hot water- gas AND electric?

swj · 06-26-2019, 09:38 AM

I have a FR 2017 Surveyor 251 RKS, no hot water.
Ran out of propane. Will the hot water heater run off the electric
hookup and or battery?

5picker · 06-26-2019, 09:41 AM

If you have a gas AND electric model water heater it will run off propane or 120v electric but not battery only.

You do need a battery to supply 12v to fire the propane igniter and operate the gas valve UNLESS you have a model water heater that has a manually lighted pilot. The 12v can also come from the converter when plugged into shore power if you happen to have no battery installed. (which you should)

For faster recovery, you CAN run BOTH the LP and electric at the same time.

To be sure about 'proper' advice, you should always list the make/model of the appliance you are asking about. Without it, we can often only give generic advice.

bigmurph · 06-26-2019, 09:41 AM

I'm not sure if your trailer has an electric option. If you do then you can run your hot water on electric when you are plugged in. Open the hot water heater access and take a picture so we can see what type of unit you have.

swj · 06-26-2019, 09:45 AM

thats the question: Does the 2017 Surveyor 251RKS have the electric option to run the hot water option?

5picker · 06-26-2019, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swj

thats the question: Does the 2017 Surveyor 251RKS have the electric option to run the hot water option?

Again, we can't tell you unless you list the make/model.

Forest River uses different models across brands and even in different series.

5picker · 06-26-2019, 09:50 AM

Does your water heater have a switch like this...

**Flybob** · 06-26-2019, 09:57 AM

If you have Suburban WH, look in the lower left corner behind the outside access panel. If you see a small black rocker switch move it to on and you should be good to go. Also don't forget to run the stove top for a minute or so once you refill the propane to purge the air from the lines after changing the tank. See Photo.

**bikendan** · 06-26-2019, 12:56 PM

As 5picker said, the WH electric side is 120v AC and will only run on shore power or generator power.
Should be a Suburban WH with the electric rocker switch on the WH itself and accessed from the outside WH compartment.
A 2017 Surveyor should have a propane dsi/electric Suburban WH.

rockfordroo · 06-26-2019, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swj

thats the question: Does the 2017 Surveyor 251RKS have the electric option to run the hot water option?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Again, we can't tell you unless you list the make/model.

Forest River uses different models across brands and even in different series.

Make/model of the WATER HEATER, not the trailer.

**wmtire** · 06-26-2019, 01:22 PM

As everyone is explaining, FR uses different brands, makes, and models of water heaters in their different RV's.

They also offer options, so your specific year/make/model RV could have a different optioned water heater than the same one next off the assembly line (ex tank type or tankless).. The only way to know is for you to tell us what make/model water heater you may have...or just take a pic of it and we can decipher it quickly.

If you do perhaps have a Suburban water heater with an electric heating element, this thread may help:

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

davejodoin · 06-26-2019, 06:43 PM

Before you switch the electric on, pick up the relief valve to make sure your tank is full of water, if you dont get any water out of relief valve, DO NOT PUT ELECTRIC ON, YOU WILL BURN OUT THE ELEMENT

clarkbre · 06-26-2019, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swj

thats the question: Does the 2017 Surveyor 251RKS have the electric option to run the hot water option?

Yes, it should. My '17 Surveyor has a gas/elect water heater.

The gas operates directly from the switch in the bathroom next to the water pump switch.

To run electric on the water heater, you need to be plugged in to 120v Sshore power and flip the small rocker switch on the outside of the trailer in the hot water heater compartment.

If you're running the AC and water heater both in electric it can trip the main 30 amp breaker.

just4u_cara · 06-27-2019, 09:22 AM

Thanks to this post....we now run our water heater on 110V. Our water heater manual didn't indicate the 110V option when I went searching. The interior command centre only had the gas on/off toggle. (Our previous TT had the gas/electric option inside so it was a head scratcher on this one!)

67L48 · 06-27-2019, 09:32 AM

Here is the paranoid, hyper-sensitive, hysterical methodology I use. Electric water heater elements have had a history of going "poof" if turned on with an empty hot water tank. Newer elements have some durability, but older ones would burn up in seconds. So, I don't chance it.

