03 Revolution hot water heater

[Ranger429]

Me and the family are getting ready to leave on a trip to Fl in my new coach. I've already got the water flowing and other than the cracked toilet valve that I replaced there were no problems. I know I have water in the water heater as it comes out if I throw the drain valve.

I flipped on the switch in the cabinet above the kitchen sink to turn on the hot water heater and it does not light up. I presume that power is not going to the hot water heater. I have already checked the circuit breaker by the foot of the bed and it is OK. What am I missing? Cold showers are not going to be any fun.....

[The General]

Ranger429,

You should have two ways to heat hot water.
One is propane and the other is electric while you are connected to a/c.
You can flip the switch to electric and the light won't go on unless there is something wrong ( it's a warning light.) Same for propane when you flip that switch, however, you will hear the propane ignite.


Steve

[Tha_Rooster]

Mine has two water heater bypass valves one you can see and the other is hidden way behind that one, and a back breaker.

[HeapBigEngin]

Ranger 429....like The General says, you should hear the propane come on to light the heater when using the switch in the kitchen cabinet, and that switch should light up red. And I think The General just solved a mystery for me....and you.

On our Revolution, there is a second lighted switch (very dim when on) in a 3-switch panel by one of our sinks (we have 2 sinks in our coach) that has something to do with the hot water heater. 2 of the switches control lights....and that other switch seems to be the one The General is talking about that turns the heater on electrically. When that switch is on (and dimly lit) in our unit, the switch in the cabinet will not illuminate. That makes sense to me now. Bottom line, I guess, is that one switch uses propane....the other electric. Since we have only owned our coach for 10 months, I am still finding out "little things" about it. The owner's manual does not speak to this, and the previous owner did not know. Bottom line....we always (knock on wood) have hot water. It's one of those things I need to better understand when I pull the MH out of storage this Spring.

If you have that second switch as I do, suggest you turn it off and then try the switch in the cabinet. If it works like mine, it should light up and you should hear the heater ignite a few moments later. Also ensure that the propane outside is turned on. I also forgot that one time...sigh. Please let us know the results....

Also, did you get your outside radio fixed? Please also let me know what you found out on that. Thanks....

[The General]

Ranger429 and heapbigengin,

Glad to help and one more warning.
Turn both switches to off position when not needed.
You can burn out electric hotwater heater when no water is in tank and waste your propane when LPG is constantly on.


Steve

[HeapBigEngin]

The General.....seems we are in the same time zone. Great advice on those switches, especially with no water in the tank!!! And I make sure ALL swithes are off anytime I close up the coach. Thanks again for solving my "mystery switch"! Take care....Heap.

[Ranger429]

AFAIK I only have the single switch for the water heater that is above the kitchen sink. This morning I flipped the switch and it lit up for a second or two and then went out.

I don't hear anything happening when I flip the switch, no propane kicking in. I have to get this figured out. Truckstop showers at $9.00 each will be expensive for a family of four.


EDIT: Found the second switch by the bathroom (the one with WATER HEATER above it) sink, flipped it and after flipping the kitchen switch I have red continous power at it. I also currently have the generator running. So Ipresume that if the switch is lit up by the bathroom sink that will signify that the water is on. The switch above the kitchen sink does not stay lit.


Heap it was a bad radio, replaced it with one I had around the house.


I thought I had this coach figured out before leaving on our trip but now I also have no power at any of my driver side outlets unless the generator is running.

Still learning the little ins and outs of R/V'ing.....

[Tha_Rooster]

If your water heater light comes on means it's not lighting, it could be the ignitor have someone turn it on while you lesson for a tic tic tic. You want here propane and I assume you do have propane, have you checked 12volt fuse. Just a thought you don't have water pump and water heater switches confused.

[HeapBigEngin]

Ranger 429....regarding your lack of power at driver's side outlets, I thought we discussed this before. If you are using the coach batteries and inverter, most of those outlets DO NOT work.....period. That is intentionally designed that way so that appliances plugged in around the kitchen area do not run down the coach batteries prematurely. IF those outlets work on gen or shore power, you do not have a problem. It ain't broke....

Re water heater, not sure but it sounds like you have it figured out. One switch is electric power, the other is propane....don't think both can work at the same time. Bottom line...do you have hot water? Is your propane tank on?

Thanks for the info re the outside radio. Wonder if that can be fixed or if humidity got to it.

Please let me know final outcome on outlets AND water heater. I am trying to learn as well. Thanks....Heap

[The General]

Hello Again Folks,

If you check your specs, on this site, you may be able to use the electric and LPG switches at the same time for faster recovery.
The light on the switch is NOT supposed to come on unless you are out of propane or have no A/C. It's working correctly if indicator light is off. http://www.americanrvcompany.com/ass...aterheater.pdf

TTFN,

Steve

[HeapBigEngin]

The General.....a think I stand corrected on those switches. Thanks again, and one of these days, I will sort it all out!

[Ranger429]

Heap, thanks for the info on the outlets, I plum forgot about that..


As far as the water heater, still no hot water. I have had the generator on for about 45 minutes now to see if the electrical end will warm water.

General, thanks for the link, might help me get it figured out when were parked.

Rooster, not confused on the pump/heater switches. The fuse is also good and the propane is full.

I'll get this figured out eventually!!

[Ranger429]

Water heater is working. There was a bypass/flow valve in the bedroom hidden behind a fake door I had to flip. Thanks for the help everyone!

Now for the next problem. I arrived down here about 12:30 AM and parked in the sloped driveway. I was awoke to some beeping sounds. My refrigerator was giving me a "no-co" code. I didn't know what that was at the time so I changed over from electric to propane. Well this morning I found out that the "no-co" error is only able to be overriden once. Now I get to take it to the nearest dealer so they can reset the frig.

[Tha_Rooster]

As I stated in post #3 mine also has another one about 1foot behind the lever bypass with a small yellow nob you will have to stand on your head with a flash light.