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AquaHot Question

I am getting hot water at the faucets without the AH being on electric or diesel fired heating.  When I select the electric heater element on, I get a increase in electrical load.  When selected off, load goes down.  I am on shore power and water.  Can someone explain how this is happening?
Thanks, Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #1 –
Have you been driving for a while when you checked and notice the hot water? 

While going down the road the engine coolant will warm the water in the water heater.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #2 –
No, have been parked for a couple of weeks.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Yetch –
.  I am on shore power and water. 

Mike,

Is your water hose out in the sun with you being hooked up to shore? If so perfect example of solar heating.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #4 –
If that were the case, I wouldn't have cold water, which I do.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #5 –
Hope Rudy checks in, I don't know if the engine pre-heat could cause your issue, but make sure it is off.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #6 –
Block heater and engine preheat on?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #7 –
Nope.
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #8 –
With electric element and diesel burner switches OFF, a source of heated water is from the water hose laying in the sun or, if using the coach fresh water tank, a warm tank in the closed basement with the coach sitting in full sun.  These would not produce hot water in my opinion.

Engine block heater switch in the ON position and engine preheat switch ON can produce some heating of the heater coolant tank by circulating warm engine coolant through the engine preheat loop in the coolant tank especially if sitting overnite and no hot water use.  Might be enough in hot summer conditions to provide warm water but not for very long.

If he is getting warm water at the cold faucet, the first suggestion is my first choice.  If only at the hot faucet, then the block heater and engine preheat ON is my choice.

If he is getting HOT water from the hot faucet, a problem could have the heater on with switches off.

Warm water is water at 100 degrees F or higher.  Hot water is water at 115 degrees F or higher.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #9 –
As Sherlock Holmes would say if you have eliminated all of the obvious possibilities the answer is whatever is left no matter how impossible. If your diesel is off you are somehow getting power to the electric element even though you see a power draw when the the electric switch turned on. How long have you waited after turning the diesel and electric off to allow the tank to cool?
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #10 –
Are all of the faucets including the shower affected?
If only one faucet then it could be the faucet mixing valve going bad.  Just another road to go down.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #11 –
Yes, all faucets.  I'm kind of thinking that although there is no indication of electrical draw with switch in off position, the electrical heating element is getting some kind of power to it, but don't know how to check for that.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #12 –
How long has it been since you turned off the diesel and power? The tank holds heat for a long time.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #14 –
Turn the breaker to the water heater off.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago
 

Re: AquaHot Question

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
Reply #2 says a couple of weeks.
That was a reply for have you driven it lately, not no power to AH.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean