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BikerGirl · 01-12-2015, 06:02 PM

Having an issue with the hot water heater. I'm not sure if the element is burned out and have been operating with the LP for a week now. Had a hard time getting it going before leaving DE for Florida, but somehow, the LP started to work. We have been here in FL since Wed and I wanted to try to verify that the electric not working is the element, so I shut down the LP and turned on the electric for a few hours; no hot water. turned the LP back on and it is acting like it was before we left DE last week. It will fire up for about 6-7 secs then shut off (for about 13 secs), then on again, then shut off, then 1 more time on again then shut off unless I turn the switch back off then on again; at that point it will repeat the process again.

Also, the Tstat had been used a few times before and the one button rubber cover just disintigrated; you can see the plastic plunger for the reset, but it doesn't seem to move in and out anymore.
My question is: could the Tstat be bad and send a false msg to the LP that it's hot and not turn on? or is it something with the gas flow/pressure? It was on gas all the way down here and for the last several days. I did try to play with that tstat plunger a little before we left for our trip. I also turned the on/off switch outside off the on again. It was very hard to push off and on.

appreciate any help, thanks

BFlinn181 · 01-12-2015, 09:55 PM

First check for 120 v electricity getting to the water heater (Hot water doesn't need heating) There usually is a switch in the RV to turn on electric element and a second one in the outside water heater hatch. The second switch is usually turned off at time of winterizing to prevent the inside switch getting flipped when tank is empty, burning out the element. Of course also reset circuit breaker in the power panel.

To check the electric element, use an ohmmeter to check resistance. If it's burned out, the reading will be approximately the answer to this equation:

R = (V x V) / P [Where V is the voltage powering the element, P is the power the element uses (in watts) and R is the resistance in ohms.

If the reading is lower (or 0.0) the element is bad. If it's too high, it's going bad.

Very likely your thermostat (on the heater tank) is going bad. Check out the steps in this troubleshooting guide to be sure:

http://trekin.digital-digs.net/Share...ban%20V1.1.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGGv9T-bji8

BikerGirl · 01-13-2015, 05:29 AM

thanks for the manual Bob, it will really help me. I am more concerned why there is an intermittent flame? I am wondering if the electrode needs to be changed? I read somewhere that the electrode has a sensor that sends back to the control board. Will also check the tstat and element and switch.