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09-05-2020, 12:01 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 10
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Which Switch to fill tank
I’m brand new to RV life, this seems silly...but there are three switches that have hot water tank on them...do I turn all three on to fill my tank and heat it up, or is there a sequence? I’m in a 2020 Forest River Wildwood 27REIS. I’ve looked at tons Of videos, read manuals but still don’t know 🤷*♀️
I added a pic of the panel.
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09-05-2020, 12:12 PM
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#2
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Part-Time Campground Host
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,186
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The two switches to the left are for water tank heaters (think cold weather).
On the larger panel the second switch from the left is for your water heater. I think it is electric. MAKE SURE YOUR WATER HEATER IS FULL BEFORE YOU TURN THIS ON! You can fill your hot water heater by turning on the water pump (if your fresh water tank has water in it and opening the hot water tap. Once all the air is out the tank is full. If you are on "city water" (think hose connected) you don't need the water pump, just open the hot water tap. Again once all the air is out the hot water heater is full.
__________________
Craig & Cath
2018 2902WS Rockwood Ultra Lite (with tons of Mods)
2022 F250 Lariat Super Cab, 7.3 gas w/10 Spd Xmsn
Equalizer Hitch w/4-Point Sway Control
Days camped since 2015(retirement): 1680
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09-05-2020, 12:27 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 10
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Oh my gosh thank you so much! My friends thank you...I will now be able to clean dishes with hot water AND shower! 
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09-05-2020, 12:56 PM
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#4
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Part-Time Campground Host
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,186
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I just looked up your specs. Your water heater also works on propane. I'm not sure where that switch is, maybe in the kitchen? Wherever it is it probably has a little red light labeled "DSI" (Direct Spark Ignition).
Also, there will be another switch (electric) right on the water heater. That switch must be on for the electric water heater to work. You can leave this on and use the inside switch on the panel to turn the power on and off.
__________________
Craig & Cath
2018 2902WS Rockwood Ultra Lite (with tons of Mods)
2022 F250 Lariat Super Cab, 7.3 gas w/10 Spd Xmsn
Equalizer Hitch w/4-Point Sway Control
Days camped since 2015(retirement): 1680
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09-05-2020, 01:04 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,796
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tlperk
Oh my gosh thank you so much! My friends thank you...I will now be able to clean dishes with hot water AND shower! |
To clarify, the two switches on the left, are for the HOLDING tank heaters. Usually for the black and gray tank. Not sure about the fresh water tank.
The red water heater switch is for the propane side. You probably have a Suburban WH that has its electric switch outside, on the WH itself. You have to access it through the outer WH hatch door.
Of course, unless you supply more info on the WH, can't say for sure.
I have to ask, didn't your dealer go over this, during the PDI/walkthrough? And you should have paperwork on the water heater, in your owners manual packet. This is a basic thing that should be covered during the walkthrough.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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09-05-2020, 01:50 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 10
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The walkthrough was about two minutes, I asked if they could slow down and let me video them but they were in a hurry. So I got very basic info like, here is your sink, oven and fridge, here are your awning switches and that was really almost everything they went over. Nothing about switches, propane tanks, switching from electric to propane, etc. I asked about an owners manuals to the RV and was told I could look stuff up online. Not the best customer service for sure.
It is a Suburban WH, the switch to electric is outside and I did switch it to electric. I got that from the WH manual. I just couldn’t figure out the switches and didn’t want to burn up my water heater.
Thanks for the info and patience!
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09-05-2020, 01:52 PM
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#7
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Part-Time Campground Host
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,186
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tlperk
The walkthrough was about two minutes, I asked if they could slow down and let me video them but they were in a hurry.
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Amazing! 
__________________
Craig & Cath
2018 2902WS Rockwood Ultra Lite (with tons of Mods)
2022 F250 Lariat Super Cab, 7.3 gas w/10 Spd Xmsn
Equalizer Hitch w/4-Point Sway Control
Days camped since 2015(retirement): 1680
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09-05-2020, 02:22 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,796
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tlperk
The walkthrough was about two minutes, I asked if they could slow down and let me video them but they were in a hurry. So I got very basic info like, here is your sink, oven and fridge, here are your awning switches and that was really almost everything they went over. Nothing about switches, propane tanks, switching from electric to propane, etc. I asked about an owners manuals to the RV and was told I could look stuff up online. Not the best customer service for sure.
It is a Suburban WH, the switch to electric is outside and I did switch it to electric. I got that from the WH manual. I just couldn’t figure out the switches and didn’t want to burn up my water heater.
Thanks for the info and patience!
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That's why we recommend that you never sign the paperwork until you have had a good PDI/walkthrough and everything is fixed first, before accepting the RV.
Dealers like this will push customers around if they're allowed to. If they are too much in a hurry, tell them to let you know when they CAN do a thorough walkthrough. Until then, you're not signing anything.
This advice for those looking to buy a RV. Unfortunately for you, it's too late.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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09-05-2020, 02:34 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 10
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It’s great advice though, I’ll pass it forward as well. I’d hate to see it happen more.
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09-05-2020, 02:55 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,651
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The water heater switch on the panel is for propane. The DSI FAULT light is adjacent (to the left) to the quantity lights.
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09-05-2020, 03:01 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 9,209
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tlperk
fill my tank and heat it up, or is there a sequence? .
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To fill your hot water tank open the kitchen sink faucet and let it run until all the air stops spitting out.
__________________
2015 Dynamax REV 24TB class C
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09-06-2020, 01:40 PM
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#12
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Director, FROG
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Middlebury, IN
Posts: 3,515
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If you just got the RV, it's possible that you don't have any water in the tank to be heated. If the unit was winterized before it got to the dealership, you need to be sure that the bypass valves are set to allow water into and out of the tank.
BEFORE turning on the water heater, so that the water is cold and you can't be burned, press the pressure relief valve near the top of the tank to be sure that a little bit of water sprays out. If you don't get water, you're going to have to locate and set the valves in order to fill the tank with water. If you don't, you'll risk damaging the tank when you turn it on, and you'll get nothing but cold water that has never gone into the tank to be heated.
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09-06-2020, 01:43 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 10
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Gotcha, thanks so much!
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09-06-2020, 01:46 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,933
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This thread is aimed at new rv owners and may help. Check out the thread on Suburban water heaters electric switch.
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ts-157524.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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09-06-2020, 05:48 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 1,228
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Do a search for water heater bypass. I'm sure people have burned out their electric elements by having the heater bypassed for winter and then turning on the electric element. Keep reading the forum. I've avoided a ton of problems by reading this forum.
__________________
2009 Roo 21ss + 2007 Superduty 6.0
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09-07-2020, 06:49 AM
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#16
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MCTroy
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Troy.Ohio
Posts: 1,178
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Maybe you can find someone in this forum near you that could help with a thorough PDI even now. Most of us love talking about trailers. 30 minutes to an hour with an experienced camper is very helpful.
__________________
2015 Windjammer 3029 Diamond Edition
2018 Ram 2500
Ohio River Rat
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