Turning on hot water heater

[gbpack]

Sorry for not knowing this yet, but we just got our camper and haven't camped in it yet. I can't remember what the dealer guy told us during our orientation when we picked it up regarding starting the hot water heater. I know that I first have to put the anode plug in (after flushing the pink antifreeze out of the water lines), and I know that there is a switch inside the camper next to the stove that says "Gas Water Heater" above the switch, but that's about all I can remember. Also, it's a dual HWH (gas & electric) in our 21BHS, so how do you run it on only electricity (if we wanted to run it that way)? Does that one switch turn it on for either way? Lastly, can we run it both ways at the same time to shorten the heat-up/recovery time? Any help you guys can provide me will be greatly appreciated, as we're getting ready to leave for a trip.
Thanks!  Gregg
 

[charliem]

[font size="3"]After you replace the anode you should make sure the bypass valves are properly set. This means both the side valves are ON and the cross valve is OFF. A valve is ON when the handle aligns with the pipe. It is OFF when the handle is crosswise to the pipe.

Second you should make sure the WH is full. Do this by connecting the water source and running a hot water faucet until all the air is out and water is flowing. This is VERY important to prevent damage to the electric element.

The inside switch with the red light next to it controls the gas side of the heater. When you first turn it on the red light will come on and stay on until the burner lights, usually less than 30 seconds.

There is a small black rocker switch inside the WH enclosure, accessible from the outside compartment of the WH. Open the door and turn it on. There is also a switch for the WH inside the camper. It looks like a regular residential light switch, but it has a red handle and lights up red when it's on. This controls the electric side of the WH.

The gas and electric sides of the WH are independent. If both are on the recovery time will be roughly half that of one side. The thermostats are such that the electric side will override the gas side and prevent the gas burner from cycling. The saves propane until it is needed for fast recovery. If you are plugged in and want to run on electricity only you just turn off the gas switch on the wall.
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[gbpack]

Thanks Charlie. That's very helpful and should be easy to follow. Appreciate your quick response. Will have to wait until we are on the road and into a warmer climate zone before we de-winterize our camper and try this! Thanks again!

[gbpack]

Charlie - I just went out into the camper to look at the switches near our stove and the picture below is all we've got for the water heater. From your instructions it sounds like there should be two switches..... one for electric and one for gas. Is that what I've got here? If so, can you determine which one is for electric and which one is for gas?
[attachment id="1062" thumbnail="1"]

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Gregg,

The switch you pictured is for the gas side of the WH. It controls only the gas burner. You mentioned your WH is dual mode. Are you sure? If it is there will be red handled switch somewhere in the camper. In my 2014 21RBS it is near the entry door, but the 21BHS is a bit different and LL keeps making small changes. Another way to tell is to look at the circuit breakers. There should be a 15Amp breaker labeled water heater, providing LL did the labeling correctly. Check and report back. I'm here all night  8-)
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[gbpack]

Maybe it's just gas-only because I just went back out there and I don't see any other switches in the camper (and nothing with a red lever on it). It was supposed to be a dual gas/electric WH, as that is what LL said was coming as standard now in the new CampLite's (along with the solid countertop, stainless steel sink, and black tank flusher).  Also, I looked at the water heater from outside the camper (opened the outside door to the WH) and didn't see any switches in there (which I believe you said would be out there if it were capable of operating on electric as well).  So maybe they just gave us a gas-only WH.

[gbpack]

Charlie - I forgot to check the fuse box for a circuit labeled Water Heater, so I just went out again and did that.... and yes, there is a 15 amp circuit that I see labeled there for Water Heater. So maybe the switches I showed you in the picture are for handling both? Otherwise, I'm not seeing a switch somewhere.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]You're probably right. The little black switch in the outside compartment is easy to miss, but the acid test is the WH model number. The gas/electric  model is SW6DE. The E denotes electric. The gas only model is SWD.
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[gbpack]

The model number is SW6DE and I think I found the little black switch in the outside panel. So it seems as if it's a dual model, but just no separate red-handled switch inside.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]That's a good sign. If the model number checks out and you still can't find the red switch I'll post a picture to help you.
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[gbpack]

Thanks and again, I found a circuit labeled WAter Heater in the circuit breakers. I also looked at the exterior of the WH from inside the camper (where the bypass valves are) and didn't see a red switch in there either, so maybe what I showed you in the pic is all they are providing now. It's a dual unit, so I will I follow your instructions when we get on the road and let you know how it goes. Thanks!

[charliem]

[font size="3"]OK. The red handled switch has to be there, unless LL really screwed up. The switch is the same size as a standard single household light switch, probably with a black or brown face plate. Only the handle is red and it lights up when on. It may be in a strange place.
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[gbpack]

OK. I will keep looking for it. See my last comments above which I edited and added more sentences to while you were sending your last response. Could it be that the switch they provided (in the picture) is all they are giving us now?

[daplumbr]

Not that this is helpful, but on my 16, the factory location for the red electric element switch is only about a foot off the floor, on the outside of the under-bed cabinet where the water heater is. It's not directly visible when the slide is in. 

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Gregg,

Here's what you're looking for:

[attachment id="1063" thumbnail="1"]

It may be in some strange place, but it won't be hidden. It must be convenient and accessible. The switch you've found is only for the gas side.

Merlin: Thanks for jumping in. Maybe someone with a new 21BHS will join us with current info.
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