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01-27-2018, 05:47 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Where I Park
Posts: 88
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Water Heater Question
I just found out that my hot water heater in my Georgetown 328TS is both gas and electric. (Who knew?) I thought it was only gas. And I found a switch in the water heater compartment that was hiddden from view that switches it to electric. (Now I won't worry about propane.) So I switched it to electric.
NOW MY QUESTION. Inside the coach is a switch for the hot water heater, with a light beside it, and when I turned it on (on propane) the light would come on indicating (I think) that the burner was lighting. Do I need to turn this on now that I have flipped the switch on the outside to 'electric' or will just having that switch on heat the water.
Thanks to all on this forum. I always get answers that help me with my ignorance.
Jim Fitz
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01-27-2018, 06:01 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
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I believe that the ELECTRIC side of the equation ONLY works when running the generator or plugged into 120v power.... otherwise you are turning on the PROPANE side... it will know the difference and use which one is available - the Electric side first, if you have power, or Propane if you don't.
other owners of your same or similar model will let you know if any different...
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01-27-2018, 06:02 PM
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#3
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,129
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If you want to heat the water with electricity.....outside switch on only.
If you want to heat water with gas....inside switch on only.
For faster recovery....if having two showers back to back....both switches on.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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01-27-2018, 06:02 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Where I Park
Posts: 88
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water heater
So if I understand correctly, if it is switched to electric (and I have power), then I still leave the switch in the coach on, and the water heater knows it is electric? Thanks.
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01-27-2018, 06:03 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
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The two switches are totally independent. You can run on propane ( inside switch), electric ( outside switch) or both. Both will give you a somewhat faster recovery for things like showers. As mentioned you must have 120VAC ( pedestal or generator) to run on electric.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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01-27-2018, 06:05 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Where I Park
Posts: 88
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water heater.
Y'all rock. Thanks for the great (and fast) info. Safe travels.
Jim Fitz
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01-27-2018, 06:08 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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Assuming you have a Suburban water heater, it will have a model number similar to SW6DE or SW6DEL. The 6 is the size in gallons, so instead of 6, it could be 10, 12, or 16. If you have no "L" then you have no inside switch for the electric element. If you DO have the "L," then you DO have an inside switch for the electric element, in addition to the inside switch for the propane. They often look like this:
If you DO have the inside switch, it is 12VDC that closes a 12VDC relay at the water heater that then supplies 110VAC to the outside switch, and then to the electric element. So you still need the outside switch turned ON for the inside switch to work.
No matter which water heater style you have, you can run electric or propane separately or together. Running both will give you a little big more hot water and allow a faster recovery.
I've attached some Suburban manuals for you.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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01-27-2018, 06:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
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each coach is different, but it sounds like yours has an outside 'independent' switch, on the heater itself, if you want to use ELECTRICITY, while on generator or plugged into 120v.
it sounds like the inside switch is ONLY for the propane side, though you can certainly use BOTH at the same time, and the propane should only fire if it really needs to, though mostly the Electricity will be the main power source...
we use both sometimes, as using a lot of heated water for showers can deplete our 10gal tank fairly quickly, and the propane does a better and FASTER job of initially heating the water, but the Electricity side does a more economical job of KEEPING the water heated.... so both are good for the respective needs.
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01-27-2018, 06:10 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimFitz
So if I understand correctly, if it is switched to electric (and I have power), then I still leave the switch in the coach on, and the water heater knows it is electric? Thanks.
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No, this is not accurate. You can run either, or both. But the heated does not do an automatic switchover.
__________________
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
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01-27-2018, 06:32 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 848
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody
No, this is not accurate. You can run either, or both. But the heated does not do an automatic switchover.
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Iwish my GT300 was electric AND propane. I really miss having an electric option! One good thing about propane only is not ever having to replace a burned up element [emoji31]!
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01-27-2018, 06:33 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,736
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimFitz
I just found out that my hot water heater in my Georgetown 328TS is both gas and electric. (Who knew?) I thought it was only gas. And I found a switch in the water heater compartment that was hiddden from view that switches it to electric. (Now I won't worry about propane.) So I switched it to electric.
NOW MY QUESTION. Inside the coach is a switch for the hot water heater, with a light beside it, and when I turned it on (on propane) the light would come on indicating (I think) that the burner was lighting. Do I need to turn this on now that I have flipped the switch on the outside to 'electric' or will just having that switch on heat the water.
Thanks to all on this forum. I always get answers that help me with my ignorance.
Jim Fitz
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The operation of the Suburban tank type water heater can be found here at this FAQ. This is a very common question, about the two switches.
The DSI fault lamp is explained in the 5th post there too.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ore-36197.html
__________________
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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01-27-2018, 06:40 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Where I Park
Posts: 88
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Water Heater
Quote:
Originally Posted by wmtire
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So if I am full timer, which I am, and there is always water in the HW heater, do I need to turn OFF the outside electric switch when I disconnect power and move down the road, or can I leave it on and it will pick back up when I plug in. Thanks.
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01-27-2018, 07:12 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Port Richey Florida
Posts: 640
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Schvarak
Iwish my GT300 was electric AND propane. I really miss having an electric option! One good thing about propane only is not ever having to replace a burned up element [emoji31]!
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There are a few aftermarket kits that allow you to add electric heating to your water heater. I have added Hot Rod kits to many RV’s I’ve owned in the past. Check EBay. They range in price from about $69.00 to $100.00. Just takes 30 minutes or so to install and of all the ones I’ve installed I never had one go bad. Also nice to not have to fill propane tanks as often !!
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01-27-2018, 07:14 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Port Richey Florida
Posts: 640
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimFitz
So if I am full timer, which I am, and there is always water in the HW heater, do I need to turn OFF the outside electric switch when I disconnect power and move down the road, or can I leave it on and it will pick back up when I plug in. Thanks.
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To be on safe side I would turn it off, and then turn on only after knowing heater had water in it. The elements burn out if not in water in matter of seconds.
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01-27-2018, 07:29 PM
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#15
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,129
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Nope.
There’s are two separate ways to heat the water. Electric OR propane, and only YOU DECIDE.
When you have electricity from a campground, or you run your generator, you turn on the switch located outside in the water heater compartment.
IF you want to run on propane because there is no electricity, you turn off the switch outside and turn on the inside switch to start the propane heater to the water.
There’s no intelligence between the two heating systems.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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01-27-2018, 07:59 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 848
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Decon Blue
There are a few aftermarket kits that allow you to add electric heating to your water heater. I have added Hot Rod kits to many RV’s I’ve owned in the past. Check EBay. They range in price from about $69.00 to $100.00. Just takes 30 minutes or so to install and of all the ones I’ve installed I never had one go bad. Also nice to not have to fill propane tanks as often !!
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Could you please give me a link to add the electric WH PARTS?
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01-27-2018, 08:02 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
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Some units have an additional electric switch inside the trailer. Mine is under the sink near the WH. Makes it convenient not to have to go outside and take the cover off.
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01-27-2018, 08:08 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Port Richey Florida
Posts: 640
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Schvarak
Could you please give me a link to add the electric WH PARTS?
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Just go on EBay and do a search for RV electric water heater kits.
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01-27-2018, 08:11 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Port Richey Florida
Posts: 640
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01-27-2018, 08:13 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Port Richey Florida
Posts: 640
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That’s the exact kit I have used a couple times. Easy install.
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