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Old 04-27-2016, 12:24 PM   #1
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Water Heater-Might Have Killed It

So brand new to Rving. During the PDI they never went over the water heater, and I should have did my homework. I brought it home the other day, plugged it in (without water) and forgot to check if the water heater was on. My wife did come outside and said she smelled something burning. I thought it might have been the furnace I was testing.

I can't tow her home and fill her up for a couple weeks. I can go tonthe storage lot though. Is there anything I can check without filling her up with water to see if I destroyed the water heater? I had the unit plugged in for about 4 hours. Not for sure if the switch is on or not in the panel, going to check the lot in a few minutes. If it is on, that means the battery would have run itnfor awhile as well.

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Old 04-27-2016, 12:34 PM   #2
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Nothing to bad should have happened. The worst case scenario if you were using electric you burned up the thermal fuse. You can get a new, they are not very expensive nor hard to get to and replace.

For "Safety Sake" I turn the 120V circuit breaker off for the water heater. This way the heating element can not turn on. The light at the switch (12V) will turn on, but you get no heat. All the control systems for each component (ie frig, furnace, water heater) use 12V.

As for smell, good chance it was the furnace. The oven will stink too, when you light it too for the first time.
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Old 04-27-2016, 12:38 PM   #3
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Thank you for the information. Would this fuse be located with the rest of the fuses or is it somewhere near the water heater? I was connected to shore power.

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Old 04-27-2016, 12:44 PM   #4
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If anything, the element burned up. Easy to replace.
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Old 04-27-2016, 12:47 PM   #5
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Thanks, I'm assuming that I would just not get hot water if the element is burned up? Or is there an easy way to check to see if it's damaged?

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Old 04-27-2016, 01:02 PM   #6
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Based on my bonehead move I'd say your OK. We took ours out couple of weeks ago and almost 24 hours after the fact (worked half a day after plugging in at the campsite) I had no hot water and like a bolt of lightning hitting me I realized I STILL HAD THE WATER HEATER BYPASSED!!!! Filled her up and 15 minutes later had hot water. Just call me Lucky!
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Old 04-27-2016, 01:12 PM   #7
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You can remove it and check. Buy one anyway...just in case. Having a spare isn't a bad idea. Put some H2O in that mutha and see if she gets hot! lol
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Old 04-27-2016, 01:23 PM   #8
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Haha, so if I remove it how will I know it's bad? Good suggestion on a spare, however I cannot find it online. Manual states part# is 91160. Is there a universal one for Atwood?

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Old 04-27-2016, 01:33 PM   #9
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When it is badly burnt you'll no the difference. If it had been on to long it will look like rye-bread toast.
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Old 04-27-2016, 01:44 PM   #10
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That part number may be superceded by another number. I'd call a Jayco dealer and ask them. Have your model number ready (off the heater).
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Old 04-27-2016, 01:50 PM   #11
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I believe you can just buy a universal one from the big box stores.


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Old 04-27-2016, 02:06 PM   #12
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Easy way to check it is to measure its electrical resistance. That is, if you know your way around a multi-meter. You don't have to remove the element from the tank for this test.

Disconnect one of the wires that connect to the element, and with the multi-meter set to measure OHMS, low end of the scale, touch the probes to the two connection points on the element. If the meter shows around 15 ohms, more or less, the element is most likely OK. If the resistance is much higher the overheat cycle might have damaged the heating element.

Or just fill it up with water and try it out. I'd still buy a replacement, because you may have at least shortened its life.
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Old 04-27-2016, 02:09 PM   #13
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Thanks for the direction guys!

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Old 04-27-2016, 07:47 PM   #14
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Went to the storage yard and luckily all the controls were off. So I'm thinking maybe had them on for 2 or 3 hours with no water. My water heater operates on both propane and electric. So even if I burned up the electric maybe the propane will still work?

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