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Kenlw View Drop Down
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Posts: 17 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Water heater switch
    Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 8:50am
We did our first dry camping in our recently purchased 180. It took a few attempts but finally got the water workings and it was delightful. My question is do I turn the water heat switch off once propane is ignited?
Thanks for any response.
Ken and Andrea (newbies)
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 8:56am
You have to switches. One for 120v, and one for propane.

In either mode, you leave the switch on as long as you want hot water. Many owners heat water once or twice a day, as needed. We don't but others do.

The gas side of the water heater is only on, when the switch is on. It doesn't have a pilot light, it has Direct Spark Ignition (DSI) it will light and heat automatically as needed as long as it's turned on.
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harrypodder View Drop Down
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Posts: 48 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 10:31am
Like furpod said there are two switches for your water heater. The one on the interior of your 180 is turned on when you want to run it off of propane. The second switch is on the water heater and is accessed from outside and must be turned on when you want to use shore power-120V in either case make sure you have water in the heater before using either method also if you use 120v or propane be sure to put on your checklist when your packing up to turn that switch off.
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 10:38am
Having water in the water heater tank isn't as critical for propane as it is for electric. Still, it's a good habit to get into.
Alan
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Kenlw View Drop Down
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Posts: 17 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 11:51am
Thanks Furpod!
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Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
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Posts: 1014 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2019 at 3:13pm
I'm not one that typically has a electric site, yet if I do, yes it stays on.

I don't know if shutting down after use and re-firing for showers/dishwashing takes less propane/electric than leaving it on and staying at temp. It makes sense to me that if in a warm climate consumption would be on par. If in a cold climate.. I'd think turning it off would be better. We're not at the trailer typically during the day.

For the most part for us, we turn it on in the am for showers then shut off. Mostly warm water for our needs through out the day (unless in cold climate). 

How you do it, is up to how you camp. Love to hear how you decide and how it works out for you! 
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 5:38am
There are actually 3 switches for the water heater, one on the wall for the propane heating source, one on the tank for the electric, and a third dedicated circuit breaker in the panel for the electric. Since the outside switch is inconvenient, I leave mine on and just use the breaker to turn the electric heating element on and off. If you're worried about switching the wrong breaker on or off accidentally, just mark it with a stick on color dot or piece of colored tape. 

If you will not be using hot water for a few hours or longer and you're on propane, then by all means shut it off. You will always be ahead in energy use if you don't try to maintain a high water temp when you're not using it. It only takes at most about 30 minutes to heat the tank on propane, it has 12000 BTU per hour capacity. 

The electric element is only about 5000 btu per hour so takes longer to heat up, so I'd leave that on if you have hookups. Besides, you've already paid in advance for that electricity when you rented the campsite. Tongue
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Kenlw View Drop Down
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Posts: 17 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 9:05am
Thank you for your response, Harrypodder!!
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Kenlw View Drop Down
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Posts: 17 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 9:09am
I assume keeping the fresh water tank filled will satisfy the hot water tank.
Thank you Bum!! [
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2627 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2019 at 11:07am
Originally posted by Kenlw

I assume keeping the fresh water tank filled will satisfy the hot water tank.
Thank you Bum!! [
Not exactly. You do need to get the water into the hot water tank. So if your source is the FWT, then run the pump, and open the kitchen faucet until it stops sputtering. Then you know you have water in the water heater. Alternatively, of you are hooked up to a fresh water source, just run the kitchen hot water faucet until the sputtering stops.
bp
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