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Water Heater

May 13, 2016, 10:35:55 am

Hope this my last newbie question before hitting the road. Rocker switch in kitchen has green and red lights. Switch at foot of bed labeled Water Heater has indicator red light on when switch is up and off when switch down. How should both switches be set for operation on LP and how set for electric.  No, there is no Atwood paper work with the basic FT manual.  TIA

1999 U 295

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Re: Water Heater

Reply #1 – May 13, 2016, 10:48:43 am

The switch in the kitchen controls the use of LP gas for heating water. The switch at the foot of the bed controls the 120VAC heating element for the water heater.

You may have a "three-way" water heater that also uses engine heat to heat the fresh water in the water heater.

I suggest that you leave the switches off while traveling. The water will be heated by engine heat. Use the 120VAC switch (bedroom switch) if you are connected to shore power or the generator is running. Use the LP switch (kitchen switch) if you are parked and not connected to shore power (or generator).

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Re: Water Heater

Reply #2 – May 13, 2016, 10:55:38 am

We have the three way. Gas as the fuel in the kitchen switch as described. At the campground on shore power, the switch on the bed pedestal allows the 120 ac to operate. We once thought our electric had quit. What we discovered is that in the set of lavatory switches, there was an unmarked rocker switch to the far left. That had gotten turned off. It must (my guess) control the power to the control board, etc., because once it was again switched on, the shore power electric water heater worked famously. We have replaced that same switch with in that lights up red to indicate it is energized. Don't know if yours has this third switch in the lavatory group, but FYI.

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Re: Water Heater

Reply #3 – May 13, 2016, 11:21:01 am

Look closely at the labels on your WH to discover the model number.  (A group of letters and numbers which are coded to offer the knowledgeable the details of that WH.)  The Atwood site will give access to download the proper manual for your particular WH, and concepts of operation in general.  I am presently installing a 3-way Atwood to replace our 20-year old propane only WH.  andy1

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Re: Water Heater

Reply #4 – May 13, 2016, 01:32:19 pm

And a side note on the kitchen gas switch, if the light goes first to green (which is correct) but then goes to red, it means the flame has gone out and needs to be restarted (switch off then on again). It sometimes needs a second try if gas has been turned off for refill etc.
Light has to stay green while it is on propane for heating water.
JohnH

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Re: Water Heater

Reply #5 – May 14, 2016, 01:19:35 am

Unless I'm connected to questionable 30A service, I just leave the electric switch on all the time. 

If I have camp water and sewer hooked up, I might turn on both gas and electric so I can have almost unlimited hot water for showers, and speedy recovery time for more hot water.

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Re: Water Heater

Reply #6 – May 14, 2016, 12:17:46 pm

Not sure about your set up on the motoraide side of things on your water heater. On a 97 U270 there is a valve in the water pump/WH compartment to open or close the engine coolant flow that supplies heat to the WH. Make this is open so you have hot water upon arrival at your destination. There are reasons for closing this valve. But that's for another topic.

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Re: Water Heater

Reply #7 – May 14, 2016, 01:31:24 pm

Yes, the valve Peter is discussing either allows or disallows coolant to circulate through the water heater.

ON= hot water and less heat from the dash HVAC.
OFF= no hot water, but maximized head from the dash HVAC.

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