2 Dry Camping Questions - NEED HELP

Unclesam · 07-23-2021, 12:59 PM

2016 Forest River FR3 -

1. Have water heater button inside rv on control panel and also a button outside on the water heater.. So the question is.. The button out side do you turn that one on if dry camping to use propane or the inside the rv button?

2. Turn the water pump button on inside the rv..Is it suppose to make noise all the time or just when you turn some water on in a sink or flush toilet?

Thanks very much for input...

boondocking · 07-23-2021, 01:05 PM

The outside button on the water heater is for 120 VAC operation. The inside button is for propane operation.

The water pump should operate only when opening a faucet.

5picker · 07-23-2021, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unclesam

2016 Forest River FR3 -

1. Have water heater button inside rv on control panel and also a button outside on the water heater.. So the question is.. The button out side do you turn that one on if dry camping to use propane or the inside the rv button?

2. Turn the water pump button on inside the rv..Is it suppose to make noise all the time or just when you turn some water on in a sink or flush toilet?

Thanks very much for input...

Please tell us the make/model of YOUR water heater.
Not all R/Vs have the same model or even the same brand.

boodocking's post was spot on for the most common, but not all, especially if it is a tankless model. And don't forget, to operate the water heater on propane, you must have propane in your tank(s) and the valve has to be open. You wouldn't be the first...

Once pressurized, the pump should only continue to run if you open a faucet or flush the toilet. Leave the pump switch on the entire time you are camping. It will cycle as necessary.

Unclesam · 07-27-2021, 05:23 PM

Wait .. lol so it’s better I have a water heater on switch and a tank/heat switch.. so when boondocking you need to turn both those on on the control panel?

boondocking · 07-27-2021, 05:59 PM

If you have a "tank/heater switch" it is more than likely for the black and grey tank heaters.
When you are boondocking the only switch you want to turn on for the water heater is the one on the control panel inside the trailer.

MrPalazzo · 07-27-2021, 06:16 PM

I'm glad you used the term 'dry camping', assuming you mean NO WATER - as that is a distinction from 'off-grid', with no electricity, or worse, 'off-sewer'!

Blackrock · 07-27-2021, 07:20 PM

Is your onboard water tank full? T pump will run until a water lines are full including the water heater. After all lines are full the pump will shut off until you open a faucet. Sometimes it takes a while to get all of the air purged out.
The switch on the water heater is for 110v shore power and the one on the inside control panel is for the LP gas funcyion.

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