Water Heater Question

[Cryn]

Have an 2018 Alante, and quick question on the water heater, is it powered on 12V system if not hooked up to shore power? Asking because after getting home from a trip the water heater was powered on the control panel.
Thanks...

[Foretm]

Originally Posted by Cryn

Have an 2018 Alante, and quick question on the water heater, is it powered on 12V system if not hooked up to shore power? Asking because after getting home from a trip the water heater was powered on the control panel.
Thanks...

When not connected to 120V AC power, the control board on the water heater will be powered, but the heating element will not be. The light on the panel will still be on, but the element is not powered unless the generator was running. Think of it this way, three main components run the water heater:

The control board (brains) - 12V DC
The heating element - 120V AC
The gas burner - Propane

So depending on what was on while driving home, the element may have been powered (if generator running).

[Cryn]

Great, thanks! Generator was not running, so guess I dodged that bullet...hate when I do dumb things.

[Foretm]

Originally Posted by Cryn

Great, thanks! Generator was not running, so guess I dodged that bullet...hate when I do dumb things.

Unless you specifically drained the water heater, even if the generator was running, you should've been ok as the tank would have been full. The element will only burn out if its not submerged in water. But I do understand the immediate pucker factor that goes into it when you realize it was still on.