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Old 06-20-2014, 10:09 AM   #1
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Question 3051s Hot water tank use

May be a rookie question, but can someone put it in simple terms, when and when-not can you use the electric function on the hot water tank?( eg: traveling down the road , electric or not?)Thanks
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:14 AM   #2
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If you have a Gen.that puts out 110V! and it is running! Youroo!!
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:15 AM   #3
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May be a rookie question, but can someone put it in simple terms, when and when-not can you use the electric function on the hot water tank?( eg: traveling down the road , electric or not?)Thanks
The electric heating element side of the water heater must be powered by a form of 120 volt power. You would need to get this 120 volt power either from being plugged into shore power, having a generator turned on,.......or if equipped with an inverter (like on a MH) then that way (if connected), but this would probably consume the batteries fairly quick as the electric heating element needs 12 amps when on.
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:16 AM   #4
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If your generator is running while going down the road then you can use electrical side of wh.
If it's not you cant.
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:22 AM   #5
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Thanks for the posts, I usually don't run gen while driving, so do I have to turn off rocker switch at heater when leaving CG and unpluging shore power or can I just leave it on ? I know the tank must be full of water when pluged in or will burn out element with electric switched on.
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:27 AM   #6
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You don't "have" to shut it off as long as you know or remember it always running if plugged into shore power or gennie is running
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:38 AM   #7
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I just caught the part where you stated "traveling down the road". Is there a reason you would need hot water while driving, as you also have to have a water supply at the same time?

I doubt you have it, but Suburban does make a Motoraid water heater:

This actually lets the motor of the vehicle heat the water thru an exchanger.

Water Heaters | Suburban Water Heaters | RV Water Heaters

I have read about them, but have ZERO experience.
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:39 AM   #8
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I just caught the part where you stated "traveling down the road". Is there a reason you would need hot water while driving, as you also have to have a water supply at the same time?

I doubt you have it, but Suburban does make a Motoraid water heater:

This actually lets the motor of the vehicle heat the water thru an exchanger.

Water Heaters | Suburban Water Heaters | RV Water Heaters

I have read about them, but have ZERO experience.
My bosses holiday rambler has one.
There pretty interesting!
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:39 AM   #9
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I think it is a good idea to turn it off lest we test the fates and forget and drain the hot water tank,
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Old 06-20-2014, 10:50 AM   #10
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I have a friend who has a (OLD M/H) it has the (Engine Water Heater Setup) Boy what a Plumbing (Nightmare)! F/R would be (NUTs) to have this as a Option ever! Youroo!! Although History Does Repeat Itself!
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Old 06-20-2014, 11:22 AM   #11
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WMTIRE No need for hot water while driving, just wasn't sure if there is a electical feed to the tank other than gennie or shore power.
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Old 06-23-2014, 06:03 AM   #12
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I turn off the electric when traveling so that IF I start the generator for other reasons, the water heater does not come on. There are times when I want hot water while traveling. The other day we stopped for 5-6 hours at a rest area and slept. Then fired up water heater on propane and took a shower. (Maybe that's not "traveling" in the literal sense as we were parked at the time).
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Old 06-23-2014, 06:20 AM   #13
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So, this is not MH specific, but I watch my incoming voltage when using the air conditioner.

If the air conditioner start up voltage drops to 110 volts or less, I never use the water heater heating element. The voltage drop indicates the campsite feed circuit does not have sufficient capacity to supply 30 amps to all the camp sites in use at the same time.

To keep my voltage stabilizer from working too hard to maintain 115 to 120 volts with air conditioner use, I reduce the AC usage on other items.

Hot water and fridge get switched to gas during the day.

As to driving with the water heater on, I do not recommend it due to the (remote but real) possibility of fire.
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Old 06-24-2014, 11:30 AM   #14
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Ok i am also having trouble with hot water in 2014 3051s. We are newbies and i can not figure this out. Ok this picture ia my panel. If i put rocker in opposite position propane kicks on i get hot water. In the position it is shown I thought is electric heater but i get no hot water. I am at CG with water and solid pressure. Breaker not tripped. Have shore power. Any help greatly appericiated.
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Old 06-24-2014, 11:34 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by USNMM1VETERAN View Post
Ok i am also having trouble with hot water in 2014 3051s. We are newbies and i can not figure this out. Ok this picture ia my panel. If i put rocker in opposite position propane kicks on i get hot water. In the position it is shown I thought is electric heater but i get no hot water. I am at CG with water and solid pressure. Breaker not tripped. Have shore power. Any help greatly appericiated.
That switch is for your propane only.
"On and off"
Your electric switch is outside behind the cover of your wh. If it's a suburban it'll be in the lower left side. "Hidden"

If you have an electric "inside" switch it would be separate from the gas switch.
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Old 06-24-2014, 11:36 AM   #16
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Like this.

It's really sad your dealer didn't show you this.
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Old 06-24-2014, 11:38 AM   #17
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Hey since starting this post I have found out that if you want to run electric you have to open your outside cover( below the fridge cover on right side of MH) for the hot water tank and down in the lower left corner of panel there is a small black rocker switch that says on / off turn it to on for electric heater of water tank. Hope this helps
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Old 06-24-2014, 12:06 PM   #18
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I am starting to agree that rv dealers are not that great. I paid to get my unit unwinterized by my dealer and they screwed me. Told me put in new filter, that i bought, and everything ready to go. Well after drinking bad tasting water on this trip an investigation found NO filter and water pump not hooked up. This has nothing to do with them reping many brands, it has to do with poor workers. I will be calling the owner as soon as i get back. For what we pay for these units we should expect quality work from manufacturer to dealer. This is our 2nd trip in last 2 months both 7 nighters and another post will discuss more things falling apart in unit.
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Old 06-24-2014, 12:08 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by f1100turbo View Post
That switch is for your propane only.
"On and off"
Your electric switch is outside behind the cover of your wh. If it's a suburban it'll be in the lower left side. "Hidden"

If you have an electric "inside" switch it would be separate from the gas switch.

I question the wisdom of having the on/off switch on the outside. I always forget about it and it finally bit me. I burned the element out when I connected to shore power with no water in the tank. If it was visible inside the camper, this would not have happened.
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Old 06-24-2014, 12:17 PM   #20
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Hey USNM... Since we have the exact same units its good to know I am not the only one having STUPID things going on with my MH.Let me know what else is happening to yours so I can be on the lookout in mine
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