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Old 04-14-2013, 04:44 PM   #1
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Water heater won't light

First time out with our new Rockwood mini lite 2306 and hot water heater won't light. Electric doesn't heat water either. Any help greatly appreciated.
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Old 04-14-2013, 04:52 PM   #2
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First time out with our new Rockwood mini lite 2306 and hot water heater won't light. Electric doesn't heat water either. Any help greatly appreciated.
Is there even water in the tank?
Can you hear the propane side working?
Did you turn the by pass valves?
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Old 04-14-2013, 04:54 PM   #3
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Old 04-14-2013, 05:04 PM   #4
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I think there is water in the tank. When I dewinterized it I forgot to put the "rod" in the tank and water started running out the hole. Can't see the valves very well but I think I have them opened correctly. I will check again.
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Old 04-14-2013, 05:06 PM   #5
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I think there is water in the tank. When I dewinterized it I forgot to put the "rod" in the tank and water started running out the hole. Can't see the valves very well but I think I have them opened correctly. I will check again.
Open the pressure relief valve. If air gushes out you had the top valve closed (or check valve is stuck closed) ; if so you most likely burned out the 120 volt element.
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Old 04-14-2013, 05:11 PM   #6
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Herk, you may be correct. Even so, won't the gas burner come on?
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Old 04-14-2013, 05:17 PM   #7
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Herk, you may be correct. Even so, won't the gas burner come on?
The gas system is completely different than the AC heater system.
However the common thread is "water in the tank."

Without water in the tank, the over temp thermostat could pop. This prevents power from going to the control board.

Make SURE the tank is full and the valves are properly positioned.
Make sure the outside AC switch and the inside DC/Gas switches are OFF.

Open the outside cover and press BOTH overheat reset buttons.
If they reset; you should be "Good to Go."

If one or the other system does not work, check back for some other things to check.

The over heat reset is under the rubber circles.
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Old 04-14-2013, 05:31 PM   #8
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I will check the things you mentioned. We are in middle of fixing dinner so will work on it later. Thanks again for the help.
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Old 04-14-2013, 05:32 PM   #9
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I will check the things you mentioned. We are in middle of fixing dinner so will work on it later. Thanks again for the help.
Cheese curds? Lol
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Old 04-14-2013, 06:54 PM   #10
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The curds were delicious!
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Old 04-14-2013, 06:55 PM   #11
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The curds were delicious!
I bet........
Grilled curds.... my fav!
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Old 04-14-2013, 07:08 PM   #12
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Thanks all for your help. We may have gotten lucky the electric heater has provided hot water. The gas burner hasn't lit but at least we have hot water and it appears I didn't burn out the coil!
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Old 04-14-2013, 07:22 PM   #13
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The gas burner hasn't lit but at least we have hot water and it appears I didn't burn out the coil!
Cheesehead (sorry but I can't quit laughing at your nickname), can you tell us the exact steps you are taking to light the propane side of your hot water heater.....including what switches you are turning on?

Also, is anything else working off of propane...ie stove, heater?
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Old 04-14-2013, 07:28 PM   #14
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I bet........
Grilled curds.... my fav!
Someone from WI better bring a bunch of curds, I'd like to buy some! Love 'em.
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Old 04-14-2013, 07:29 PM   #15
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Thanks all for your help. We may have gotten lucky the electric heater has provided hot water. The gas burner hasn't lit but at least we have hot water and it appears I didn't burn out the coil!
Don't forget to check your 12 volt fuses, one is for the water heater in the central electric fuse and circuit breaker control panel.
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Old 04-14-2013, 07:40 PM   #16
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If the water is hot from electric side propane will not come on.
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Old 04-14-2013, 07:45 PM   #17
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Does the system run on electric when you are plugged in and only use propane when there is no electric. I am very uninformed.
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Old 04-14-2013, 08:01 PM   #18
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Does the system run on electric when you are plugged in and only use propane when there is no electric. I am very uninformed.
If you have a dual-powered water heater, it can run off of electricity (when available), propane....... or both at the same time.

You have to turn the propane and electric sources on. There may be an inside switch for the propane, and an outside switch for the electric. There could also be TWO inside switches, one for propane, and one for electric. That's what is bad, as Forest River doesn't make all the trailers the same way in this process.

That's why I was asking the steps you are taking. As Caper pointed out, if the water is hot from the electric heater element, then propane has no reason to come on. You can actually leave both switches (propane and electric) on, then if you use a lot of hot water faster than the electric heating element can keep up, then the propane will ALSO fire up and heat the water. Propane is always quicker than electric.

If you have the Suburban dual powered water heater, here is a more detailed explanation:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post327989
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Old 04-14-2013, 08:02 PM   #19
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Does the system run on electric when you are plugged in and only use propane when there is no electric. I am very uninformed.
Electric element works only with shorepower or generator.

Gas heater works with or without the electric heater, but as Caper says only when water is not hot already.
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Old 04-14-2013, 08:41 PM   #20
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wmtire, I was only turning the water heater switch on in the coach. I also made sure the switch outside where the water heater is was on. I think the problem was that the water by pass was not closed. Luckily I had the valves to the heater open also and didn't burn up the coil. Since the water was hot the gas burner didn't lite. So much to learn but thanks to you all we now have hot water.
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