I always start with gas water heater. After a few minutes, I check my faucet's hot water side for warmth. This proves I have water in the tank. I then switch on my electric water heater and off goes my gas. Just a super simple way to make doubly certain I have water in my hot water tank prior to engaging my electric water heater element.

5picker · 06-27-2019, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67L48

Here is the paranoid, hyper-sensitive, hysterical methodology I use. Electric water heater elements have had a history of going "poof" if turned on with an empty hot water tank. Newer elements have some durability, but older ones would burn up in seconds. So, I don't chance it.

I always start with gas water heater. After a few minutes, I check my faucet's hot water side for warmth. This proves I have water in the tank. I then switch on my electric water heater and off goes my gas. Just a super simple way to make doubly certain I have water in my hot water tank prior to engaging my electric water heater element.

My super simple way to be sure there is water in the tank is to lift the pop-off lever for a second after I connect to city water or turn on the pump.

If water comes out the pop-off, it's full.

But then again, we never drain our water heater after initial filling in the spring so it is really never empty during the entire season, ever.

gbaldwin · 06-27-2019, 09:48 AM

Good idea to make a habit of always turning that rocker switch for electric hot water OFF when not needing hot water.

Actually I have not useed electric hot water in 3 years. Just turn the panel switch ON (which is for gas only) half hour ahead of showering. Leave it ON for 30 min after. Maintains heat for 12 hours in the tank. Very little gas use.

Scrapper · 06-27-2019, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

My super simple way to be sure there is water in the tank is to lift the pop-off lever for a second after I connect to city water or turn on the pump.

If water comes out the pop-off, it's full.

But then again, we never drain our water heater after initial filling in the spring so it is really never empty during the entire season, ever.

X2. When I fill my water heater for the first time in the spring the pop-off lever is lifted until water comes out. I can hear the air rushing out while the tank is filling.

**Mr. Dan** · 06-27-2019, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

....

But then again, we never drain our water heater after initial filling in the spring so it is really never empty during the entire season, ever.

Same here. After de-winterization, we always have water in the heater. Since our current trailer is 50a, I don't need to turn the electric element off to keep from tripping breakers. When I get to a site, I hook up my water hose and turn the OUTSIDE electric switch ON since I'm standing right in front of the water heater. When I break camp, I turn the OUTSIDE water heater switch OFF (since I'm standing right beside it) and remove the hose. All good.

Jim34RL · 06-27-2019, 10:21 AM

I go one step further with my DSI water heater. I shut off the 15AMP circuit in the fuse panel located in the camper. This way there are four controls that have to be set to on in order to get hot water, after the water tank is full. First the propane has to be turn on and the stove burns have to be burning to insure air is out of the propane line. I will than turn on the propane heater switch and the water heater will heat the water with propane. I will then turn on the circuit breaker at the wall panel, after that the water tank on/off switch is turned on. This way I insure the electric heating element will not be burned out do to no water in tank.

5picker · 06-27-2019, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim34RL

I go one step further with my DSI water heater. I shut off the 15AMP circuit in the fuse panel located in the camper. This way there are four controls that have to be set to on in order to get hot water, after the water tank is full. First the propane has to be turn on and the stove burns have to be burning to insure air is out of the propane line. I will than turn on the propane heater switch and the water heater will heat the water with propane. I will then turn on the circuit breaker at the wall panel, after that the water tank on/off switch is turned on. This way I insure the electric heating element will not be burned out do to no water in tank.

Jim, you do know you can turn on the propane (and light the stove burners) and also fire the water heater on propane WITHOUT there ever being a drop of water in the tank. Granted you won't get any hot water but saying by turning on the LP side of the heater guarantees there is water in the tank is simply incorrect.

The only SURE way to know there is water in the the tank is lift the pop-off lever. Even opening a faucet in the R/V can be deceiving. If the water heater is still in bypass, water WILL come out the hot tap making you 'think' there is water in the tank.

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