Hot water switch??!?

[jsk125]

Hey folks, I just picked up a 2013 Vibe 6504. I do see the switch inside for the heater and water pump. But I don't see a switch for the hot water tank. I checked the useless manual. It says it should be inside somewhere. It is not in the external housing. Any ideas where it is? I assume it has to have one. Can't just be automatic.

Any other tips for a newbie are welcome. Virgin trip this weekend.

[BamaBob]

Not familiar with the Vibe - sorry - but take a look inside your Hot Water Heater on the outside - hope this was a good guess

[jsk125]

Is this what I am looking for?

[Happy Vibe]

The switch is outside in the water heater compartment. You need to open the access door on the outside. There will be a small black switch on the lower left side. It may be hard to see because it is behind some of the gas plumbing. There may be a locking pin in it, you just need to pull it out to turn it in. Make 100% sure you have water in the tank before you turn it on as you will burn out the heater if there is no water.

[jtstromsburg]

Similar to to that at least got the lp side. Electric may have a small black rocker switch I'm the lower left corner of the water heater itself. Remove the cover to find it. They usually come with a small pin to keep the electric off unless you want it in.

Sent by me

[jsk125]

Great! I'll look tomorrow

[Steeljag]

P- town, as stated above, make sure you have water in the tank before turning it on. I.E, hook up hose, turn on kitchen or bathroom sink and let run until the air is out and it flows smoothly.

Once the water heater rocker switch is turned on, also make sure the water heater breaker switch is on.

Good luck.

[Happy Vibe]

Have you used the water heater yet? Was the trailer winterised? There are bypass valves on the back side of the water heater that need to be turned so you fill the water heater if it was winterised. To be 100% sure you have water in the tank you can pull the leaver on the pressure relief valve in the outside compartment. You should get water coming out if the tank is full (as long as the water system is pressurised).

[Noneyerbusiness]

Your hot water switch should be on the panel as you walk in the door .... where the slide and awning controls are. When you turn it on it will cycle for a few seconds before lighting the heater.

[jsk125]

This is all a huge help. Question: where are the general fuses and is there a separate fuse for the hot water tank? I have no idea how much the seller actually winterized. I'll need to check those bypass valves and make sure there is water pressure

[Happy Vibe]

I answered the electrical question in your other thread, The water heater runs on 120V AC, if not on gas, so it has a breaker like in your house not a fuse.

[jsk125]

This picture seems to be the on off switch referenced. Will look tomorrow!

[Happy Vibe]

yes thats it.

[wmtire]

Operation of the Suburban dual Direct Spark Ignitor/Electric heating element water heater is one of the most frequently asked questions around here.

We have a tutorial in the FAQ section about it:

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

[jsk125]

Thanks. I have not really looked at it too much yet. I did read your article, which helped. But here are my questions:

1. I do not seem to have an inside switch. I assume if I am hooked to electric the propane does not heat the water? The electric element does?

2. If not on electric, or if indeed the propane is needed, does the switch search to ignite the flame

3. The switch is needed not matter what?

4. Can the propane be ignited manually if necessary?

I'm using it over Memorial Day and I'm sure that we will figure it out. We will be hooked up to electric

Thanks.

[bikendan]

shame on your dealer for not going over this stuff, during your PDI.

seems like more and more dealers are shortchanging their customers on providing info during the PDI.

[wmtire]

Replies in blue

Originally Posted by ptownvibe

Thanks. I have not really looked at it too much yet. I did read your article, which helped. But here are my questions:

1. I do not seem to have an inside switch. I assume if I am hooked to electric the propane does not heat the water? The electric element does?

If you have the dual powered propane/electric Suburban water heater, they are two different heating systems for the same tank. Each one can be run independent of the other OR both can be on at the same time...which gives you the fastest heated water/recovery time. Which system is on, depends on which switch you have on (or both).

