Water Heater 120volts

[Pez]

I have 2008 Monaco Diplomat 400 cummins.
At the FMCA rally with generator running and 120 volt switch for the water heater turned on I had hot water. On returning home when I connected to shore power at a campground I had to heat water with 12 volt system.
I reset all cb's in the MH in regards to water heater I know of numerous times and gfic's. Also reset the CB's on the pedestal. Reseting cb's did not correct problem. I also ran generator in campground and turned on 120 volt switch to water heater witch same problem no 120 to heat water.
Any suggestions please, to what I should check to solve my problem.

Thanks, Pez

[bullydogs1]

The hot water element is actually plugged into an outlet somewhere near the heater...Mine is in the closet behind a panel...the plug could have jarred loose. or the outlet went bad...Test outlet with a lamp....that will tell you if power is at outlet..If so...possible heater element in tank went bad...or possible circuit board...but start simple ...

[moisheh]

12 volt water heater??????

[mahon1993]

The 12 volts to the water heater is only used to operate the control circuit board. Not to directly heat the water. The 120 volt heater element heats the water when you are on shore or generator power. The 120 volt element usually goes thru a thermostat on the heater tank to control the water temp, then is plugged into and outlet right near the tank. The outlet is usually controlled by a lighted 120 volt switch in the bathroom area. It might or might not go thru a GFI in the bathroom, an or, it might be on a seperate circuit breaker in your circuit breaker panel.
Greg

[Pez]

Mahon1993
Ok, hang in there with me. Apparently I do not know how the system works.
On my control panel I have a switch marked 12 volts and a switch marked 120 volts.
Gen running I turn on the 12 volt switch and light showing it's on
I get hot water. Turn switch off and with,
Gen running turn on 120 volt switch, light does not come on and I get no hot water.
I have had every CB panel off in the MH I can locate and reset numerous CB's. Same problem. Also looked in every book that I got when I purchased this MH for info to solve this problem.
If I understand your info. I could have a bad 120 switch, bad outlet or CB problem.
Like I said it's apparent I do not understand the system.
Thanks for your info and time-----Pez

[Pez]

Bullydogs1,

Thanks for info.
You are correct, start simple. With me it's end simple also when it's electrical.
MH is in storage. Will be later in week before I can get to it.
I will pull control panel and check 120 switch. Also check the
the plug and make sure it is pluged in as you suggested.

Thanks
Pez

[Diplomat Don]

Pez.....Did you check the CB's on the Inverter near your battery bay? There are two of them.

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pez I have 2008 Monaco Diplomat 400 cummins. At the FMCA rally with generator running and 120 volt switch for the water heater turned on I had hot water. On returning home when I connected to shore power at a campground I had to heat water with 12 volt system. I reset all cb's in the MH in regards to water heater I know of numerous times and gfic's. Also reset the CB's on the pedestal. Reseting cb's did not correct problem. I also ran generator in campground and turned on 120 volt switch to water heater witch same problem no 120 to heat water. Any suggestions please, to what I should check to solve my problem. Thanks, Pez

Pez,

Do you have a 50 amp circuit at home? The EMS will shed the water heater automatically if you only have a 30 amp hook up at home. Look at the EMS display and it will show which devices have been disabled.

Bob

[DennisZ]

Pez
I had a similar problem with my motorhome. after fussing with all the connectors on the water heater circuit board, it all started to work.

Here's a breif idea of how it works. Both the 120 volt and the 12 volt switches are really both 12 volt to control the water heater. The 120 volt switch applies 12 volts to the input of the circuit board which in turn energizes a relay to turn on the 120 VAC to the heater rod. The 12 voolt switch applies 12 volts to the circuit board to control the gas portion of the heater. The heater only has one thermostat, it controls both the gas and electric heating functions.

Attached is a copy of the manual for the heater you should have.

Dennis

[mahon1993]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pez Mahon1993 Ok, hang in there with me. Apparently I do not know how the system works. On my control panel I have a switch marked 12 volts and a switch marked 120 volts. Gen running I turn on the 12 volt switch and light showing it's on I get hot water. Turn switch off and with, Gen running turn on 120 volt switch, light does not come on and I get no hot water. I have had every CB panel off in the MH I can locate and reset numerous CB's. Same problem. Also looked in every book that I got when I purchased this MH for info to solve this problem. If I understand your info. I could have a bad 120 switch, bad outlet or CB problem. Like I said it's apparent I do not understand the system. Thanks for your info and time-----Pez

My water heater is an older different one than you have. Looks like the new ones operate a lot different than the older ones. Good luck solving your problem. DennisZ has the info you need.
Greg

[ArmyEOD]

My vote is for a bad 120 Volt element. Easy replacement. You can get the element and removing tool at Lowes plumbing dept. Easy cheap fix if that is what it turns out to be. The element will burn out all most immdiatley if it is turned on without the tank being full of water. Hope this helps you out.

[wa8yxm]

The water heater needs 12 volts for its brain, However it can use either 120 or propane to make hot.. but it needs 12 volts to know WHEN to make hot.

[jmr12]

Pez.
I don't know if part of your question was answered. The controll panel is kind of confusing. We have a 08 Monarch.
The switch for the water heater that says "Heater 12 Volts" means that if you are not pluged in to shore power, or the generator is not running the water is heated with propane. You should be able to hear the propane "Fire up" when you turn on the switch. If there is air in the propane line, my heater will try to start 3 times, I think, if it does not start I have to turn the switch off then back on.
The switch that says "Heater 120 V" means the water will heat with 120v of electricity. You have to be pluged in to shore power or have the gen running.
If you are pluged in to shore power or the gen is running, you can still chose to heat the water with propane,.... "Heater 12 v" switch.
In the mean time check the outlet that the water heater is pluged into. Just to make sure check it when on shore power, unplug from shore power start gen and check again.
I don't know why they marked the switch "Heater 12 volts". I thought I had a great water heater, gas 120v and 12v. Wrong. I think "Water heater gas" would have been o.k.
If you have power at the outlet, then I would say the element is bad. Maybe look at the prongs on the cord and make sure they are clean and make good contact. You could check continuity thru the element. I did have a electric water in a house that showed good cont, but was still bad.

[JimM68]

Yikes.... some really long answers...

BOTH switches need to be on.

The 12 v one actually runs the water heater, and includes a thermostatically controlled propane fire.

The 120 switch turns on an auxilliary 120vac heater.

This heater has no thermostat, it's just on. It's small. It will keep the water hot, but will not heat it.

Turning on the 115 switch when hooked up will save some propane, but that's about it