Electric water heater

[mmb]

Got a tiny problem My Outback 328 RLS has the capacity to heat the water tank either with propane or electric. Propane works excellent, heats well. But the electric option does not heat up. Maybe I am missing a step...all I am doing is turning the switch for gas to 'off' at the control panel just opposite the front door and switching 'on' the electric option. Is there something else I should be turning off or on? Thanks in advance.

[roadglide]

There are two buttons on the left side of the water heater for reset you could try that . Have you turned your electric water heater on without having water in it? The water heater element can burn out with no water to cool it off off the elements. I have had luck with the reset buttons after I forget to turn off the switch for the water heater

[flybouy]

Has the electric worked in the past or is this the first time trying it? What make/model water heater?

Edit: You need to be connected to shore power. The electric heating element requires 120 vac to operate.

[sourdough]

What brand is the hwh? If Atwood what you did is all that is needed. If Suburban you also need to switch the hwh on at the tank; a small switch on the lower left (mine is) which operates backward (down is on). You need both switches on for the AC heating element to work. But as was mentioned, if you turned it on and you didn't have water in the tank you may have fried the element.

[mmb]

That was exactly it! I did not throw the propane cut off switch at the water heater. Thank you very much for the heads up.
mob

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by mmb

That was exactly it! I did not throw the propane cut off switch at the water heater. Thank you very much for the heads up.
mob

That’s not LP cut off switch. You can use both sources of heat at the same time for a faster recovery.

[mmb]

Let me check on that. What I know is that when the water heater is set to propane the water heats up. When it is set, on the inside control panel, to electric it does not heat up. I went to the outside hw heater panel and flipped the switch and the electric function worked. I will take photos later this morning that may explain better.

[flybouy]

Think of the switch on the wh itself is a "service switch". If a service tech is going to work on it then he turns it off and knows no one can go inside and flip a switch to electrocute him/her. If you have a central air conditioner the compressor unit out side has a disconnect for the same purpose.

The "electric switch" inside is a convenience so you don't have to go outside to turn it on. Both switches must be on for the electric element to work. It's absolutely designed to run the electric heating element and the propane burner simultaneously. Doing so the small water heater will produce hot water quicker.

[mmb]

Then should both the inside panel be switched to the 'on' position in order for both the electric and propane water heating to work efficiently? Extremely sorry for these questions but I should have it figured out properly before I get on the road. Thank you for explaining the 'on/off' switch in the outside access panel.

[flybouy]

Yes both on BUT and very important BUT, only if you have water in the water heater. Turn it on empty and the electric element will burn up.

[mmb]

Thank you, yes I got that part of making sure the water heater has water in it. But grateful for the reminder, always good to be reminded. And I am going out to switch both switches on now. Wonder why this was not covered on my SECOND walk through?

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by mmb

Thank you, yes I got that part of making sure the water heater has water in it. But grateful for the reminder, always good to be reminded. And I am going out to switch both switches on now. Wonder why this was not covered on my SECOND walk through?

That's a question for whoever conducted the "walkthrough" (PDI or Pre Delivery Inspection), it should have been explained. If they didn't cover that I'm guessing they buzzed by a lot of things.

[Roscommon48]

when you figure it out you can have both on if you need more hot water.