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03-17-2019, 03:23 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: COOKEVILLE
Posts: 7
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Hot water heater controls
The wife and I just got a 2019 Montana 3561. I don't understand exactly how the water heater works. The manual says that it runs on propane and/or electricity. There is a water heater switch inside the 5er for propane and one for electric (12 volt DC ?) and another switch outside the 5er next to the heater for 120 volt AC. Why are there switches for two different sources of electricity ?
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03-17-2019, 05:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 1,005
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You can run on either source, but you can also run on both. Running on both gives you faster "recovery" when you're using the hot water, as it heats the water using both elements.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek Champagne 38EL - "Big Bertha"
2019 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali HD 6.6L Duramax TD, CC, 4WD, DRW - "Mr. Beefy"
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03-17-2019, 06:31 PM
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#3
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Water heater electric is AC. Only the control board and the piezoelectric strike use DC. When plugged in, use both for faster recovery. When no electric hookups, use gas only.
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Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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03-18-2019, 05:00 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: COOKEVILLE
Posts: 7
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OK ! If I understand this correctly what you are saying is that we can use either source ( propane or electric ) separate or together. To use only the propane turn just the propane switch on but if we want to use the electric we must have both switches ( 12v DC & 120v AC ) on.
Thanks we plan to the 5er for the first time this weekend !
Ken
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03-18-2019, 05:28 AM
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#5
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Quote:
Originally Posted by be18driver
OK ! If I understand this correctly what you are saying is that we can use either source ( propane or electric ) separate or together. To use only the propane turn just the propane switch on but if we want to use the electric we must have both switches ( 12v DC & 120v AC ) on.
Thanks we plan to the 5er for the first time this weekend !
Ken
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If you are doing electric only turn the electric only on.
__________________
Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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03-18-2019, 06:17 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central San Joaguin Valley, CA
Posts: 2,117
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The outside switch is meant to be a "safety" switch to prevent you from inadvertently turning on the inside switch while the tank is empty (which will burn out the heater element)
Whenever you drain the WH, turn the outside switch off.
When the tank has been filled, you can turn the outside switch on and then control the WH with the inside switches.
BTW, look closely at the outside switch, it is usually mounted upside down (up is off - down is on). There may also be a small spring clip through a hole in the switch that is meant to prevent accidentally turning the switch on.
To add to the confusion, some trailers only have one switch inside (for gas) and the electric portion is controlled by the outside switch only. If you have two switches inside, you will still have the outside switch.
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Jack & Marty
2018 Laredo 298 SRL
2011 F-250 SB Crew Cab 4x4 6.7L
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03-18-2019, 07:05 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: COOKEVILLE
Posts: 7
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Thank You jsmith948 ! Now that makes more sense. Thanks to all who have helped with my Montana education.
Ken
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03-18-2019, 07:08 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,468
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The electric heating element looks like one of those gizmos a person can stick into a cup of water to get it hot. The water heater element is a bit longer though... It WILL NOT heat the water as quickly as propane and we use electric to AUGMENT the propane and not on a stand alone basis. I am pretty sure it takes longer to heat with electric if used on a stand alone basis.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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03-18-2019, 07:40 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Rockett, TX
Posts: 481
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Maybe I'm alone on this practice but in 10 Years+ of RVing I have never used gas for the HW heater. Yea I've never boondocked
__________________
Jerry & Debbie
with Fur Babies Sasha & Sam
2018 Alpine 3401RS
2019 Ford F350 SRW
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03-18-2019, 07:45 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mustanger
Maybe I'm alone on this practice but in 10 Years+ of RVing I have never used gas for the HW heater. Yea I've never boondocked
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We're cheap, we use electricity to heat water if we're in a campground and turn on the gas to augment it when showering (6 gallons makes for chilly rinses at the end). If we're dry camping, we turn on the propane function in the morning when we first get up (warm water to get dressed) and then turn it off until time to wash dishes or get ready for bed. Maybe 10 minutes of water heater operation daily ???? Maybe not even that much.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-18-2019, 08:00 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: West Linn
Posts: 69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
We're cheap, we use electricity to heat water if we're in a campground and turn on the gas to augment it when showering (6 gallons makes for chilly rinses at the end). If we're dry camping, we turn on the propane function in the morning when we first get up (warm water to get dressed) and then turn it off until time to wash dishes or get ready for bed. Maybe 10 minutes of water heater operation daily ???? Maybe not even that much.
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Same here. When at a campground, we'll use the electric mostly, but turn both elec and gas on for showers. Works great!
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03-18-2019, 09:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,910
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Quote:
Originally Posted by be18driver
The wife and I just got a 2019 Montana 3561. I don't understand exactly how the water heater works. The manual says that it runs on propane and/or electricity. There is a water heater switch inside the 5er for propane and one for electric (12 volt DC ?) and another switch outside the 5er next to the heater for 120 volt AC. Why are there switches for two different sources of electricity ?
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Like was said, the switch on the water heater is used as a safety to prevent damage to the electric element when there is no water in the tank. Both inside switches are 12 volts DC, one that activates the gas side of the water heater and the other that activates the 120 volts AC side via a relay on the water heater that switches the AC power with the 12 volts DC. When you look at the water heater recovery rating, it is always with both the AC side and the gas side turned on, because that will give you the best recovery of reheating water in the unit.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
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03-19-2019, 05:01 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: COOKEVILLE
Posts: 7
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Now that I have found out how to control the water heater it turns out that the propane side of the heater does not work ! The 5er is back at the dealers for repairs.
Ken
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03-27-2019, 06:47 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Okanagan, BC
Posts: 916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OregonDuck
Same here. When at a campground, we'll use the electric mostly, but turn both elec and gas on for showers. Works great!
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We do the same.
__________________
2010 Cougar 30RKS
2015 GMC Sierra Max Trailer
"Drinks for 6, Dinner for 4, Sleeps 2"
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03-27-2019, 06:09 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: prophetstown
Posts: 318
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Can the water temp of the water heater ? My hot water is WAY too hot
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03-27-2019, 07:37 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
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Newer water heaters are not “adjustable” like the old ones with a manual lit pilot. I use the cold faucet to adjust the temp.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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03-28-2019, 03:52 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 233
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Quote:
Originally Posted by be18driver
Now that I have found out how to control the water heater it turns out that the propane side of the heater does not work ! The 5er is back at the dealers for repairs.
Ken
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That sucks they all have a few bugs that need to be ironed out. Happy camping!!
__________________
5th Wheel: 2019 Alpine 3400 RS
Tow Vehicle: 2019 Ford F350 SD 6.7L Lariat CC DRW
Hitch: Ford (Reese)5th Wheel, 27,500 lbs
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03-31-2019, 07:05 AM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Reidsville
Posts: 20
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Make sure you fill the water heater prior turning any element on.
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03-31-2019, 07:16 AM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Quote:
Originally Posted by be18driver
Now that I have found out how to control the water heater it turns out that the propane side of the heater does not work ! The 5er is back at the dealers for repairs.
Ken
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Any results on what was wrong yet?
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-31-2019, 09:29 AM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 14
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Lesson learned in summer
We normally use electric as source for heating water. In Omaha ain summer a couple years ago we were tripping the 30A breaker feeding our TT. By switching to gas and turning off electric, we dropped enough load to eliminate the problem. Combination of heavy AC need and the water heater demand exceeded pedestal capacity
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