Hot water heater
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2456
Printed Date: 17 May 2024 at 6:59am
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Topic: Hot water heater
Posted By: BlueAudi
Subject: Hot water heater
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2012 at 6:08pm
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Hi,
After one outing, our new 177 FR pod went intI the shop for a month (long story) anyway, we have it out for the second time since buying it and are finally hooked up to water. Is there a trick to the hot water heater? We are hooked up to "city water" and rant he hot water through the faucet until all the air and sputtering quit and then turned on the water heater. It's been almost 2 hours and the water is still ice cold! We would appreciate any ideas or suggestions as our dealership is not a good resource for us. Thank you very kindly in advance!! BlueAudi ------------- 2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser |
Replies:
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2012 at 6:16pm
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Did you check the plumbing as it relates to the hot water heater bypass? Are you sure that water has filled the HWH? I hoping you confirmed water in the HWH prior to firing it. When you turned it on, did you hear it ignite? ------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: BlueAudi
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2012 at 7:18pm
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Didn't hear it ignite. During our walk-thru, the dealership said to run the "hot" faucet until it stopped sputtering and then flip the rocker switch on for the HWH. They said it had a direct spark igniter. But like everything else we were told, it's really simple and most things have not been so. I'm not sure where the bypass would be.
Thank you so much for trying to help us though. Sometimes it's just nice to know someone hears your frustrations. ------------- 2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Pawpod
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2012 at 8:23pm
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The bypasses on the 177 is under the bed on the kitchen side, you might have to undo some screws.
And here is a link to a video that shows you where they are. Its about a third of the way through the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzzFtoFumbY&feature=youtube_gdata_player - Video ------------- Ready to pod around! |
Posted By: pentachris
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2012 at 8:29pm
| Did you open up the valve on the propane tank? Do you get hot water if you turn on the switch for electric water heating (located bottom left behind the water heater access panel on the outside of the pod)? |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2012 at 8:53pm
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Yes, you start by opening a hot water valve (usually the sink) and letting it run until the sputtering stops. As others have mentioned I'm sure it is your bypass valves. If you aren't sure which way all 3 should point - the ones on the hot and cold lines should have their handles parallel to the water lines, and the on the line that runs between them the handle should be perpendicular to the line. When you winterize in the fall, it is exactly opposite for all 3.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2012 at 7:17am
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I can relate to your dilemma, Blue Audi. I did just as you did when we first tried our water heater. Waited until the water quit sputtering and flipped on the heater switch. AND then the news- I fried the coil because the bypass WAS NOT open. Anyway, to make the process easier I flipped up the mattress, (we have a 177) took my scroll saw and cut an opening 4" x 10" so I can open those 3 valves easily instead of getting stuck underneath and trying to do it all by feel.
------------- 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: BlueAudi
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2012 at 11:06am
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Thanks for all of the suggestions and ideas, folks! It got cold and dark yesterday so we just used the campground restrooms and showers. It's no different than if we were still tent camping. We think we found the access panel under the bed (in the storage compartment) but couldn't locate our multi-tool until late so we are jotting down all ideas and will try again today. Thanks again for all of your support and help! What a great bunch of folks you are!! ------------- 2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2012 at 3:39pm
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Most, if not all, of the screw fasteners used in the Pod are 'square' head screws. After unscrewing the pump-heater compartment cover, I replaced the square head screws with phillips head screws. I can always find a philips screw driver, but I seem to misplace my square head drivers. Eventually I put a couple of hinges on the wall side of the compartment cover. So now when I unscrew the cover I can swing it out of the way, while I am adjusting valves.
------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2012 at 4:09pm
Here is what I did. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: BlueAudi
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2012 at 4:19pm
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Found the rocker switch outside. Ours has a pin through it and isn't labeled. It is currently in the off position. If we never plan on dry camping, would it be okay to remove the pin and switch to electric?? ------------- 2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2012 at 7:11pm
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As long as you keep water in the water heater, you can leave that switch on. When you drain the WH in the fall make sure you turn that switch off first.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2012 at 4:51pm
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I wired in a switch with a pilot lamp inside and leave that pesky outside switch on all the time. ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2012 at 10:23pm
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When we are hooked to electric for a few weeks, I leave the switch on all the time and use the breaker to turn the heater on and off. We only use the hot water for washing dishes in the morning and evening. Once the water gets hot I turn off the breaker to save power and it stays hot for most of the day. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: BlueAudi
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2012 at 11:00am
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Again, and as always, great ideas and information! Thank you ALL for such wonderful support. We are so new to camping with a trailer that sometimes it's overwhelming but we try to remember that it is just going to take time and we get to learn something new! While we have absolutely zero knowledge base for running wiring or using scroll saws to make extra access panels, etc, we are taking notes of possible solutions/modifications when we've don't our research and have a more complete understanding of the basics. We love reading about everyone's adventures and discoveries---both within their camper and out in the world!
Thank you so much! ------------- 2012 RP-177, 'Poddy Mouth' '07 FJ Cruiser |