Turning on hot water heater

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Check by the door below the counter and next to the stove. I guess it's possible they changed to a black unlighted switch to save a few cents. Thor, you know!
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[drdave]

[quote source="/post/17422/thread" timestamp="1451696599" author="@charliem"][font size="3"]Check by the door below the counter and next to the stove. I guess it's possible they changed to a black unlighted switch to save a few cents. Thor, you know!
[/font][/quote]Or saving the entire cost by forgetting to put it in?           Question out of curiosity:   Can you see the water heater model number by opening the exterior cover?  

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/17425/thread" author="@tlbones" timestamp="1451703837"]Or saving the entire cost by forgetting to put it in?           Question out of curiosity:   Can you see the water heater model number by opening the exterior cover?  [/quote][font size="3"]Gregg has verified the model number and located the circuit breaker. It is the SW6DE. It is possible LL Thor has deleted the red switch. The WH can be wired and used without it; Forest River does not put one in their RPODs. However it's much less convenient and even a bit dangerous to the heating element if it's not there, but it is possible. I think a call to the factory is in order. [/font]

[gbpack]

After doing another search thru the entire trailer this evening (inside and out), I was not able to locate said switch. I will call the factory on Monday to find out what is going on, as I doubt that the dealer will know (although I will call them tomorrow just in case they can help). Will keep you guys posted.

[gbpack]

Question out of curiosity:   Can you see the water heater model number by opening the exterior cover?  

tlbones- yes, you can determine the model number of the water heater by opening up the outside panel and looking at the sticker on the wall inside.

[drdave]

[quote source="/post/17429/thread" author="@gbpack" timestamp="1451706821"][quote source="/post/17425/thread" author="@tlbones" timestamp="1451703837"] Question out of curiosity:   Can you see the water heater model number by opening the exterior cover?  [/quote]
tlbones- yes, you can determine the model number of the water heater by opening up the outside panel and looking at the sticker on the wall inside. [/quote]Thanks...    I am almost certain mine is not dual gas/electric, but you got me wanting to double check.        


   Good luck in your quest for answers.  I agree with charliem the safest way is to have a readily available switch.  If deleted hopefully it's not too much of a hassle to retrofit one.    

[scbillandjane]

We picked up our new 2015 bhs on November 15 of this year. It has the red toggle light switch next to the gas heat water switch. Both are side by side under the microwave. When we went through the new camper orientation, the salesman showed me the water heater under the bunk bed. I asked what the three valves were for. One was on the blue pipe going into the heater and one on the red pipe exiting the heater. The third valve was jammed together with another pipe. The salesman said the purpose of the third pipe was to help the water heat up faster. After reading the forum, I guess that the third valve is a bypass of the water heater that is used to winterize the water pipes? Is there away to check that it was installed correctly?

[gbpack]

It has the red toggle light switch next to the gas heat water switch. Both are side by side under the microwave.

Your switch probably looks like the one in the picture I posted above. The general consensus is that that switch is only for the propane gas side of the water heater, and that there should be another switch with a red handle/lever that lights up red when you turn it on (which is for the electric side of the WH if you have a dual gas/electric WH. See comments above to determine whether you have a dual unit).  I am currently looking into the switch situation and will get back to everyone soon. I'll let one of the other guys comment about the valves and the questions you have regarding those.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]The third valve should go between the red and blue (inlet and outlet) pipes on the side of the other two valves away from the WH. Its sole purpose is to allow antifreeze to bypass the WH during winterization. For winterization it should be open; the other two are closed. What can I say about salesmen?
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[daplumbr]

[quote source="/post/17438/thread" timestamp="1451776702" author="@scbillandjane"]We picked up our new 2015 bhs on November 15 of this year. It has the red toggle light switch next to the gas heat water switch. Both are side by side under the microwave. When we went through the new camper orientation, the salesman showed me the water heater under the bunk bed. I asked what the three valves were for. One was on the blue pipe going into the heater and one on the red pipe exiting the heater. The third valve was jammed together with another pipe. The salesman said the purpose of the third pipe was to help the water heat up faster. After reading the forum, I guess that the third valve is a bypass of the water heater that is used to winterize the water pipes? Is there away to check that it was installed correctly? [/quote]If you could post a photo, someone here could tell you if was installed correctly. Otherwise, use Charlie's description of the piping/valving. 

[daplumbr]

A photo of the red water heater electric element switch on a 28 is a few posts down in this thread.

http://livinlite-owners.com/thread/1439/new-owner-member-western-washington?page=1&scrollTo=14453

[gbpack]

Guys - I talked with the dealer today and the guy who took us through our orientation (who seems pretty knowledgeable and is a real good guy) said that he heard that LL isn't putting in the red switches for the electric side of the water heater any longer. Probably a cost-cutting move. He assured me that there wouldn't be any problem using the WH on electricity without that switch, so for the upcoming trip we will just have to turn it on and off outside the camper by lifting the WH panel and using the toggle switch to turn it on & off. We may decide to have the dealer install the red switch inside of the camper later after we get back from our trip, as it would be handy to be able to turn it on & off from inside the camper, as well as see when it is on. For now, we'll just have to be very careful and remember when it is on. I guess as long as the WH tank is full of water, then we'll be OK. Any other suggestions at this point?

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Thank you very much, Thor. One more change under the "no changes" policy. The lack of the red switch is not the end of the world, just an end to one more nicety. We ex-RPODers learned to use the circuit breaker as a switch, leaving the outside switch on. A lot more convenient than going outside to check if you remembered to turn it on or off. Just make sure you have the right breaker, but there are only six. During the camping season there's really no reason to turn it off. It will run on electricity when it's available and switch to gas when it's not. I just use it to turn off the WH when it sits in the driveway plugged in. Still best to turn it off outside when you winterize.

Adding the switch inside is not impossible. The hardest part will be tracing and rerouting the 120V wiring. You might be able to buy the switch from LL or shame them into giving it to you.  On nice thing about CL is all the wiring is generally exposed,  accessible, and in wire loom. Keep us posted.
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[gbpack]

Thanks Charlie. That's good advice about using the circuit breaker for a switch, but you're right about probably not needing to do that very often while out camping. As you point out, the key will be remembering to turn it off once we return from a trip and connect to shore power. I will see how it goes on this upcoming trip before deciding whether to have the dealer install one (as that might be a little trickier than I thought).  Thanks again for all of your great help on this. Hopefully we won't uncover anything else!

[gbpack]

This is Joan and I have an inquiring mind.

Why is it different camping vs in the drive way? What I mean is, why can the WH switch be on when plugged in during a camping trip vs sitting plugged in on the driveway? Is it because the WH will be in use during the trip? Thank you for your help sorting this whole issue out for us Charlie M,, Merlin, etal.