Furnace &\or Water Heater usage electrical requirement

[saintp]

Spent the last twenty minutes searching posts for answers to my question which I'm certain has either been answered before or is such a newb question that it shouldn't be asked. Also spent 30 minutes looking at manual without finding a clue. So here goes.....

To operate either my heater/furnace and/or my water heater on my 2001 16' Bambi, do I need to connect to 110v power or can I run on 12v battery?

My water heater button does not turn on momentarily when on 12 volt, nor does my water get hot. I have yet to try the furnace.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer.

[AWCHIEF]

Your water heater and heater are both propane gas fueled. They both need 12 volt for the control circuits. Some trailers do have duel powered water heaters, 110 and propane. Both of mine have been propane only.

[Al and Missy]

Both of those items need 12V and propane to operate. Make sure your propane valves are open and the lines have been bled of air. If they operate when on shore power and not when it is not connected there is a problem in your 12V system. Do your lights work when not on shore power? The early 2000's trailers (like mine) have a rotary 12V kill switch located near the batteries. On my trailer it is behind the front of the sofa storage drawer. Make sure that is on. Is your battery charged? Without shore power that is the source of 12V for all your lighting, the furnace fan, and the control circuits for your refrigerator and water heater.

Al

[HiJoeSilver]

AWCHIEF covered the electric.

For the switch not lighting check fuses in the fuse panel. Some have fuses out on the water heater circuit board as well.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

In general, *if* 120V shore power is available, gizmos will switch from propane to 120V. Both on propane and 120V, the 12V system runs the control boards. Some fridges will run on 12V, but most will not. Running a fridge on 12V for a while is not a good idea ...

Yes, it's weird.

Bob

[HiJoeSilver]

Is the refrigerator in the Bambi a 3 way fridge?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by HiJoeSilver

Is the refrigerator in the Bambi a 3 way fridge?

Hi

It is in some Bambi's and not in others. It depends on the model of Bambi (there are many single axle models) and the year.

Bob

[saintp]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

Both of those items need 12V and propane to operate. Make sure your propane valves are open and the lines have been bled of air. If they operate when on shore power and not when it is not connected there is a problem in your 12V system. Do your lights work when not on shore power? The early 2000's trailers (like mine) have a rotary 12V kill switch located near the batteries. On my trailer it is behind the front of the sofa storage drawer. Make sure that is on. Is your battery charged? Without shore power that is the source of 12V for all your lighting, the furnace fan, and the control circuits for your refrigerator and water heater.

Al

Battery is charged and lights operate on battery. Kill switch is not engaged. Can’t get water heater or furnace to light or operate on battery. Will check fuses on furnace.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by saintp

Battery is charged and lights operate on battery. Kill switch is not engaged. Can’t get water heater or furnace to light or operate on battery. Will check fuses on furnace.

Hi

Does the stove work? ( = do you have LP at all?).

Bob

[saintp]

Stove works.

[saintp]

Fuse on furnace is fine.

[saintp]

Originally Posted by HiJoeSilver

Is the refrigerator in the Bambi a 3 way fridge?

Yes

[HiJoeSilver]

Seems like trailer may be new to you. Have they worked before or is this your first time trying to get them going. Does the Bambi have propane shutoff valves for the individual propane lines underneath the trailer. I know older ones did not sure about newer ones. Look under the trailer where propane lines for the water heater and furnace go up through the belly pan for valves they may be closed.
What does your 12v voltage measure?

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by saintp

Battery is charged and lights operate on battery. Kill switch is not engaged. Can’t get water heater or furnace to light or operate on battery. Will check fuses on furnace.

Both my furnace and my water heater have an internal switch that will disable them. Open your outdoor furnace door and look for a black plastic rocker switch. My water heater switch was accessible through a removable panel under the bathroom sink.

This sounds like a 12V distribution problem. Check your 12V fuse panel. An ohmmeter would be handy for this as sometimes it is hard to tell if a fuse is blown.

Al

[saintp]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

Both my furnace and my water heater have an internal switch that will disable them. Open your outdoor furnace door and look for a black plastic rocker switch. My water heater switch was accessible through a removable panel under the bathroom sink.

This sounds like a 12V distribution problem. Check your 12V fuse panel. An ohmmeter would be handy for this as sometimes it is hard to tell if a fuse is blown.

Al

Thanks for the info. My furnace appears to have no rocker switch nor does my water heater. I will have to replace my fuses. Seems the best since I have no way to check ohms.

[Al and Missy]

The furnace and water heater are both on the same fuse, circuit 3, pink wire.

Al

[saintp]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

The furnace and water heater are both on the same fuse, circuit 3, pink wire.

Al

Thanks again

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by saintp

...... I will have to replace my fuses. Seems the best since I have no way to check ohms.

Hi

Ok, head over to Home Depot or Lowes and spend $20 on a multimeter. There is pretty much no way to sort out something like this out without one. Yes, you can get a lot better meter ( hint: Fluke ...) for a bit more money. The cheap one will get you going. You *will* need it down the road. Just store in in the trailer. (Also check what sort of battery it uses and stock them....)

Bob