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Old 06-19-2017, 07:33 PM   #1
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Hot Water Heater Repair

Had to take my 2018 FR Surveyor back to the dealer have just one weekend in it to replace a bad burned out board on the water heater - gas side. Electric worked great. Owner's manual says don't run hot water heater on electric at the same time as air conditioner. Guess pulling more than 30 amps.
Question: how often do you run your hot water heater on gas compared to electric?
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Old 06-19-2017, 07:42 PM   #2
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Question: how often do you run your hot water heater on gas compared to electric?
Since we almost always dry camp, we run it on propane 80% of the time.
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Old 06-19-2017, 07:57 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by LSRuss3d View Post
Had to take my 2018 FR Surveyor back to the dealer have just one weekend in it to replace a bad burned out board on the water heater - gas side. Electric worked great. Owner's manual says don't run hot water heater on electric at the same time as air conditioner. Guess pulling more than 30 amps.
Question: how often do you run your hot water heater on gas compared to electric?
LSRuss3d, do you by chance know what brand water heater you have in your RV, that they replaced the board in?

I have a reason for asking this.

If you have any kind of switch to turn the electric heating element on, located on the face of the water heater itself, will answer my question as to the brand.

Thanks
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Old 06-19-2017, 08:00 PM   #4
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I run my water heater on electricity 96.6% of the time. Just kidding. Let's say almost all the time. Running your electric water heater element at the same time as your air conditioner won't hurt the WH or the AC... although it MAY trip a breaker.
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Old 06-19-2017, 08:05 PM   #5
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I always run our water heater on propane, never even tried it on electric.
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Old 06-19-2017, 08:13 PM   #6
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I always run my water heater on electric when I'm camping. The electricity is paid for with the camping fee so I'm using it instead of the propane that I'm paying extra for. Also, my AC and water heater running at the same time has never been a problem.
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Old 06-19-2017, 08:45 PM   #7
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I run on propane exclusively... The DW loves her hair dryer and if the AC, WH, and Hair dryer attempt at the same time we blow the pedestal breaker. The few bucks in propane is well worth the happy wife and not having to worry about blowing the breaker.
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Old 06-19-2017, 08:49 PM   #8
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I switch to propane whenever the weather is warm enough to have the a/c running....has tripped a couple times on us, when not thinking of it and using microwave or coffee maker or toaster when a/c running and likely water heater was running at same time.
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Old 06-19-2017, 08:51 PM   #9
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I always run my water heater on electric when I'm camping. The electricity is paid for with the camping fee so I'm using it instead of the propane that I'm paying extra for. Also, my AC and water heater running at the same time has never been a problem.
Do you have 30amp or 50amp in your trailer? If 30 amp, there will be a day where it will trip on you, just when you aren't thinking about it and go to use microwave or something.
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Old 06-19-2017, 09:01 PM   #10
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Do you have 30amp or 50amp in your trailer? If 30 amp, there will be a day where it will trip on you, just when you aren't thinking about it and go to use microwave or something.


Yup. There are two types of 30 amp campers: those who have tripped the 30 amp breaker (pedestal or in camper) and those who will.
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Old 06-19-2017, 09:15 PM   #11
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How did you know you burned it out? Our hot water heater clicks on and we have luke warm hot water. Could it be the same problem?
Thanks!
Laura
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Old 06-19-2017, 09:32 PM   #12
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How did you know you burned it out? Our hot water heater clicks on and we have luke warm hot water. Could it be the same problem?
Thanks!
Laura
I'm guessing your issue is caused by having your winterization valves in the wrong positions.
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Old 06-19-2017, 09:35 PM   #13
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Oh, that sounds easier to fix and less expensive. I will check that out!

Thanks,
Laura
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Old 06-20-2017, 06:03 AM   #14
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LSRuss3d, do you by chance know what brand water heater you have in your RV, that they replaced the board in?

I have a reason for asking this.

If you have any kind of switch to turn the electric heating element on, located on the face of the water heater itself, will answer my question as to the brand.

Thanks
I don't know the brand name but the off/on switch is located bottom left on the wh heater.
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Old 06-20-2017, 06:04 AM   #15
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How did you know you burned it out? Our hot water heater clicks on and we have luke warm hot water. Could it be the same problem?
Thanks!
Laura
Getting a DSI error light on the panel in bathroom after turning the wh heater on.
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Old 06-20-2017, 06:13 AM   #16
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I don't know the brand name but the off/on switch is located bottom left on the wh heater.
That's all I need to know. It's a Suburban.

Thanks
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Old 06-20-2017, 06:15 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by LSRuss3d View Post
Had to take my 2018 FR Surveyor back to the dealer have just one weekend in it to replace a bad burned out board on the water heater - gas side. Electric worked great. Owner's manual says don't run hot water heater on electric at the same time as air conditioner. Guess pulling more than 30 amps.
Question: how often do you run your hot water heater on gas compared to electric?
Our board also went bad on our 8th trip. Suburban SW6. Gas only version. 3 weeks past my 1 year warranty.


I posted pictures of our burnt board here.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...lp-134960.html
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Old 06-20-2017, 02:27 PM   #18
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I use electric and turn gas on as I get ready to shower then turn gas off on both of our campers
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Old 06-20-2017, 02:34 PM   #19
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99.99% of the time on gas. Rarely on electric.


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