Instant water heater install with iN·Command

[wired1236]

Has anyone installed a Fogatti or other tankless water heater with the iN·Command system? How does it wire up? Specifically I’m curious about the 12v fault signal wire as it’s connected in the old water heater and there’s no such connection with the replacements. Is it best to just skip the connection to the IN·Command?

I get that there not a lot of fans of going tankless but I want to try it out. I know the pluses and minuses. I see Keystone is now going to offer them on new models.

[Mikendebbie]

You might call ASA and ask them about possible interface. If it were me I would probably forget hooking it up to the InCommand and simply use the controller that comes with the heater.

Does your current water heater have 4 wires off the back? There are several YouTube videos for installing a fogatti water heater.

[wired1236]

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

You might call ASA and ask them about possible interface. If it were me I would probably forget hooking it up to the InCommand and simply use the controller that come with the heater.

Does your current water heater have 4 wires off the back? There are several YouTube videos for installing a fogatti water heater.

Ya, I plan on calling them and you maybe right. It would be simple to just get a 12v feed that doesn’t go through the iN·command system. It does and the fault wire was one of them so I think the system is looking for a 12v feedback on this wire, otherwise it gives an error code on the iN·command panel.

[RollaMo]

The new 2023 Cougars with tankless hot water all have control panels just above the In Command display.
In other words, the tankless hot water system in not run through the In Command panel.


https://www.keystonerv.com/girard-tankless-water-heater

[wired1236]

Originally Posted by RollaMo

The new 2023 Cougars with tankless hot water all have control panels just above the In Command display.
In other words, the tankless hot water system in not run through the In Command panel.


https://www.keystonerv.com/girard-tankless-water-heater

Good to know! Thanks

[RickV]

Same with my 2021 Alpine the controller is a separate panel below the In-Command. I have the Suburban unit.

[wired1236]

Originally Posted by RickV

Same with my 2021 Alpine the controller is a separate panel below the In-Command. I have the Suburban unit.

So there’s not even a button to turn the unit on or off on the iN·Command? No water heater control at all right? That’s how I think I’ll have to set it up. The only thing I can’t so is put the controller by the iN·Command or even in the bathroom. I would have to tear down the underbelly. I’ll put it in the bedroom which is right by the door the the bathroom. Still easy to access and see.

[ChuckS]

NO idea what Year, make, model RV you have.. If the current WH is a suburban SW12DEL series .. as I suspect it might be then then WH fault signal on your IN Command is simply the DSI FAULT indication ( WH failed to Light in LP Mode signal )..

You wont have that on the Foggati or other on demand RV WHs.

Wiring would be to the new on demand WH control panel .. otherwise you are gonna have lots of issues trying to even operate the new on demand unit..

The new on demand WH will require its wiring to match the control panel it comes with..

Images are for Foggati RV on demand water heater to give you and idea.

[RickV]

Originally Posted by wired1236

So there’s not even a button to turn the unit on or off on the iN·Command? No water heater control at all right? That’s how I think I’ll have to set it up. The only thing I can’t so is put the controller by the iN·Command or even in the bathroom. I would have to tear down the underbelly. I’ll put it in the bedroom which is right by the door the the bathroom. Still easy to access and see.

Correct on the In-Command, but, there is a WH Control Panel.

[RollaMo]

Originally Posted by wired1236

So there’s not even a button to turn the unit on or off on the iN·Command? No water heater control at all right?

That is Correct


At least in looking at all the YouTube videos I've seen of the 23's




Edit: Rick beat me to it with his better pictures.

[Mikendebbie]

Wired1236 - if it was mine - I would push the easy button and run the controller wires right up thru the closet floor and mount the controller by the closet. You might be a wiring expert - I am not!! Trying to figure out the InCommand wires and interface makes my head hurt. The InCommand panel is located way in the back...I'm too lazy to try to make all of that work.

By the way - having looked at some sales videos and pics - your Cougar is a good looking trailer and I love the layout. Wish this was available in the early 90's when we were traveling with our 3 kids.

[wired1236]

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

Wired1236 - if it was mine - I would push the easy button and run the controller wires right up thru the closet floor and mount the controller by the closet. You might be a wiring expert - I am not!! Trying to figure out the InCommand wires and interface makes my head hurt. The InCommand panel is located way in the back...I'm too lazy to try to make all of that work.

By the way - having looked at some sales videos and pics - your Cougar is a good looking trailer and I love the layout. Wish this was available in the early 90's when we were traveling with our 3 kids.

Dang…you did some work on your post. Thank you for the kind words. We love the layout too. I’m just not one to leave well enough alone so I always find myself changing things.

So, yes the original WH is the Suburban. I wired up the Fogatti just like the manual says but using the gas +12v and ground from the iN·Command module just like it was with the suburban. The new WH doesn’t have the fault wire like the old WH so that’s the only difference. The iN·Command panel says there’s a short as soon as I push on the water heater gas button on, on the iN·Command panel leaving me to believe the fault wire is looking for it’s +12v return as the wiring diagram suggests. Just to test the new WH, I hooked it up to a 12v battery and it turns on fine so no short exists. I am a low-voltage expert (network and control wiring) of sorts but not in the RV world so I know enough to be dangerous in this situation…hence the post.

Anyway, I have not yet but plan to pull +12v from my water pump constant wire to the new WH as it’s just on the other side of the wall. The new WH draws less than 3 amps per the specs so should have no issues with the extra load. I think this is the easy button.

I also mounted the new control panel down low right next to the bed where the access panel of the water pumps is so I don’t see any wires coming up a wall but it’s still easy to access and see.

[cougar23]

Had a tankless water heater in our 2022 Thor motorhome. Hated it! Always got a blast of cold water when turning water on until hot water caught up.
Traded MH in for a 2023 Cougar 5th wheel which also had a tankless heater. Paid extra money to have heater replaced with conventional gas/electric
water heater.

[wired1236]

Originally Posted by cougar23

Had a tankless water heater in our 2022 Thor motorhome. Hated it! Always got a blast of cold water when turning water on until hot water caught up.
Traded MH in for a 2023 Cougar 5th wheel which also had a tankless heater. Paid extra money to have heater replaced with conventional gas/electric
water heater.

I get it. Not for everyone.I’m keeping my install so that if we hate it, I can put the old back in just as easily.

[Mikendebbie]

Originally Posted by cougar23

Had a tankless water heater in our 2022 Thor motorhome. Hated it! Always got a blast of cold water when turning water on until hot water caught up.

Doesn't this happen with every hot water heater whether it is a tankless or old school? I have a 60 gal Rheem electric water heater in the S&B and I have to wait for the cold water to clear out before the hot water comes out. When the water gets warm I step in and avoid the cold water blast. The only way to avoid this stream of cold is to have a recirc system in the S&B or the RV.

[RickV]

So far our tankless has performed without a hiccup. Our's has an adjustable digital thermostat I really like that, I like about 95-96 degrees and the DW likes 106. So when I shower I set it to 96 and just turn the handle to Full Hot.

[wired1236]

For us it’s about taking multiple showers and not having to take “GI” showers as my dad calls them. My wife refuses to turn the shower off when soaping up and to be honest I hate it too. Also the benefit of not using as much propane when dry camping and being able to adjust the temp. It’s takes all of 8 sec to get hot water when turned on. About as much as the tank WH. But like I said, there seems to be as many people who don’t care for them as do so??

[wired1236]

Anyways, I finished the install today but haven’t ran water through it as it’s winterized. It does turn on and do it’s thing but since there’s no water, I didn’t turn the propane on. I’ll cross my fingers.