Electric water heater

[db1]

We just picked up a 2017 International Serenity 23 FB, this is our second AS after having a 22 Sport. In our second camping run we switched hot water to electric to save on propane and did not get any hot water. We know the water heater had a "board" replaced and wondered if there were any magic switches that we need to turn on after having the board replaced.

btw: we love the trailer and the room!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The heater is wired into the 120V side of the trailer. That may (or may not) be done with a plug, check and see if it's come loose. There is a breaker inline with the 120V side. Cycle the breaker to make sure it is working.

Assuming that all looks good, check at the heater for 120V with your multimeter. If the above stuff looks good and there is no 120V, there's a wire loose somewhere ... ( or the board is still bad).

If there is 120V at the heater, then the heating element would be the next thing to check. A resistance check will tell you if it's ok.

Bob

[aftermath]

The PO might have destroyed the heating element by turning it on with an empty tank. Check for continuity across the terminals. I understand that this is a relatively easy fix if this is what happened. Of course I don't own one of these heaters but I have had a couple burn out in past homes I lived in.

[Bill M.]

I really like heating water with propane. It does not take much. My electric works and I still use the propane. Certainly not much cost savings in the “free” electric. Especially if you have to pay to fix it.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

I really like heating water with propane. It does not take much. My electric works and I still use the propane. Certainly not much cost savings in the “free” electric. Especially if you have to pay to fix it.

Hi

For us the answer is "about one and a half 40 pound tanks a year" for the hot water and stove if we are not on shore power *and* have the hot water turned on. I'd guess that no more than 1/5 of that goes to the stove.

Bob

[ITSNO60]

This may seem obvious but did you wait 30 min or so for the water to heat up? It is not instantaneous and will take longer to heat than the propane mode.

[db1]

Thanks all, will check water heater plug and power first, being the simplest.

[tomreid]

We just bought a 2018 Flying Cloud 25 RB with dual water heater. Does the water heater require 50 amp or will 30 amp heat up the water? I switched over from electric to LP since it seems in my 2015 Bambi Sport the water heater on LP worked pretty fast and I got impatient and couldn't hear anything going on.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by tomreid

We just bought a 2018 Flying Cloud 25 RB with dual water heater. Does the water heater require 50 amp or will 30 amp heat up the water? I switched over from electric to LP since it seems in my 2015 Bambi Sport the water heater on LP worked pretty fast and I got impatient and couldn't hear anything going on.

It should work on 30 amp, note it uses 1400 watts so if your batteries are low, the fridge is on electric and an AC is running it could trip the 30 amp breaker. Also the electric part is silent, well you might be able to hear a relay click when it starts or stops.