Water heater
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12081
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 10:13am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Water heater
Posted By: 6pick
Subject: Water heater
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 12:11pm
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I’m confused about the difference in use between the water heater switch inside my R-179, and the one accessed through the screened panel, outside.
I was told to use the outside one when hooked up and the inside one when not. But that seems counterintuitive. Please explain. ------------- 'Tis better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 12:22pm
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The WH can heat on two different "fuels".. The inside switch controls heating on propane. The outside switch controls heating on 120v electricity. They may be used independently, or in conjunction, depending on availability and needs. ------------- |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 2:09pm
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Just make sure you have water in the hot water tank when you switch on the 120V heater or else you will likely burn out the element. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: 6pick
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 11:37pm
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Thank you so much, furpod. That’s perfectly clear and exactly what I need to know. ------------- 'Tis better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. |
Posted By: 6pick
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2018 at 11:38pm
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Sounds like great advice to me, Alan, thanks. ------------- 'Tis better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. |
Posted By: Kingbro
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2020 at 1:21pm
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The small light next to the heater switch is not coming on and the propane side of my water heater is not working. Any suggestions? I just purchased a 2018 180. ------------- Kingbro |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2020 at 6:54pm
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IF you have recently heated the water by either 110 or propane the light switch will not come on as the water is still too hot to call for more flame to heat it even more. The first year of owning our 177 back in 2011 we were on our last camping trip of the year, late October in the upper peninsula of Michigan; we were boondocking and heating water with propane. The trip home was almost 5 hours (during this time the propane was turned off to the water heater). An hour after arriving home I opened the bung to let the water out, to my shock, the water came out steaming hot, and that was after being turned off for 6 hours.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Kingbro
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2020 at 9:25am
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The water in the water heater tank is cold. Our initial run with our new (New to us) 2018 Rpod was a dry camping trip with no power to use the electric side of the water heater system. Gas is on, breaker is on, the toggle switch on the heater lights up, but not the DSI light. Is there any other trouble shooting I should do before taking it to a dealer? ------------- Kingbro |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2020 at 11:47am
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There are a couple of round, rubber plugs inside the compartment on the outside. Try pressing those. Something may be tripped.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2020 at 12:08pm
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I just went out and checked mine, not being hooked up to shore power (no 110 connection) but the battery (12 volt) power on and working, on the inside control panel (with all the tank level indicators) turning on the water heater rocker switch (which turns on the gas fuel side of the water heater), the rocker switch illuminates along with the "fault" light just below the rocker switch on the same control panel. After 30 seconds you can hear the burner light and the flame burning. If the fault light (DSI light?) you are indicating does not light illuminate (does the rocker switch illuminate when you turn the switch to the on position) then you have either a 12 power problem or a ignitor problem. Are you sure you have 12 volt power to the water heater's gas control valve and ignitor? You can check the connections behind the outside water heater access door with a multimeter. Also check the grounding wire to the gas valve. Other than that I don't have any suggestions but hope this helps.
------------- Jay 179/2019 |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2020 at 11:09am
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When you turn on the W/H switch inside, The DSI Fault light should light. Then you should hear a series of clicks (not very loud) That is the igniter trying to light the gas. If it lights, the DSI Fault will shut off. If it doesn't light, It will make 3 attempts to light. If all 3 fail, it will no longer attempt to light. If you go outside and open the panel, and have someone turn it on, see if you smell propane. Don't get your face to close incase it lights and "swooooosh" no eyebrows. If you smell gas, and theres no flame, it's probably the igniter needs changing. I've heard some say they lit it with a match, but I never have. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: SC for Huskers
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2020 at 12:25pm
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I had an additional problem you may have. When I turned the inside switch on, I heard the clicking (trying to light) then the swoosh meaning it lit. Then after 15-30 seconds it shut down. Found the control board, that’s mounted on the h/w tank, was defective. I had to unplug it, take it to the local dealer who tested it. Twas only 6 months old. ------------- Happy Traveling, Tom 2017 172pod 2011 F150 STX |
Posted By: Kingbro
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2020 at 12:29pm
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nothing tripped ------------- Kingbro |
Posted By: Kingbro
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2020 at 12:42pm
Jay, Thank you for your suggestions. The rocker switch is illuminated but the DSI light which is supposed to light to show it is trying to light the heater. I'll try to find the wiring and check with a multimeter. I once had an issue with a fireplace gas insert and the issue ended up being a spider in the orifices'. I'm not comfortable taking a gas appliance apart and putting it back together (especially knowing my head will be resting about a foot above ) Might have to go to a repair person.------------- Kingbro |
Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2020 at 3:35pm
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Kingbro, after checking the water heater manual the 12 V.D.C. T-Stat Hi-limit might have tripped and be causing what you are experiencing. This is a High limit water temperature cut off and if that sensor is tripped you can manually reset it behind the outside door in the upper left corner just to the left of the pressure relief valve you will see two black reset buttons the left one is for the 110 system and the right one is for the gas system. If the water temperature got above 180* it should trip both systems and to reset these sensors the water temperature in the tank has to be below 110* then you can push the buttons in to reset both of them or either one. You might want to try resetting them first. ------------- Jay 179/2019 |
Posted By: Kingbro
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2020 at 5:18pm
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When i turned on the toggle I heard clicking at the water heater like it was trying to start ran out and put a lighter to it and got a whoosh and it stayed lit for 15 seconds and then went out. Tried that a couple of times with same results. I've got a call in to a local service guy. I'll keep you posted. Kirt ------------- Kingbro |
Posted By: Badweissenbier
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2020 at 10:06am
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I found on my 190 that all the wires going to the water heater control box from the switch panel had bad connections. Whomever crimped the wires from the switch Panel to the igniter control box leads did an absolutely crappy job(to the point of being dangerous). One fell apart on its own and all the rest were very loose. I found them by luck when winterizing last year. needless to say I bought new connectors and did the job right, then I pulled the switch panel and checked EVERYTHING. |
Posted By: Kingbro
Date Posted: 26 Oct 2020 at 3:04pm
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Turns out it was the circuit board that is attached to the water tank. Thank you for all your suggestions. ------------- Kingbro |