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Gas/Electric water heater

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Category: RpodNation Downtime and Maintenance
Forum Name: Maintenance
Forum Description: Hosting change and configuration
URL: http://www.rpodNation.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3611
Printed Date: 29 Mar 2024 at 3:48am
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Topic: Gas/Electric water heater
Posted By: Two P's in a Pod
Subject: Gas/Electric water heater
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2012 at 9:26pm
Our RP171 owners manual says it has a gas/electric water heather.  However, when I plug in the main power plug, but leave the propane valve closed, we get no hot water.  Ideas?  Thanks, Peter from Two P's in a Pod.

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Two P's in a Pod



Replies:
Posted By: bhamster
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2012 at 9:52pm
There's a little black switch behind the heater's exterior access panel in the lower left hand corner that turns on the electric element. Just make sure you have water in the heater before you turn it on or the element will burn up in a spectacular display...


Posted By: Marwayne
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2012 at 11:13pm
 
The rectangular thingy to the left of that black round thing is the switch, but dont turn it on without water in your hotwater tank if you do, you burn out the element very quickly.


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If you want something done right, do it yourself!

2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra Limited 5.7 Litre


Posted By: wallawallaron
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2012 at 8:35am
Might want to add this to your check list before set up and during brake down.
WWRBeer

P.S.  welcome to the FarmHandshake


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WWRon,2012 RP177 HRE "Eye Pod",2010 Ford F-150 4x4
9/11 Never Forget.
NRA Life Member, Amsoil dealer www.lubedealer.com/wallawallaron


Posted By: Two P's in a Pod
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2012 at 5:29pm
Smile
Thanks much, found it.  Switch had a cotter pin in it to prevent accidentally turning it on.  Removing pin, switch still would not move.  Tank is empty and power is off so think this may be another safety.  Will try again in spring.  Again, thank you.  Pete of Two P's in a Pod.


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Two P's in a Pod


Posted By: wbillar
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2012 at 1:52pm
Turn the electric off when unhooking from dock side power and water.  When you first plug in the Rpod, you will be drawing 15 amps if it stays on.  Also if there is no water in the H/W heater if can burn out.

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Bill


Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2012 at 7:15am
Originally posted by wbillar wbillar wrote:

Turn the electric off when unhooking from dock side power and water.  When you first plug in the Rpod, you will be drawing 15 amps if it stays on.  Also if there is no water in the H/W heater if can burn out.
 
 
I thought I've read several times from others that it will burn out, almost immediately, so be careful.
 


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"Ray & Connie"

- 2017 R-Pod RP-180
- 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road



Posted By: tsunami
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2012 at 9:43am
Don't even THINK about turning the 110AC heater switch on if the tank is empty. You will be guaranteed an immediate burnout of the electric heating element!  Even a momentary on/off will be enough to destroy it.

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tsunami


Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2012 at 8:09am
Yep.  That's what I had thought.


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"Ray & Connie"

- 2017 R-Pod RP-180
- 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road



Posted By: Two P's in a Pod
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2012 at 11:10am
Thank you for telling me about the switch.  I had never noticed it.  One other question.  With tank drained and system winterized, and power disconnected, I tried to turn switch to "ON."  It would not move.  Do you think this is a safety mechanism or is my switch frozen from lack of use?  Thank you.  Peter from Two P's.

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Two P's in a Pod


Posted By: bhamster
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2012 at 12:27pm
Originally posted by Two P's in a Pod Two P's in a Pod wrote:

It would not move.  Do you think this is a safety mechanism or is my switch frozen from lack of use?

I'm guessing it's just jammed. I think it's just a regular switch with no safety mechanisms. Have you tried rocking it back and forth?


Posted By: Two P's in a Pod
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2012 at 4:31pm
Tried rocking but no good.  Sprayed some silicon spray into spaces around switch and figured I'd wait until Spring to try again.  Thanks.  Pete

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Two P's in a Pod


Posted By: Marwayne
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2012 at 5:04pm
If there is no water in the tank you should not turn the tank on anyway.

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If you want something done right, do it yourself!

2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra Limited 5.7 Litre


Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2012 at 7:34am
Not sure, after all the warnings, why you'd attempt to mess with the switch without water in the tank.  Anyway, if memory serves, I recall a pin or something thru the switch to avoid accidental activation.  Did you remove that pin?


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"Ray & Connie"

- 2017 R-Pod RP-180
- 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road



Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 10:11pm
I wonder if there could be some ice in the switch.  I have no special knowledge about this, but I'd be very surprised if there was a safety mechanism beyond the cotter key that would prevent the switch from moving if there was no water in the tank.

As far as trying the switch with no water, I can speak with a high degree of scientific certainty that it would be harmless to the heater element as long as you have no AC hooked up to the RPod.  It would be the equivalent of flipping a light switch in your house during a power failure.  Ain't nothin' gonna happen.  Physically, I would expect it to rock like any other on/off switch.  If you do get it to work be sure to leave it in the off position.

I just got a like new 176 and have not tried the electric element yet, so I'm watching this and similar threads with interest.

TT


Posted By: zjf3jps
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2013 at 7:43pm
Ok first time pod owner, first trip this weekend. If we are to use the electric water heater it is my understanding that we need to fill it with water first the flip on the heater switch located in the panel. Let it heat up for twenty minutes. I am guessing you are good to go from this point on as long as there is still water in the pod or do you have to turn the switch back off after shower.


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2014 RPod 178
Toyota Tacoma


Posted By: bhamster
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2013 at 7:50pm
Originally posted by zjf3jps zjf3jps wrote:

I am guessing you are good to go from this point on as long as there is still water in the pod or do you have to turn the switch back off after shower.

You're good to go until you empty it. I turn if off when I winterize to make sure I don't have an "oops" moment. Keep in mind though that whenever you plug in the pod it will draw a significant amount of current until it's up to temp. It's probably not a problem at the campground, but if you hook it up at home with a wimpy extension cord it may cause a breaker to blow if you turn on other stuff.


Posted By: zjf3jps
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2013 at 8:13pm
Tks, hamster.


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2014 RPod 178
Toyota Tacoma


Posted By: Marwayne
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2013 at 8:17pm
If you are talking about the panel inside the pod, the red rocker switsh, that is for propane the electric switch is outside by your hot water tank. Dont forget when filling the tank open the faucet to let the air out.
 
 


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If you want something done right, do it yourself!

2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra Limited 5.7 Litre


Posted By: Mar)y
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2017 at 5:11pm
I am a new owner of 2013 R-Pod 171.
Can someone post a pix of "LOW POINT DRAINS".
I went through the sanitizing process without, but will need to winterize.
I've have travel trailers before, but this is the first time I've had a water system/bathroom.  I always ignored the on-board water because I wash dishes, etc outside.



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