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02-09-2009, 12:03 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,370
M.O.C. #8728
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Water heater
We took the Monty out for the first time this past weekend and had a great time. One problem we had was that I couldn't get the water heater to work on electric. I reset the circuit breaker and pushed the reset buttons in the outside panel but no go. Am I missing something? Any suggestions before I start taking things apart? I don't even know where to start. The gas worked fine and we had plenty of hot water.
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02-09-2009, 12:28 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 10,917
M.O.C. #420
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I'm taking it for granted that you know about the electric SWITCH located on the heater. If not, You access the heater by removing the panel on the outside. The switch is well hidden in the lower left hand corner.
One other Question, Did the water heater have water in it when you first powered up the electric?? If not, you burned out the electric heating element.
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02-09-2009, 12:29 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,294
M.O.C. #311
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On the outside panel an inch or so from the bottom and under the reset buttons is a black switch. It should have a "safety" pin it in. The pin keeps you from turning it on accidentally. Make sure that switch is on. My switch failed, the last time I turned it off it would not come back on. Got an exact replacement (well almost exact - no ON or OFF on it). Good luck and let us know what you find.
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02-09-2009, 01:22 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,370
M.O.C. #8728
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Bingo! Thank you John. I didn't see the switch. I'm an electrical contractor so I did know to fill it before I tried anything. We had so much fun trying out everything that we had info overload and I missed the switch. We're looking forward to meeting you in Byron.
Jim
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02-09-2009, 09:44 AM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Montgomery
Posts: 279
M.O.C. #8231
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Jim,
Don't feel bad about info overload. I fried my element the 1st time out and I'm a plumber. Had water in the hot water side but apparently there was a bypass in a cabinet behind the heater. Good ole MOC'rs helped me out as well. Steve
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02-09-2009, 10:56 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas City
Posts: 5,736
M.O.C. #7673
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And I always turned it off and put the pin back in place when we left a CG. Many have added an on/off switch inside the Montana.
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02-10-2009, 03:22 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 322
M.O.C. #2106
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NCFishers, glad you got your question answered and your problem resolved. We have a breaker in the main box dedicated to the water heater. We turn the breaker off when we leave a campground and only turn it on upon arriving at a new place after determining we have 50 amp service. Doesn't like just 30 amp. We have our outside switch in the ON position all the time. Since we're fulltimers and don't ever store the rig, this system works for us. Isn't it wonderful to have a place to ask questions and get quick, "on the money" answers? Gotta love the MOC!
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02-10-2009, 05:56 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,294
M.O.C. #311
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by CanDo
NCFishers, glad you got your question answered and your problem resolved. We have a breaker in the main box dedicated to the water heater. We turn the breaker off when we leave a campground and only turn it on upon arriving at a new place after determining we have 50 amp service. Doesn't like just 30 amp. We have our outside switch in the ON position all the time. Since we're fulltimers and don't ever store the rig, this system works for us. Isn't it wonderful to have a place to ask questions and get quick, "on the money" answers? Gotta love the MOC!
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I remember someone saying the circuit breakers at that, not switches. Using them as switches can weaken them.
Therefore, I suggest you get a replacement breaker or two in case you need them or consider installing a switch to act the switching process.
Good luck,
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02-10-2009, 06:04 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Fulltiming
Posts: 347
M.O.C. #5508
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We had a lighted switch installed in the kitchen area right above the water heater. Love the location - don't understand why Keystone didn't put something inside at the beginning.
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02-10-2009, 06:12 AM
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#10
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hot Valley
Posts: 41
M.O.C. #8959
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Our SOB before had the same problem getting the electrical to work on the water heater. I finally took off the panel on the inside to do a voltage check and found the the dealer (or Builder) never plugged in the water heater. Found the plug coiled up and had never been checked.
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02-10-2009, 08:10 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,370
M.O.C. #8728
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CanDo,
John Kohl is right. Circuit breakers can get weak when used as switches. You can get switch rated circuit breakers though. We have a lighted switch on the control panel inside and the switch that I didn't see outside and they should be sufficient protection. I just won't turn the outdoor switch on until I'm sure there is water in the heater.
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