Gas/Electric Water Heater

[JourneytoRet]

I didn't see this in any of the manuals... I know the water heater can run off of the onboard propane tank. Can it be run off of the campground power and if so, how?

[SteveH]

Not sure how a 2000 motorhome is equipped, but we had an '01 trailer that had the option to use campground power for the water heater. There was a switch panel in the bathroom that controlled both functions.

[JourneytoRet]

aha! I was wondering why there were 2 switches for the water heater. one small toggle switch and then below the tp holder was a bigger switch. now to figure out what switch does what...

[SteveH]

There should be a red light that comes on momentarily with one of the switches, and that is the switch for the gas operation of the heater.

[Tony Lee]

And make darn sure you don't have the electric one on when the HWS is winterised.

As a precaution, on the terminal box on the back of the heater is another 120V switch to isolate the element.

BTW you can run both propane and electric at the same time if you feel like a longer hotter shower any time.

[A W Warn]

When I had the propane/electric heater I always used the electric, when it was available, to maintain a tank of hot water on the campground's $. I left the propane switch in the on position so it would supplement when the electric could not keep up in high demand situations like showering.

[Tony Lee]

Depends on the calibration of the separate thermostats. Mine is cooler when on electric and the propane will always fire up when I switch it on even if the electric has just switched off.

[JourneytoRet]

Good info thanks. Someone said it's a good idea to keep a spare heater element on hand too.

[airdreamers]

My 1985 Sovereign had just gas to heat the water. After searching around I was lucky to find at Camping World an electric conversion kit, Hott Rod Water Heater Kit. On sale right now on line for just $89.99.

The best thing that ever happened, WOW! Hot! Hot! Hot! The side benefit to it all is no gas burner noise and no extra cost when at a campground. What's not to like about FREE. The installation was extremely easy ever a novice could accomplish this feat in minutes.

[Minno]

We have a propane only by choice. Electric takes longer to heat, we've found. To save propane, we turn the water heater on when we are going to need hot water, and off when we're done. It heats up fast enough that we can do this without problems. The water stays hot a long time after the heater is turned off too.

Kay