1999 Dolphin Hot Water Tank Stupid Question

[70gsconvt]

Hi, I bought a 199 Dolphin 5350 last fall and am getting ready to start using it. My old camper had a button to turn the hot water tank on. I cannot find it in this motorhome. Do they operate all the time?

Can someone tell me where the "ON" button is for the hot water tank, please?

Also, I'm trying to figure out how to fill the clean water tank. But no matter which valve or combination of valves that I turn, it seems to be coming out of the drain hose. Any ideas for this one?

Thanks.

[Skip426]

Water heater would not be on all the time, and I'm sorry I can't say exactly where your control would be.

Picture is of a generic water tank by-pass valve set up , with 3 control valves. The valves turn 90 degrees , when the handles line up with the lines they are on. So for use the top and bottom need to be open and the center valve off.


In the photo the center valve is on , turned that way cold water could by-pass the heater and there would be very little hot water to the taps.

[70gsconvt]

Thanks. I know about that. I'm just trying to find where the ON/OFF switch is for the darn thing.

[beepaj]

Should be on the panel that shows the level of your black/grey tanks, lp etc. Mine is in the hallway.

[sirpurrcival]

I'm not sure but I think the OP is talking about the electrical side of the HW heater as it wouldn't always be on if the propane is off at the tank. The switch for the propane side is on the tank level indicator panel as previously mentioned. IF the HW heater has an electrical mode to it, you should have

A. a breaker that is used to turn it on or of
B. a switch on the HW heater itself that will turn it on or off.

In my 99 Tropical there is a sub panel under the kitchen sink which toggles the HW heater and the MW/Convection oven. Barring that, I also found a switch on the back side of my HW heater that I had to remove a panel under the sink to get at (I have since cut a hole). But you should have a breaker for it.

[70gsconvt]

Originally Posted by sirpurrcival

I'm not sure but I think the OP is talking about the electrical side of the HW heater as it wouldn't always be on if the propane is off at the tank. The switch for the propane side is on the tank level indicator panel as previously mentioned. IF the HW heater has an electrical mode to it, you should have

A. a breaker that is used to turn it on or of
B. a switch on the HW heater itself that will turn it on or off.

In my 99 Tropical there is a sub panel under the kitchen sink which toggles the HW heater and the MW/Convection oven. Barring that, I also found a switch on the back side of my HW heater that I had to remove a panel under the sink to get at (I have since cut a hole). But you should have a breaker for it.

This sounds very helpful as my microwave is also not working. I'll have to take a look tomorrow.

[70gsconvt]

Well strike one. I opened the panels under the sink. One junction box with a wire in it, but not connected to anything. I'm guessing my hot water tank is propane only right now. There is a GFCI outlet on the cabinet under the sink, and it works so I'm going to trace the wire that comes out of it and see if that controls the microwave outlet, which I finally found behind the speaker panel in the upper cabinet.

Man they really know how to hide things when they build these things.

I did find the button for the hot water tank. It was by the thermostat and tank level panel. Thanks. I'll have to hook up the water and make sure it turns on after I turn the propane on.

[chboone]

Have you checked the breaker for the Microwave in the breaker panel in the bedroom? If I remember correctly the Micro is on it's own breaker and not on a GFI. The GFI plug under the sink also protects the plug above the kitchen window and outside plug. My water heater has the electric heating element. The switch for it is under the kitchen sink next to the GFI plug.

[70gsconvt]

Hi, figured out the micro. Duh, 20A breaker on generator was off. Also figured out the bath outlet which wasn't working. For some reason the wire going to outlet in pantry cabinet was bad so I replaced it also.

No electrical switch for H2O tank under sink. So it may have to go back to service place because they told me it worked great when I took it in to be given the once over. I want to see them get it going.

[chboone]

Your making progress. Forgot to mention on the back of my water heater is the temperature control and overtemp safety switch. With the access panel off the control with the red reset button can be seen on the back of the heater. I had the same unused wire in the junction box behind the heater. It was fed by a 20 amp breaker that I never could figure out was for.
BTW: My water heater has the heating element in the drain.

[96 Wideglide]

I owned a '2000 Dolphin that came with a propane only WH.

[sirpurrcival]

I was going to say, it may be a propane only heater but check for a build sheet attached to the inside of one of your cabinet doors. It should list all the appliances including the water heater model. If you have the model #, a google search should provide you with all the specifications and features of that particular model including whether it is a dual mode electric/propane model or propane only.

[Walter5555]

I have a 1997 36' Dolphin M.H. bought it new in 1997 a few years later the water heater went out on us we were on a trip so when we got home I can park it next to our house so when I started to remove the tank in order to disconnect the piping in back of it I had to remove the paneling under the stove to get to the back of the tank after that no problem.
Just a thought.

[Redapple]

You are assuming the wh in your MH has an electronic pilot. You will only have a switch with electronic pilot. Conventional pilot you need to light it at the burner itself. My brothers 98 is that way.

Good luck
Bill