Electric water heater

[Shreck]

I recently bought a 2018 Freedom Elite,every other camper I have had I was able to heat water when plugged in to SP by flipping a switch on the outside by the water heater. But with this one I can only heat water by using propane is there something I’m missing.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Shreck

I recently bought a 2018 Freedom Elite,every other camper I have had I was able to heat water when plugged in to SP by flipping a switch on the outside by the water heater. But with this one I can only heat water by using propane is there something I’m missing.

Suburban water heaters have that external switch. You likely have an Atwood/Dometic brand in your Elite, if it is equipped with a electric heating element there will be a second switch inside the RV next to the gas switch to turn it on.

[Shreck]

Thanks Ace that’s what I assumed I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Yep... ours has a control panel on the side of a cabinet just inside the entry door, where you press buttons to check tank levels, battery charge, etc. There are also rocker switches for water pump, propane and electric for the hot water. If in a hurry, I sometimes flip both propane and electric on to heat the water faster... then turn off the propane switch after up to temperature.

[Grumpy Grampa]

Just a word of caution make sure you have water in the water heater tank, before starting the water heater. I have seen electrical heating elements burn out because of no water in the tank, because someone accidentally flipped the switch.

[The Gritz Carlton]

A lot of the dual fuel (electric vs. propane) water heaters simply do not work on the electric side. I've had mine looked at twice...once at the factory...it still doesn't work on 120V. Why...I only wish I knew.

[Grumpy Grampa]

Maybe verify voltage at the heating element, when power is on.

Probably done that already.

Good luck

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

A lot of the dual fuel (electric vs. propane) water heaters simply do not work on the electric side. I've had mine looked at twice...once at the factory...it still doesn't work on 120V. Why...I only wish I knew.

A lot? I don't think that's accurate. Every one I've come across works on 120 VAC unless they burnt the element out with an empty tank.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

A lot? I don't think that's accurate. Every one I've come across works on 120 VAC unless they burnt the element out with an empty tank.

The electric side of mine didn’t work at purchase. Entegra/Jayco Factory Service broke it during the repair and had to replace the entire water heater.

[MJC62]

Originally Posted by Shreck

I recently bought a 2018 Freedom Elite,every other camper I have had I was able to heat water when plugged in to SP by flipping a switch on the outside by the water heater. But with this one I can only heat water by using propane is there something I’m missing.

Most likely in the coach's early life, as someone said, the heater was probably turned on dry and burnt up the element.
During my working career when we were doing demolition our crews would have to use a decontamination shower. Invariably on every job one of the crew members would plug in the electric hot water heater before the potable water was hooked up. I have changed at least a dozen of those heating elements not a tough job if you are a bit handy.
You can find a new element on the web for $20-$25. The element socket runs another $10-$12. The toughest part of the job on an RV looks to be moving the propane burner out of the way

[Shreck]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

Yep... ours has a control panel on the side of a cabinet just inside the entry door, where you press buttons to check tank levels, battery charge, etc. There are also rocker switches for water pump, propane and electric for the hot water. If in a hurry, I sometimes flip both propane and electric on to heat the water faster... then turn off the propane switch after up to temperature.

Is it common for them to only run off propane?

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Shreck

Is it common for them to only run off propane?

Not when they are low and electric. There are some models that run on one or the other

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by Shreck

Is it common for them to only run off propane?

Most newer ones are electric/propane, which yours likely is. You can remove the outside cover and look for wires to the heating element. The propane burner is pretty obvious.

I believe the intention is to use whichever source is available. You'd obviously use the electric option if you've already paid for electric hookup at a campground... OR propane when dry camping without running the generator.

In our MH the propane seems to heat a little quicker than electric... which is why I occasionally"boost" using both electric and propane simultaneously. There is no clear reason to me why you couldn't use both at the same time... or either/or as desired.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

Most newer ones are electric/propane, which yours likely is. You can remove the outside cover and look for wires to the heating element. The propane burner is pretty obvious.

I believe the intention is to use whichever source is available. You'd obviously use the electric option if you've already paid for electric hookup at a campground... OR propane when dry camping without running the generator.

In our MH the propane seems to heat a little quicker than electric... which is why I occasionally"boost" using both electric and propane simultaneously. There is no clear reason to me why you couldn't use both at the same time... or either/or as desired.

You won't see it on an Atwood/Dometic as the heating element is on the inside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koMIIKmW_cM

[Shreck]

There is no switch on the outside or on the inside by the propane switch my guess is propane is all I have. I realize mine is the base model of Motor Homes.

[JimOIB]

Send a picture of your control panel please.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Shreck

There is no switch on the outside or on the inside by the propane switch my guess is propane is all I have. I realize mine is the base model of Motor Homes.

What model water heater do you have.

[Shreck]

I will try to send a picture and get the model number when I get home from work this weekend.

[wbob]

Originally Posted by Shreck

I recently bought a 2018 Freedom Elite,every other camper I have had I was able to heat water when plugged in to SP by flipping a switch on the outside by the water heater. But with this one I can only heat water by using propane is there something I’m missing.

My 2018 Freedom Elite has a Girard instant hot water heater. If yours is a Girard, there is no electric option for heating the water.

[MLP]

Look up the documentation for your water heater. It should have a schematic for it. It will show weather you have a gas/electric or gas. Mine failed on electric and gas. I have jumpers with clips and pins. I jump the +12V house battery into the 12V to turn on the 120V electric start (my jumper has a fuse inline). It worked. My problem was with the relay providing power to the water heater which I fixed later when I got home. I could turn on electric or gas depending on which connector pin I inserted the +12V into. If you are not electric tech savvy, just measure to see if you have the +12V power at the proper connector pin for gas or electric.

It maybe that as stated in the above post, you may only have a gas only water heater. Your water heater documentation should have that info in it. If you do not have its documentation, look it up on line.