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THEPILL · 10-09-2011, 07:33 PM

My 2010 25 FB Internationa..I know the water is heated by Propane,,,,,But Electric also..while on shore power....??? No way.

Airstream has revamped their website and I was looking under FAQ's......

"
The Atwood combination gas/electric water heater can be operated on gas or electric or in combination. The current model water heaters have a thermostat that is set at 140 degrees; the same thermostat is used to control both gas and electric.
Earlier models (prior to 2003) had two separate thermostats, the gas thermostat was located on the outside of the tank below the pressure relief valve and the electric thermostat was located on the back of the tank. The thermostat will shut off when the temperature reaches 140 degrees and start the heating process when the temperature drops below 115 degrees. "

No WAY!!!!

Am I That Stupid?

Shane

dznf0g · 10-09-2011, 07:41 PM

Really, you can run both at the same time and everybody can have hot showers till the gray water runs out the door! Seriously turn on both and see how fast the propane shuts off!

THEPILL · 10-09-2011, 07:46 PM

How do you turn on both?

I only have one switch,,,by the bathroom light.

Shane

dznf0g · 10-09-2011, 07:48 PM

My bath wall has a lightning bolt (electric switch) right by the gas igniter switch. Turn both on and I get electric heat and gas flame. As Tim Allen would say. "oooh, oooh, oooh more power!"

THEPILL · 10-09-2011, 07:58 PM

Where is 2air when you need him??

Shane

dznf0g · 10-09-2011, 08:05 PM

Shane,

Even my old SOB had the ability. It was a manual, go outside and light the pilot light, thermostat on the outside unit. Inside I had a switch which toggled one way for HW and the other for microwave (not both or breakers tripped). If I lit the gas and moved the switch to water heater, I had gas AND electric hot water.

Can you describe what model you have and your switch configuration for both gas and electric?

Silver Goose · 10-09-2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEPILL

How do you turn on both?

I only have one switch,,,by the bathroom light.

Shane

Hmm, You don't see a pair of switches with a red light between? One has a symbol of a flame (gas), the other a lightning bolt (elec). The light comes on only if the gas ignition sequence fails.

If you don't have both switches, you may not have a gas/elec water heater.

Used together, you can stretch out the shower a bit longer, and during the course of the day the electric keeps the tank hot with little or no need for gas at all. I normally leave the gas off and turn it on before I plan to use the shower. Considering 30A limitations if running the A/C, I often switch off the electric heat when using the microwave.

**blmitch5** · 10-09-2011, 11:02 PM

Must be for new models. I've never seen 2 switches in any AS prior to 2011 my mother has a Born Free with both electric and gas.

xrvr · 10-10-2011, 05:59 AM

Only one switch on my 05. Propane only. jim

dznf0g · 10-10-2011, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blmitch5

Must be for new models. I've never seen 2 switches in any AS prior to 2011 my mother has a Born Free with both electric and gas.

07 has two switches....maybe a Classic thing????

**blmitch5** · 10-10-2011, 06:29 AM

It might be or it was an option. I wish I had both.

A W Warn · 10-10-2011, 08:38 AM

A 99 30' Excello I had was propane/electric.
The 00 25' Safari that I have now is propane only

MrUKToad · 10-10-2011, 08:48 AM

My 2011 28' International is propane only. It's looking like a Classic thing....

Pahaska · 10-10-2011, 09:03 AM

Probably Classic only. My 2005 Classic has 2 switches. I very seldom even turn on the propane side except at limited (3 amp) AC places such as Alumapalooza.

I can safely run the AC water heater and air conditioning without popping breakers. In hot summer temps with AC running constantly, I turn the AC water heater off to reduce the load and then use both propane and electric to quickly heat water when needed.

A W Warn · 10-10-2011, 07:53 PM

On the internet I found electric add on kits for rv water heaters, called Hott Rod and Lightning Rod. Have any of you tried one of these?

dznf0g · 10-10-2011, 07:54 PM

My brother had a hott rod. Worked OK. Better than not having the electric option anyway.

A W Warn · 10-10-2011, 07:56 PM

How complicated is the install?

HiHoAgRV · 10-10-2011, 07:56 PM

Gee...I'm still looking for ANY switch in my '63...

Aviator · 10-10-2011, 07:59 PM

I just ordered a new Atwood to replace my failing gas only heater. The new one is both gas and electric. As I understand it, essentially a "hot rod" type unit is built in.

dznf0g · 10-10-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Warn

How complicated is the install?

As I recall, you remove the drain plug and screw in the Hott Rod. It's been a long time, but I think the thermostat is internal to the rod and you just plug it in. You probably will have to run AC power at least close to the H2O heater tank.