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04-14-2014, 09:56 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 191
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WH empty with LP burner on
I have a similar problem. 6 gal. Suburban water heater, electronic ignition, heater drained, propane on. My grand daughters were playing in the camper and accidentally turned the propane WH switch on. I did not notice it until the next morning as I walked by I heard the igniter sparking and the burner firing up. I guess that this has been going off and on all night. Might I have some damage from this running without water in it?
__________________
cabranch47
2009 Flagstaff HW27SC (NTU 2014)
1999 Ford F150
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04-14-2014, 12:43 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cabranch47
as I walked by I heard the igniter sparking and the burner firing up. I guess that this has been going off and on all night. Might I have some damage from this running without water in it?
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Short answer is Yes. Maybe. Do you feel lucky? With no water in the
tank the burner tube will get VERY hot before the tank itself is heated enough
to "satisfy" the LP thermostat. Since you heard it still trying I guess the
hi limit has not tripped.
Your burner tube might be damaged or not.
You can try connecting to city water and un-winterize your WH by
replacing the drain plug/anode (if it's out now).
Switch the valves from winter mode to summer mode.
Open a hot water faucet and let out the air to fill the HW tank.
Watch the tank from the burner side and see if it's leaking.
No leaks- maybe you're ok.
Flip the LP back on and see if it lights and heats normally.
Of course you know now that you should not let kids play in your RV
unless LP and electric are OFF!! Even then they probably need some supervision.....
Good Luck!
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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04-14-2014, 12:45 PM
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#3
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Gravity challenged
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 87
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cabranch47
I have a similar problem. 6 gal. Suburban water heater, electronic ignition, heater drained, propane on. My grand daughters were playing in the camper and accidentally turned the propane WH switch on. I did not notice it until the next morning as I walked by I heard the igniter sparking and the burner firing up. I guess that this has been going off and on all night. Might I have some damage from this running without water in it?
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I wouldn't think so. As long as the electric element wasn't on you should be fine. The gas flame would just heat the tank (obviously much faster than if were full of water) to the temp set by the thermostat and then shut off. Hopefully you escaped with nothing more than lighter propane tanks.
__________________
Jim & Susan
2017 Flagstaff 832OKBS - Days camped 2022: 35
2013 Silverado 2500HD LTZ Duramax
Try to learn something about everything and everything about something. - Thomas Henry Huxley
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04-15-2014, 10:31 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 191
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Well I filled WH and flushed it out several times. At first the water was brown like tea. After several flushings it cleared up and looks good. Electric and propane heating modes working fine. I guess I got lucky, no apparent damage, maybe some scorched debris in the tank had discolored the water. The morning I opened the WH cabinet in the inside it was pretty warm. Lucky, I guess that it could possibly have started a fire if something had malfunctioned. Lesson learned.
__________________
cabranch47
2009 Flagstaff HW27SC (NTU 2014)
1999 Ford F150
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04-15-2014, 01:14 PM
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#5
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Gravity challenged
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 87
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Great news!
Glad there wasn't any permanent damage. That's one of those learned lessons that stay with you.
__________________
Jim & Susan
2017 Flagstaff 832OKBS - Days camped 2022: 35
2013 Silverado 2500HD LTZ Duramax
Try to learn something about everything and everything about something. - Thomas Henry Huxley
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04-15-2014, 02:38 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,525
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Thanks for the follow up. Often folks post a problem and we try to give
advice and never hear from them again.
We like to know the "rest of the story".
Glad you're OK.
Let the camping season begin! 
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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04-15-2014, 02:53 PM
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#7
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Now that it has a happen ending- mind me hijacking and asking how you tested the electric heating vs. propane heating? I've got a bit of a theory that my electric element may be burnt up, I just don't know how to test it...
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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04-15-2014, 03:33 PM
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#8
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
Now that it has a happen ending- mind me hijacking and asking how you tested the electric heating vs. propane heating? I've got a bit of a theory that my electric element may be burnt up, I just don't know how to test it...
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Turn the propane off, run the hot water out of the water heater and turn the electric side on. If you don't get hot water in about 20 minutes, the element is toast!
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04-15-2014, 03:50 PM
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#9
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Ok. That was my simple plan- thanks Coot.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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04-15-2014, 03:50 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,960
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Doug, page 20 of the service manual may help you, including the ohms for a good element.
http://dutchmen.com/image/data/docum...ice_Manual.pdf
It could possibly have other problems besides the element (hi-limit tstat, switch)
__________________
 2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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04-15-2014, 04:05 PM
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#11
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Based strictly on my brain f-rt last fall, the hi limit is toast also. I replaced both hi limits (elec. & propane) with 140° when I had to replace the electric element. Like it much better, use less hot water than before.
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04-15-2014, 04:44 PM
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#12
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmtire
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It took a really long time to heat water the other night. I had it on electric only at first and after 20 minutes or so turned on the propane. Still took quite a while to warm up.
Now that it is hot- it's fine but I still have it on propane and electric.
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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04-15-2014, 04:56 PM
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#13
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
It took a really long time to heat water the other night. I had it on electric only at first and after 20 minutes or so turned on the propane. Still took quite a while to warm up.
Now that it is hot- it's fine but I still have it on propane and electric.
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Just go get you a new electric element AND the socket. I would also get the hi limit switch. CAUTION, unplug from shoreline before messing with it. Pull the hi limit switch and take it with you to get a new one and pay attention to which side the spade terminals are on and the size of them. Don't ask why I say this. 
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04-15-2014, 05:36 PM
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#14
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,891
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Where do I get these from?
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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04-15-2014, 05:48 PM
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#15
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad
Where do I get these from?
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Camping World, rv dealer, eBay. I got my first element and hi limit from Camping Connection in Kissimmee and ordered spares on eBay, much, much cheaper. I now have an extra element and hi limits for both elec. & propane that actually fit. The replacement I got from CC I had to alter to get the connections to fit.
__________________
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04-16-2014, 06:18 AM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,525
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My electric element "sings" when it's heating. If you place your ear any
where near the tank either inside the trailer or outside next to the
burner door you can hear it when it's on. It sounds like whales in the
distance or a pot of water heating on an electric stove.
It's often the first sound I hear when I'm plugging in the camper.
(Right after the microwave beeps and starts flashing "set clock".)
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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