3400RL Water Heater

[ehmcfarl]

Is it possible to run the water heater in my 3400RL on AC power as well as on LP? If so how do I switch from LP to AC power?

Thanks

Buddy

[waldo238]

if it is like my old TT just turn on the AC and then light the gas for it, I used to do that so the recovery time was quicker. It does not operate like the fridge does to detecd power or not.

[bncinwv]

Not sure what year your 3400 is but on our 2007, we can use LP, electric, or both if we desire. Inside lighted switch at the stairs is propane switch for the hot water heater. Electric switch is on the outside of the rig (behind the access door) at the bottom (black switch which may still have the factory supplied pin in it). Both can be used at the same time for quick water heating. Be sure to always fill the hot water heater with water before turning the electric on, the heater element will fry in seconds without water to dissipate the heat. I never knew this until learning it from this, the best information source for things Montana on the web. Good luck
Bingo

[bsmeaton]

Like said above, you can do both for a faster recovery time.

The heating methods are completely independant. The LP uses a heat tube that you can visibly see running through the tank with a huge flame spewing through it when the LP is running. The electric is an internal heat rod that you can't see.

[Jolu]

Mine is like Bingo describes. I haven't used the Electric yet. JB

[ehmcfarl]

Thanks everybody, for the response. My 3400RL is a 2008 model. When I turn the inside lighted switch at the stairs on I do get LP heat. But, I thought when I turned the outside black switch (behind the access door) on it caused the LP burner to go out. I may be wrong about this. Last week was my first trip out and I am still learning about things.

Thanks again for all your responses.

Buddy

[muddflapp]

I have an early 2008 3400RL model. I use the electric only to heat my water so far. It works very well and I have never needed to add the Propane for quicker recovery.

[krtam]

Never thought about using both. Thanks. Second trip out forgot to flip the electic switch until we needed hot water.

[Okie Guy]

I always use both. When someone is waiting to take a shower and someone else is doing dishes we need all the hot water we can get as fast as possible.

[mail2us]

We too use both cause the grandboys seem to take longer showers. When activity dies down, we use electric only on our 2008 3400rl.

[dsprik]

We have used both, but it seemed to result in excessive "weeping" from the valve. I tried all the remedies to slow and/or eliminate this problem, but the final solution was to stay with only one mode. With our Oxygenics shower head, recovery time is not an issue, even with back to back showers.

[exav8tr]

Buddy, I have a 3400 also. When I am not paying for elec, I heat the WH with the elct function. (Hint: I leave the switch at the WH ON and turn the breaker in the inside box off when I want to shut it down. When I have to pay for elec, I use the gas function. Although I still haven't figured which is more cost productive. Not even sure how I would determine this. I think someone had a formula or answer to this question. Oh, BTW, we will use both if we both shower that day. We try to alternate days so we don't run into hot water problems. Whe we leave town, we turn them both off. I also shut off water at the faucet when we leave......

[dannyl]

I agree with Phil.
I use their electricity when in an RV park instead of my propane.
The outside switch stays on all the time. I turn the breaker on and off from the breaker box in the toilet room.
Also make sure there is water in the tank before turning on the electric heater or you will fry the element.
With the cost of Propane I'm sure the electric would be cheaper even if you are metered and paying for it.
HAPPY CAMPING

[grooving grandpa]

On my 2005, 2955RL, the electric switch is accessible from the outside. I learned the hard way. If you are going to use the water heater on AC. TURN THE SWITCH ON, before correcting your power cord to the AC outlet, the cheap switch will not take the surge of cuurent and will burn out quickly if the AC is on. I am not sure about turning the switch off. But to be on the safe side, I turn the switch off after I disconnect the AC. Also, it is a good idea to change the anode in the water heater once a year.

[exav8tr]

Change anode rod when it is almost used up. To change it earlier is wasting it.

[sreigle]

Buddy, to reply to your query, when you turn on the electric element it will not affect the gas element. You can run both. As others said, they are independent. Just remember to shut off the electric element before you drain the water heater. It only takes a few seconds without water over the element to destroy it. They are replaceable and are not real expensive.

That outside switch is a real pain. On our 3400, and our prior 2003 3295RK, and our prior 2001 2880RL, the water heater was on an electrical circuit of its own, meaning nothing else is on that breaker. We leave the outside switch on all the time and use the breaker to turn the electric element on and off. Since we use the electric side any time we're not paying for electricity, we leave that breaker on nearly all the time. We don't even turn it off for travel. Just when we're paying for electricity does it get turned off.

Someone posted this url awhile back for figuring whether it's cheaper to use electricity or propane. I've found this website very helpful.

http://www.tigerfuel.com/calculator.htm

[TAKPAK]

As everyone has said, you can use the electric and the propane simultaneously. We use both when we are out. I shower in the evening, the wife showers in the morning, so it's not a big issue. Our previous trailer, a Keystone Cougar, had the same setup. Electric and propane. I left the switch on the heater on all the time and switched with the breaker in the panel. I made a sign to remind me to turn it off until I had water in it. Regarding the anode, we only had the Cougar a year before we got the Montana, and when I drained the tank for the winter, the anode was pretty well eaten up. Surprised me......... It is also a joy to go from a six gallon tank (Cougar) to a ten gallon tank (Montana). Longer showers......whoo hoo......!!!!! I LOVE a long shower.

[mail2us]

David, What is a Oxygenics shower head? Tks. Dennis

[dsprik]

Dennis, check this out. And the reviews

CW Oxygenics Shower Head

[mail2us]

Dave, sorry for the delay but thanks for the link on the shower head. I see from other threads you started a "shopping spree" for the Oxygenics shower head. They owe you a commission! Tks again.