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Old 10-23-2017, 09:19 AM   #1
Iron tepee #35
 
1993 34' Excella
andalusia , Illinois
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Adjusting hot water temperature

The water temp is VERY hot on my 1994 Excella and it cycles on and off quite frequently. I can't seem to find any temp adjustment. Am I missing something?
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Old 10-23-2017, 09:56 AM   #2
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The water temp is VERY hot on my 1994 Excella and it cycles on and off quite frequently. I can't seem to find any temp adjustment. Am I missing something?
Attwood water heaters don't have a temperature adjustment. In order to "get 9 gallons of hot water out of a 6-gallon heater" as advertised, there is an internal mixing valve that adds cold water to the hot water on a 1-cold-to-2-hot ratio as you take water out of the heater. But since the so-called cold water is actually room temperature or warmer, even that can come out too hot unless you mix in more cold water at the faucet.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:06 AM   #3
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So, it's normal to have frequent cycling?
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:10 AM   #4
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So, it's normal to have frequent cycling?
Didn't say that. I just said that it's not user-adjustable with regard to temperature of the water output.

Mine doesn't cycle frequently in my opinion, but "frequently" means different things to different people.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:12 AM   #5
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Say...every 10 minutes?
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:37 AM   #6
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It's heating every 10 minutes even when you aren't using water? I don't think mine cycles nearly that frequently. I have never timed it. I don't leave my heater on all the time. I turn it on as needed.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:47 AM   #7
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Frequent cycling indicates the possibility of poor insulation around the tank. My prior trailer (1993) had fiberglass pink insulation held in place with a cardboard cover. I got infested with mice one winter. Started noticing frequent cycling. Found the mice had disturbed/removed much of the insulation.

My AS has a molded Styrofoam insulating jacket and does not cycle frequently.
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Old 10-23-2017, 10:49 AM   #8
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Or, the thermistor failed and the overtemp limit is shutting it down, then resetting and allowing it to heat again.

I am aware the normal output temp is very hot, but this could be some of the hot temps as well.




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Old 10-23-2017, 11:11 AM   #9
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Or, the thermistor failed and the overtemp limit is shutting it down, then resetting and allowing it to heat again.
If this is what's happening, one would hope that the red "malfunction" light on the water heater control panel would come on. It did when my water heater's thermistor went out. But on mine, the water heater would overheat and shut down (water would come out scalding, almost boiling), but never restart.
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Old 10-23-2017, 11:31 AM   #10
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I agree with jdalrymple. The main thermostatic bi-metal unit is likely stuck 'on' and the high limit is carrying the load for temp. I'm pretty sure 1994 has bi-metal thermostats mounted on the tank wall in the heater compartment. Low one controls water temp. Hi one controls over temp. They are wired in series so the controller doesn't know which one is cycling....no indication back at the power switch and lamp in the bathroom. These are easily replaced but you can check the operation with a volt meter or continuity meter. Figure out which terminal is the 12 V supply. Un-plug the other terminal on the thermostat and check for 12V to ground on this terminal. If the thermostat is passing power when the heater has cycled off then it is stuck closed. Confirm the Hi limit the same way. In normal operation the Hi Limit should always be closed. If it opens in routine operation, the low t'stat is faulty. The newer models have electronic monitoring as Protagonist says, so the faulty heater gets locked out.
If both seem to be working properly then I would be looking at the insulation as noted previously
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Old 10-24-2017, 05:02 AM   #11
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1993 34' Excella
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Copy that. Next day off I will be troubleshooting!
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Old 10-25-2017, 07:46 AM   #12
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I always turn it on only when I need it since it takes just a couple of minutes to heat up the water. Then I turn it off.
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Old 10-26-2017, 07:12 AM   #13
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1993 34' Excella
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One more thing: everyday the red trouble light comes on at some point. When I flip the switch off and then back on, it works as normal.
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Old 10-26-2017, 07:36 AM   #14
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I'm having similar problems and will follow this post closely. My WH heats up, then switches off and will not come back on for a couple of days. I purchase a new electronic module, but did not install it as the heater came back on and was working again.
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Old 10-26-2017, 07:40 AM   #15
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Question

Couldn't you adjust temp with the bye-pass valve?.....

Seems to my tired grey cells that if you opened it slightly you could cool the output some.

Bob
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