2. If not on electric, or if indeed the propane is needed, does the switch search to ignite the flame.

Here again, if you have the Suburban dual powered water heater, you should have TWO switches. One switch has nothing to do with the other. You probably have a switch inside your RV that ONLY turns on the DSI/propane side of the heater......and another switch on the front of the water heater tank that controls the electric heating element. There's nothing automatic about any of it. It's all manual and switch controlled.

3. The switch is needed not matter what?

A switch is needed (Not 'the' switch). Either the dsi/propane switch....or the electric heating element switch. It all depends on which source you want to use to heat the water. Here again, and all the advice is from assuming you have the Suburban brand water heater that is dual powered. It would help for sure if we knew the exact model and brand to make sure of what is being stated.

4. Can the propane be ignited manually if necessary?

If you have a pilot light water heater, then yes. If you have a direct spark ignitor (DSI), then I wouldn't recommend trying. The DSI is intended to do away with pilot lights and provides an electric spark to ignite the propane. The DSI system is more than just a sparker, and actually controls the flow of propane.

I'm using it over Memorial Day and I'm sure that we will figure it out. We will be hooked up to electric

Thanks.

Originally Posted by ptownvibe

Hey folks, I just picked up a 2013 Vibe 6504. I do see the switch inside for the heater and water pump. But I don't see a switch for the hot water tank. I checked the useless manual. It says it should be inside somewhere. It is not in the external housing. Any ideas where it is? I assume it has to have one. Can't just be automatic.

Any other tips for a newbie are welcome. Virgin trip this weekend.

The inside switch for the DSI/propane side of your hot water heater can be in your master control panel along with all your other switches (like awning, lights, slides, etc). If this is the case it will just look like those switches and not like the common one as shown in the tutorial. You may just be overlooking it.

You said you have a switch for heater, is this for the water heater, or the belly tank strip heater that keeps the waste water tanks from freezing up. Can you please post a pic of your master switch panel along with this heater switch?

We are also still assuming you have the Suburban water heater. Can you also post a pic of the water heater, or look on the tag inside your water heater compartment to confirm the make/model.

Let me do a member search and see if I can find others with your specific trailer, to ask them in their assistance. Nothing like having first hand knowledge.

EDIT: I sent a few PM's to fellow 6504 Vibe owners asking them to take a look at this thread. Maybe they will reply and can give you exact answers.

[RussellReyn89]

Here's the water heater switch inside my 6504 that fires the propane side:


The electric switch is located on the lower left hand side:

My outside switch had tape from the factory to keep it in the off position.

Like others here have said BE SURE you have water in the tank before flipping the electric switch!

Also saw the post looking for the fuse panel. Mine is directly below the fridge right at the step into the rear bed:


Hope to have shed some light in things! If not! Keep asking you will get it all figured out.

[wmtire]

Thanks so much for responding and for making the effort of posting the pics, RussellReyn89. That should get ptownvibe fixed up.

There is nothing like getting advice from members who have the exact same RV.

Although not required, it is very helpful to list your particular make/model RV in your profile details. This way, other members can do an advanced search with it, to seek advice from members who have the exact same RV (or similar).

This thread explains it in more detail:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ile-53932.html

[wmtire]

One more reminder, ptownvibe. Many have correctly pre-warned you to make sure there is water in the heater before you turn on the electric heating element.

I saw where you have been talking about the bypass valves, and you are unsure how they are set. If the water heater has been bypassed, then if you turn on the hot water taps inside your RV, you WILL get water out of them....since the bypass valve actually ties the cold water into the hot water lines. This does not let you know if there is water in the heater though.

Since you are unaware of how the bypass is currently, do not just turn on the hot water taps to convince yourself there is water in the water heater.

You need to go outside the RV, and access the water heater. Pull the pressure relief valve (see pic) handle up on the water heater and see if water comes out, to indeed verify there is water in the heater BEFORE you attempt to turn on any heating.



Hope all of this get's you fixed up and you have a great upcoming weekend.