11:47am
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I drink the water right out of the tank. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 7:33pm
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I don't drink a lot of water, but I don't hesitate to drink pod water. I do sanitize a time or two a year and I'll empty the tank if it's going to sit for much time at all. And I use a filter when filling most of the time, mostly as Charlie says, to keep the chunks out of the lines. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 7:43pm
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We are like hog one, drink right out of the tap, and as stated before have only sanitized twice since purchasing our 177 back in March 2011. Use our well water in the FW tank, almost exclusively. I think only 3x have we ever added water that didn't come from home and those were our extended trips to RMNP (in Colorado 2x) and Glacier NP. Don't use a filter. Also, we do not drain our HW tank throughout the year until we winterize in November. Original anode still looks great after 5 and a half years.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2016 at 11:27pm
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We have always used all the pod facilities and capabilities to the fullest.
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2016 at 2:53pm
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Our reason for not drinking from the pod is because of the water itself. On long trips drinking the "local" water has given us issues in the distant past.
At the Great Sand Dunes we ran into an unusual problem of heavy amounts of silica suspended in the water. I ruined my glasses because I washed them in that water. Happily I didn't need to wash my sunglasses that day, too. ------------- 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: flat6s
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2016 at 10:03pm
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+1 Exactly. I have had numerous issues consuming "local" water also. Therefore, my firm rule is bottled water only
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2016 at 11:02pm
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My big yank against bottled water is the waste they create in landfills. Last year alone (in the U.S.A. alone) over 29 billion water bottles ended up in our landfills, that is a lot of waste. Why can't they at least put a 10 cent deposit on those so they end up recycled like our pop and beer cans? That would be a great start! Funny how those who are used to all the chemicals found in municipal water usually cannot stand the taste or have 'issues' with well water. On the other side are those who only drink well water who cannot stand the chemical taste and the chlorine smell of municipal water. It cuts both ways. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2016 at 8:41am
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Everyone should recycle!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2016 at 1:31pm
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We have well water, and I've dealt with the worst of city chlorine taste/smell, but our issue has been of the visit-to-Mexico type. We've gone to great lengths to take our recycling with us if the current campground doesn't take it (its amazing how many don't), sometimes carrying it with us for a 1000+ miles before it can be unloaded. ------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2016 at 2:31pm
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Yeah, good for you Doug. Glad to hear of another good steward of this great planet earth ! BTW we are still patiently waiting for that upgraded picture of you Doug. The other ones posted thus far have been . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . priceless ! ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2016 at 11:21pm
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I did get a new signature pic taken this summer but now I need to find it! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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