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Old 03-17-2019, 03:23 PM   #1
be18driver
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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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Old 03-17-2019, 05:00 PM   #2
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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.
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Old 03-17-2019, 06:31 PM   #3
ctbruce
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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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Old 03-18-2019, 05:00 AM   #4
be18driver
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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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Old 03-18-2019, 05:28 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by be18driver View Post
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
If you are doing electric only turn the electric only on.
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Old 03-18-2019, 06:17 AM   #6
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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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Old 03-18-2019, 07:05 AM   #7
be18driver
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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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Old 03-18-2019, 07:08 AM   #8
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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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Old 03-18-2019, 07:40 PM   #9
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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
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Old 03-18-2019, 07:45 PM   #10
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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
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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Old 03-18-2019, 08:00 PM   #11
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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.
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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Old 03-18-2019, 09:32 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by be18driver View Post
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 ?
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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Old 03-19-2019, 05:01 AM   #13
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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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Old 03-27-2019, 06:47 AM   #14
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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!
We do the same.
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Old 03-27-2019, 06:09 PM   #15
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Can the water temp of the water heater ? My hot water is WAY too hot
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Old 03-27-2019, 07:37 PM   #16
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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.
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Old 03-28-2019, 03:52 AM   #17
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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
That sucks they all have a few bugs that need to be ironed out. Happy camping!!
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Old 03-31-2019, 07:05 AM   #18
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Make sure you fill the water heater prior turning any element on.
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Old 03-31-2019, 07:16 AM   #19
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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
Any results on what was wrong yet?
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Old 03-31-2019, 09:29 AM   #20
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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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