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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Water heater on LP??
    Posted: 08 Jun 2019 at 9:30am
Originally posted by mjlrpod

Incase there is still confusion, I believe he means that if the circuit breaker inside the converter box is shut off for the water heater, It won't allow the w/h to run on propane either.  Thats how I read this. 

To further clarify,  the  cb for the 120Vac water heater element has no connection at all to the 12V circuit for the propane water heater system. You can be disconnected from 120Vac and/or have that cb off and it won't effect the water heater operation on propane. 

Except that if the 120Vac has already heated the water the propane heater won't need to run, or vice versa. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2019 at 9:10am
Incase there is still confusion, I believe he means that if the circuit breaker inside the converter box is shut off for the water heater, It won't allow the w/h to run on propane either.  Thats how I read this. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2019 at 8:40am
Greetings:
If you look in the packet that came with the pod, you will find a book on the Suburban Water heater.  It has the wiring diagram for both the 120 and 12 volt systems.  The current flow for both go though the high limit shut off and the thermostats separate for each.  The 12 volt has a control module which contains the circuit for the ignitor and is wired back to the fault light, plus to the gas valve.  With a multimeter, you should be able to determine what part is at fault.  Be sure and shut off the 120 breaker at the panel in the camper before doing any trouble shooting.  I would think that most RV dealers would have the parts and there is always Amazon.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 1:49pm
Lol, I was wanting hotter.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 12:40pm
There are two thermostats, one for LP and one for 120Vac, and they're both preset. They are little poppet tstats,  not adjustable, and they're set HOT. 

 I have a mod you can search for if you want to add an adjustable tstat on the propane side to  bring the temperature down to something comfortable. Saves water while boondocking because you don't have to waste water while you're adjusting the temp. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 10:41am
Good point though, the thermostat may have been preventing ignition.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 10:40am
Gonna have to wait, I'm boondocking now, running on LP and solar! Is the thermostat on the water heater set, or adjustable?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 9:29am
TT is correct, there should not be any connection at all between the LP and AC electrical heating systems. If there is then something strange is going on, which would be a problem in itself. Unless of course the outside rocker was on and the water was already hot from running the AC element, then there would be no need for the LP to come on when you turned on the LP heater switch. 

So, I suggest you try again to run the gas with the AC element on to be sure that what you think was happening was indeed the case. Shut both systems off and let everything cool off first or run some hot water out so that both systems will be calling for heat, then turn on the AC and then the propane. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 9:04am
I have both, I've used both. IIRC, I had the internal breaker on, external rocker switch off, and the LP wouldn't come on. No gas flow, no clicking. I turned off the internal breaker, and now all is well, burning fine.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jun 2019 at 7:29am
Originally posted by Jholler

All good now. Seems the propane is locked out unless you throw the breaker for the electric water heater.

The LP and electric heating elements are totally separate.  If the LP is working since you flipped a breaker it's a coincidence.  Are you sure you have LP hot water and not electric hot water?

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