Anode rod

[jasin1]

I’ve used my fifth wheel for 5 trips since august .... I drained my water heater for the winter and was surprised at how much the anode rod deteriorated. I will post a picture tomorrow but it was noticeably worn away in one area. My unit was built in DEC of 2019 but I bought it new in august. I have a ems and everything looks good and works good. Is that normal for rvs? I don’t have that problem on my boats.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by bjasin1

I’ve used my fifth wheel for 5 trips since august .... I drained my water heater for the winter and was surprised at how much the anode rod deteriorated. I will post a picture tomorrow but it was noticeably worn away in one area. My unit was built in DEC of 2019 but I bought it new in august. I have a ems and everything looks good and works good. Is that normal for rvs? I don’t have that problem on my boats.

Anode rods are a product of their watery environment. One will last a couple seasons and another will need changing in 6 months. Depends on the water. The minerals in the water attack the rod and that is the rod's function. Somewhere with soft water will last longer than real hard. They are only a couple bucks so just change it out; doesn't matter if you have an EMS and everything is great otherwise. The rod's deterioration is its purpose.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Anode rods are a product of their watery environment. One will last a couple seasons and another will need changing in 6 months. Depends on the water. The minerals in the water attack the rod and that is the rod's function. Somewhere with soft water will last longer than real hard. They are only a couple bucks so just change it out; doesn't matter if you have an EMS and everything is great otherwise. The rod's deterioration is its purpose.

Ok I understand. I know with my boats if I have an anode wearing quickly it can mean that I have stray electric current Of course I’m talking about my below water anodes on my prop shafts and rudders And yes I’m going to replace I just thought it was odd to deteriorate that quickly but I didn’t think about water quality so that makes sense

[LewisB]

Originally Posted by bjasin1

Ok I understand. I know with my boats if I have an anode wearing quickly it can mean that I have stray electric current Of course I’m talking about my below water anodes on my prop shafts and rudders And yes I’m going to replace I just thought it was odd to deteriorate that quickly but I didn’t think about water quality so that makes sense

It's a "sacrificial anode" and uses galvanic current between two different metals (on the electromotive series) to force the sacrificial metal (anode) to corrode and protect the other metal (cathode). You are right about stray current being a potential problem on a boat where the electrolyte (water) is outside the boat and in contact with the boat hull, the anodes, and anything else electrical and in the vicinity. In your RV, however, the electrolyte (water) is contained within the tank and in contact with the anode. There can't be any stray current inside the tank.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by LewisB

It's a "sacrificial anode" and uses galvanic current between two different metals (on the electromotive series) to force the sacrificial metal (anode) to corrode and protect the other metal (cathode). You are right about stray current being a potential problem on a boat where the electrolyte (water) is outside the boat and in contact with the boat hull, the anodes, and anything else electrical and in the vicinity. In your RV, however, the electrolyte (water) is contained within the tank and in contact with the anode. There can't be any stray current inside the tank.

Yes I understand how they work I was just pondering how an rv electrical system works. Wasn’t sure f the breaker panel in rv would fall under the neutral bonding rules of sub panels in homes I know the ems protects me from incoming power from the pedestal but not sure if it recognizes bad grounding and bonding issues inside tv from factory. I know they had a inverter wire recall on some models and not sure if ems would recognize any problems with that as an example. Although mine does not have that recall I’m just wondering how the ground and neutral system is bonded so electric is not finding its way back through ground and casing of water heater to its source

[LewisB]

Originally Posted by bjasin1

Yes I understand how they work I was just pondering how an rv electrical system works. Wasn’t sure f the breaker panel in rv would fall under the neutral bonding rules of sub panels in homes I know the ems protects me from incoming power from the pedestal but not sure if it recognizes bad grounding and bonding issues inside tv from factory. I know they had a inverter wire recall on some models and not sure if ems would recognize any problems with that as an example. Although mine does not have that recall I’m just wondering how the ground and neutral system is bonded so electric is not finding its way back through ground and casing of water heater to its source

Right; I don't believe your EMS will provide any protection on the RV side from bonding/grounding issues. However, even if you had a floating ground through the water heater, any current passing through the outside of the steel tank would not have any impact on the inside of the steal tank.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by LewisB

Right; I don't believe your EMS will provide any protection on the RV side from bonding/grounding issues. However, even if you had a floating ground through the water heater, any current passing through the outside of the steel tank would not have any impact on the inside of the steal tank.

Ok thanks I’m gonna look at all my grounds while I’m thinking about it just for the sake of it