Hot Water Heater Help - Montana Owners Club

Montana_1026 · 11-17-2005, 05:49 AM

I have an '04 3400RL and I do not know how to turn on the hot water heater when I am running on batterys alone.
Can someone please give me some instruction?

azstar · 11-17-2005, 05:56 AM

Hi Chip,
Your heater will be running on Propane. Make sure you bleed the air off by lighting the stove. You have a switch to go on propane for the heater. I believe it is at the monitor pannel for waste tank levels. Should have a switch there that lights up red when its on.

If you can't hear the heater come on, after a few seconds turn the switch off for a few seconds and try again. Repete as necessary. Sometimes there is a little air trapped in the lines that needs to be worked out.

Broome101 · 11-17-2005, 06:18 AM

AZSTAR is correct in all above

William H. Collier · 11-17-2005, 02:23 PM

One additional comment, when you turn the switch on for the water heater the switch will light up and in addition a small light next to it will come on, this indicates the heater is trying to light. When this little light goes out the burner has lit.
Bill

Montana_1026 · 11-18-2005, 02:12 AM

Azstar and Bill,
I put the schooling to work this morning and all works just as you said. Thank you both so much for the quick response and instruction.

worknomore · 11-23-2005, 09:04 AM

You can also run the water heater on 110v - there is a small black rocker switch inside the vent cover, on the outside of the rig. There is usually a hair pin clip securing it in the off position. Pull the clip to push the switch to the 'On' position (make SURE there is water in the tank first!).

This will save on propane. Sure wish Montana would put a switch inside the coach like other brands do. I've added a switch just under the tank level gauges - still need to wire it...

Outahere · 11-25-2005, 03:58 AM

As long as we're on the subject. Does anyone know FOR SURE weather or not you can use the Propane for faster recovery,of the hot water, while the electric part of the heating is still on? In other words using both at the same time. Or is this going to burn something out

Thanks, Mike

adelmoll · 11-25-2005, 04:15 AM

We have used them both at the same time several times. Everything worked just fine for our unit.

Parrothead · 11-25-2005, 04:16 AM

Yes, you can use both. We do it. There has been topics on this before. Do a search and you will find lots of info on water heater.
Happy trails....................

Montana_4454 · 11-25-2005, 04:18 AM

Hi:
I use both propane and elect quite often because it is much faster recovery.When two are going to take showers this helps plus with the propane the water is hotter.
Hope this helps
Henry

Outahere · 11-25-2005, 05:06 AM

Thanks for the replys. I had done a search on the subject but apparently I worded it incorrectly because there were "No Matches". So I just tried the words "Water Heater" and got some threads.
I have been using the Propane for fast recovery but the wife thought she remembered being told to "Not Do That" by someone at our selling dealership. She asked me to do some research on this before continuing this practice

Thanks folks

ols1932 · 11-25-2005, 06:27 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Outahere

As long as we're on the subject. Does anyone know FOR SURE weather or not you can use the Propane for faster recovery,of the hot water, while the electric part of the heating is still on? In other words using both at the same time. Or is this going to burn something out

Thanks, Mike

Absolutely. That's one of the great things about having both propane and electric. The propane will heat the water much faster, giving you a quick recovery. On ours, propane heats the water hotter than the electric. It doesn't hurt to have them both on a the same time.

thook · 11-25-2005, 07:51 AM

I also have both on at the same time. Electric will keep it warm for most uses, but on high demand the propane kicks in and recovery is faster. Works great!

sreigle · 11-25-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Outahere

As long as we're on the subject. Does anyone know FOR SURE weather or not you can use the Propane for faster recovery,of the hot water, while the electric part of the heating is still on? In other words using both at the same time. Or is this going to burn something out

Thanks, Mike

We've used both at the same time many times. It will speed recovery but does not make the water any hotter. In our case, propane gets the water hotter than electric. We no longer use both at the same time when we have the AC running or electric heaters in the coach. Our older electrical system tends to pop breakers so we shut off the electric side of the water heater.

Outahere · 11-27-2005, 10:30 AM

Thanks for the help folks. I won this time (rare) but the wife concedes this one, just to make me feel better, I suppose. We will continue to use both when needed, showers etc..
Thanks again, Mike

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