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Electric hot water heater

o I am posting this message from my phone so if the text doesn't make sense please forgive me. I am on vacation in Arkansas and having trouble with the electric hot water heater system. MOT repaired but it doesn't seem to be working. if I understand the operation I am plugged into city water And have flipped the switch at the base of the bed to the on position and that should be all that is necessary for me to have hot water within a couple of hours correct? if any of you have any knowledge of this system or can recommend something I need to check or do that I have not done please let me know. of course in lieu of the electric hot water heater we are using the propane system which works fine I would say I'm concerned about the way it lights,  goes on and off with a loud pop when the system relights itself which I have never noticed before it's that indicates a problem please let me know thank you.
Dave
2002 295 36'
Build 6006
Motorcade Member 17931
Toad 2003 Jeep Wrangler
2008 BMW R1200 GSA

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #1 –
Dave,

Are you sure that you are turning on the H20 heater and not the engine block heater?

As far as the popping when it relights, Have you checked to see if the flue has acquired a mud bobber?  Check to see if your ignitor is arcing properly as if it isn't you could be building fuel before ignition.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
Dave,

Are you sure that you are turning on the H20 heater and not the engine block heater?

As far as the popping when it relights, Have you checked to see if the flue has acquired a mud bobber?  Check to see if your ignitor is arcing properly as if it isn't you could be building fuel before ignition.

Pamela & Mike
Yes sir... It is heater switch not block heater.. Checking propane arch.
Dave
2002 295 36'
Build 6006
Motorcade Member 17931
Toad 2003 Jeep Wrangler
2008 BMW R1200 GSA

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #3 –
Do you have a propane heater with a hot rod in where the drain plug goes.
The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #4 –
Electric could take more than 2 hours to heat water.  Find main electric panel circuit breaker and flip it off and back on.  Yes, nothing but the front of bed switch needs to be on.  What did MOT do to repair your hot water heater?

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #5 –
Watch the shore power volt meter, you should see a small voltage drop when you turn on the electric side of the water heater from the load you just added.
Also mine had an on off switch on the junction  box on the back of the water heater. I could see that switch through the access hole in the partition of the compartment forward of the water heater.
If that switch is on but no noticeable voltage change when you turn on the switch under the bed then check for voltage on the junction on the water heater. If power is there then you need to get into the on/off thermostat switches on the back of the water heater.
It's getting tough to work back there. You may have to pull the water heater to work on them. I did find burned wires in there that were my problem.


John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #6 –
When MOT installed my water heater, they did not hook up a 12 switch and power to the solenoid that controls the 120V power. Once they did it works great.  If you had a water heater installed, check your schematic to see if this feature is on your new one.  It was not on our original heater.  It is redundant with the 120V switch at the foot of the bed.  Both need to be turned on.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #7 –
In ours, we have the 120 V switch at the bed pedestal AND a 12 v switch in the row/panel of rocker and momentary switches on the bathroom sink front cabinet. There was a switch on the extreme left side of the row that was unmarked. We never were told about it at purchase time and could never figure it out. We could not get 120 v hot water. Finally paid the man who advised this was the controller for the water heater and he installed a new "light up red" rocker switch with label. Wow! Does that ever work. Head slapping moment!
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #8 –
Probably not,  but if you have turned on the AC power to the hot water heater at any time without water in the tank then your heating element is toast.

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Travelin' Man –
Probably not,  but if you have turned on the AC power to the hot water heater at any time without water in the tank then your heating element is toast.
Where exactly is the "tank" for the hot water? Is the coil for the 120v in the same holding tank warmed by propane?
My procedure was.. Hook up city water,  turn on 120v heater. .. Hot water x 1 day then nothing..... I am wondering if yhe hot water on day one was the water heated by engine as we traveled? (i have 3 way water r heating system.... Engine, 120v, propane). Btw mot replaced solenoid. .
Dave
2002 295 36'
Build 6006
Motorcade Member 17931
Toad 2003 Jeep Wrangler
2008 BMW R1200 GSA

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #10 –
Fuse good.  Turning switch off does not produce voltage drop.
Dave
2002 295 36'
Build 6006
Motorcade Member 17931
Toad 2003 Jeep Wrangler
2008 BMW R1200 GSA

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #11 –
No, turning the switch off should cause a small voltage rise.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R
 

Re: Electric hot water heater

Reply #12 –
I may not have been clear here, just to be sure, on this test, turning on or off a 1500 watt load will show up on that 120 volt leg. Voltage down on and up off. However if the water is already hot and the 120 volt thermostat is open you will not see a change on or off.
So make this check with less than full hot (max temperature) water so the thermostat will close.
A bad connection, thermostat or heating element will cause no change on or off but be sure you are getting 120 volts to the water heater connection.
Hope this helps.

John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'