R-pod Owners Forum : Water heater switch http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : I need HELP!!! : Water heater switch Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 21 May 2026 04:08:09 +0000 Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:08:46 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=13115 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ Water heater switch : Originally posted by GlueGuyForgot... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126535#126535 Author: furpod
Subject: 13115
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 3:08pm

Originally posted by GlueGuy

Forgot about the bypass. We live in a zone where we actually have never needed the bypass.


Yeah, my dad lives just north of Sacramento.. in 50 years he has never winterized.. LOL
]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:08:46 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126535#126535 Water heater switch : Forgot about the bypass. We live... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126530#126530 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 13115
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 1:38pm

Forgot about the bypass. We live in a zone where we actually have never needed the bypass.]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:38:53 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126530#126530 Water heater switch : Originally posted by GlueGuy Originally... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126526#126526 Author: furpod
Subject: 13115
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 11:23am

Originally posted by GlueGuy

Originally posted by Kenlw

I assume keeping the fresh water tank filled will satisfy the hot water tank.
Thank you Bum!! [
Not exactly. You do need to get the water into the hot water tank. So if your source is the FWT, then run the pump, and open the kitchen faucet until it stops sputtering. Then you know you have water in the water heater. Alternatively, of you are hooked up to a fresh water source, just run the kitchen hot water faucet until the sputtering stops.


Actually.. No.

If the WH is in bypass.. and empty, and you pressurize the system in either manner, just because the water flows freely from the hot tap, does not mean the WH has any water in it.

To insure the WH has water in it, pressurize the system, and open the emergency blow valve on the WH. If the WH is in bypass mode, there will be no pressure or flow. If there IS pressure at that valve, then you KNOW the WH has water in it.

Many a WH element dies every spring because of this misunderstanding.


.
]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:23:15 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126526#126526 Water heater switch : Originally posted by KenlwI... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126525#126525 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 13115
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 11:07am

Originally posted by Kenlw

I assume keeping the fresh water tank filled will satisfy the hot water tank.
Thank you Bum!! [
Not exactly. You do need to get the water into the hot water tank. So if your source is the FWT, then run the pump, and open the kitchen faucet until it stops sputtering. Then you know you have water in the water heater. Alternatively, of you are hooked up to a fresh water source, just run the kitchen hot water faucet until the sputtering stops.]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:07:10 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126525#126525 Water heater switch : I assume keeping the fresh water... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126522#126522 Author: Kenlw
Subject: 13115
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 9:09am

I assume keeping the fresh water tank filled will satisfy the hot water tank.
Thank you Bum!! []]> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 09:09:28 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126522#126522 Water heater switch : Thank you for your response, Harrypodder!!... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126521#126521 Author: Kenlw
Subject: 13115
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 9:05am

Thank you for your response, Harrypodder!!]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 09:05:00 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126521#126521 Water heater switch : There are actually 3 switches... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126518#126518 Author: offgrid
Subject: 13115
Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 5:38am

There are actually 3 switches for the water heater, one on the wall for the propane heating source, one on the tank for the electric, and a third dedicated circuit breaker in the panel for the electric. Since the outside switch is inconvenient, I leave mine on and just use the breaker to turn the electric heating element on and off. If you're worried about switching the wrong breaker on or off accidentally, just mark it with a stick on color dot or piece of colored tape. 

If you will not be using hot water for a few hours or longer and you're on propane, then by all means shut it off. You will always be ahead in energy use if you don't try to maintain a high water temp when you're not using it. It only takes at most about 30 minutes to heat the tank on propane, it has 12000 BTU per hour capacity. 

The electric element is only about 5000 btu per hour so takes longer to heat up, so I'd leave that on if you have hookups. Besides, you've already paid in advance for that electricity when you rented the campsite. Tongue
]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2019 05:38:30 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126518#126518 Water heater switch : I'm not one that typically... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126513#126513 Author: Olddawgsrule
Subject: 13115
Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 3:13pm

I'm not one that typically has a electric site, yet if I do, yes it stays on.

I don't know if shutting down after use and re-firing for showers/dishwashing takes less propane/electric than leaving it on and staying at temp. It makes sense to me that if in a warm climate consumption would be on par. If in a cold climate.. I'd think turning it off would be better. We're not at the trailer typically during the day.

For the most part for us, we turn it on in the am for showers then shut off. Mostly warm water for our needs through out the day (unless in cold climate). 

How you do it, is up to how you camp. Love to hear how you decide and how it works out for you! 




]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2019 15:13:26 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126513#126513 Water heater switch : Thanks Furpod! http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126496#126496 Author: Kenlw
Subject: 13115
Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 11:51am

Thanks Furpod!]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2019 11:51:19 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126496#126496 Water heater switch : Having water in the water heater... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126492#126492 Author: TheBum
Subject: 13115
Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 10:38am

Having water in the water heater tank isn't as critical for propane as it is for electric. Still, it's a good habit to get into.]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2019 10:38:43 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126492#126492 Water heater switch : Like furpod said there are two... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126491#126491 Author: harrypodder
Subject: 13115
Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 10:31am

Like furpod said there are two switches for your water heater. The one on the interior of your 180 is turned on when you want to run it off of propane. The second switch is on the water heater and is accessed from outside and must be turned on when you want to use shore power-120V in either case make sure you have water in the heater before using either method also if you use 120v or propane be sure to put on your checklist when your packing up to turn that switch off. ]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2019 10:31:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126491#126491 Water heater switch : You have to switches. One for... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126484#126484 Author: furpod
Subject: 13115
Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 8:56am

You have to switches. One for 120v, and one for propane.

In either mode, you leave the switch on as long as you want hot water. Many owners heat water once or twice a day, as needed. We don't but others do.

The gas side of the water heater is only on, when the switch is on. It doesn't have a pilot light, it has Direct Spark Ignition (DSI) it will light and heat automatically as needed as long as it's turned on.
]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2019 08:56:24 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126484#126484 Water heater switch : We did our first dry camping in... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126483#126483 Author: Kenlw
Subject: 13115
Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 8:50am

We did our first dry camping in our recently purchased 180. It took a few attempts but finally got the water workings and it was delightful. My question is do I turn the water heat switch off once propane is ignited?
Thanks for any response.
Ken and Andrea (newbies)]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2019 08:50:45 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13115&PID=126483#126483