running gas and electric same time

[boudie]

Read recently someone was running the gas and electric water heater at the same time to keep up with multiple showers..

Is that smart?? does it work?? How many people are doing this??

I never thought to do this.

Thanks

[Rugged Brown]

I think most people do it just for the reason you described.

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

I think most people do it just for the reason you described.

X2 on fast hot water recovery.

[MrJoe]

We run both at shower time. Just electric at other times.


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[OldCoot]

Run both anytime we're hooked to shore power.

[mcnabbwr]

Originally Posted by MrJoe

We run both at shower time. Just electric at other times.


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Same here!

[Evereddie]

Same here unless it's just one shower. Then electric will do.

[rockfordroo]

X2

[B and B]

Yes and I posted that before as well, nice hot water!! Gas only comes on when it has too.

[Lefty59]

In our old travel trailer (Atwood water heater), we would occasionally use both at the same time...but most of the time we just ran on electric when on shore power or gas when no shore power.

With the Wildcat (suburban water heater), we tried running with only the electric on (outside switch on tank) but found that for the electric to work we have to have the main inside switch (and gas) on or the electric doesn't work.

My understanding with the suburban water heater is that the gas will kick on whenever there is a high demand and the electric will keep the water warm during no use or low use times. I asked the dealer for clarification, but didn't really get a definitive answer. Maybe I've misinterpreted the owner's manual explanation of how it operates...or maybe my electric function isn't actually working?

[deartruc]

I understand it the same way Lefty59. Though I wish I could turn off the gas when I won't need quick recovery.

[riznfall]

I've always run on both. If we have a need for several people take showers one after another. I'll run a bit of hot water out to let the WH kick on and wait to get in until it shuts off. By doing this the water is at it's hottest point it's going to reach. And the hot water seems to last a lot better through the multiple showers being taken.


Tim
Vengeance touring edition 39R12
2012 Ram 3500 DRW

[ironj]

Running both is what Atwood referrs to as 'quick recovery' mode...it bumps the gph considerably. ..11.5 gal on electric to 17.8 on electric and gas

[Frank-VA]

I run both when hooked up to shore power

[arpipeliner]

If I'm in a park where I have to pay electric and they are pricy on their use of electric. Some in PA that way I will run propane only. Otherwise run both cause I'm on shore power as full time living.

Was putting up insulation in the basement ceiling while the washer/dryer was going. Could hear the electric element but the gas never kick on. It will after a shower.


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[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Lefty59

With the Wildcat (suburban water heater), we tried running with only the electric on (outside switch on tank) but found that for the electric to work we have to have the main inside switch (and gas) on or the electric doesn't work.

My understanding with the suburban water heater is that the gas will kick on whenever there is a high demand and the electric will keep the water warm during no use or low use times. I asked the dealer for clarification, but didn't really get a definitive answer. Maybe I've misinterpreted the owner's manual explanation of how it operates...or maybe my electric function isn't actually working?

You may have a bad/burned out electric element or other problem. The gas function is a separate system from the electric on the Suburban water heater. You shouldn't have to have the inside propane 12 volt DSI switch turned on to have any effect on the 120 volt electric heating element.

Now, a few RV's that have a Suburban water heater, do have a separate inside 120 volt switch that you turn on (Turbo's RV has this), but this isn't the same switch that turns on the 12 volt DSI/propane option.

If you are turning on the propane/DSI switch, it only controls the propane side. The electric element switch on the front of the Suburban water heater only controls the 120 volt electric heating element.

This FAQ may help:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ore-36197.html

I would venture to say your electric element is not working, and you have been using propane ONLY this entire time....or you didn't allow enough time for the electric element to do it's job before turning on the propane. One more thing, the electric element is basically silent, and you really won't hear it when it's operating.......unlike the propane side, where you can hear the gas burning.

[mud yapster]

I've used both for years in the winter when the water is colder and I'm in a hurry. In the summer the water is already hot and just electric will do. LOL

[Lefty59]

Originally Posted by wmtire

You may have a bad/burned out electric element or other problem. The gas function is a separate system from the electric on the Suburban water heater. You shouldn't have to have the inside propane 12 volt DSI switch turned on to have any effect on the 120 volt electric heating element.

Now, a few RV's that have a Suburban water heater, do have a separate inside 120 volt switch that you turn on (Turbo's RV has this), but this isn't the same switch that turns on the 12 volt DSI/propane option.

If you are turning on the propane/DSI switch, it only controls the propane side. The electric element switch on the front of the Suburban water heater only controls the 120 volt electric heating element.

This FAQ may help:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ore-36197.html

I would venture to say your electric element is not working, and you have been using propane ONLY this entire time....or you didn't allow enough time for the electric element to do it's job before turning on the propane. One more thing, the electric element is basically silent, and you really won't hear it when it's operating.......unlike the propane side, where you can hear the gas burning.

Thanks for the info. We tried out the electric function on our maiden voyage and even though the electric only was turned on throughout the entire first night we had no hot water the next morning. That's when I asked the dealer about how it was supposed to operate and got a fuzzy explanation that seemed to match the owner's manual fuzzy description as well...indicating the heater only works (electric or propane) when the propane/DSI switch is on.

We are headed out again next week so I'll try running in electric only mode again with the inside switch off and see what happens. I've been wondering all summer why I here it fire on propane (usually early in the morning) even though no demand for hot water has been made and the electric and gas are both on.

If the electric element isn't working, then I suspect it hasn't worked from the day we took delivery as I was well aware of the problem with turning it on without first filling the tank thanks to a neighbor's prior experience.

One other question, is the propane/DSI switch supposed to be lit when turned on? Mine isn't, although I believe it was on our maiden voyage. Dealer says the switch is normally unlit unless the reset light is illuminated.

Thanks again.

[MrJoe]

My propane switch isn't lite unless it's igniting. It's normally off.

On your electric, make sure you're either hooked up to AC power or the generator is running. The switch outside on the WH is on and the breaker inside is on. The WH also has a reset button under the black rubber cover on the WH.


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[mcnabbwr]

My Suburban heater has an outside switch just below the reset button. Remove your outside cover and make sure the switch is in the on position. Also make sure the heater has water in it, otherwise you may burn out the electric element.