Maiden Voyage report - Eagle 284BHBE

ecksdude · 10-18-2015, 02:21 PM

Well, I took her out for the weekend to check out everything and see what works and what doesn't, here's what I learned:

#1, most important: When the handles are pulled OUT, it means the black and gray water valves are OPEN. Fortunately, I was unsure, and brought a garbage can with a new plastic garbage bad placed strategically under the sewer hose cap and was ready when everything started gushing out to quickly push the handles in (which is, evidently, the CLOSED position). No mess, I feel pretty good about this one as I was fully prepared for the worst, latex gloves and everything!

#2: The only real problem I found -> the water heater does not appear to work on electricity at all. Worked fine on propane and that's how I ended up running it all weekend. Unless I get some brilliant wisdom from this forum, I will be taking the trailer back to Camping World for them to fix the water heater.

#3: The water heater isn't big enough to take a shower with the water running the whole time (had to find out, purposefully).

#4: When you flip eggs in a pan the fancy way (without a spatula), do it over the sink. Trust me on this.

#5: okay, I really should have stopped at #2... bascially, everything works as advertised except the water heater. No problems all weekend, (except those of my own making while trying to install a wireless bridge for CG WLAN connections... but that's another story...

Very pleased overall. Can't wait to take it out for a real trip soon!

Tex1961 · 10-18-2015, 02:42 PM

As a side note for when you get the electric part fixed on the water heater..

Assuming you've hooked up at an electric site. We turn the water heater electric part on as soon as we arrive (assuming water is hooked up first of course). When taking showers we also turn the gas on as well. This gives you double heating and will help with the water heater replenishing the hot water faster. Afterwards turn the gas back off and just keep the electric on for normal usage.. ie. hand washing, dishes, etc.

Jhowemca · 10-18-2015, 02:57 PM

How long did you have the electric part of the water heater on?
It probably takes hours to heat with electric only.

Tex1961 · 10-18-2015, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhowemca

How long did you have the electric part of the water heater on?
It probably takes hours to heat with electric only.

30 minutes on average

Rustic Eagle · 10-18-2015, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecksdude

snip.......The only real problem I found -> the water heater does not appear to work on electricity at all. Worked fine on propane......... snip

Remove the "outside" water heater access panel and check for an additional electric on/off switch, some brand/models have one.

Bob

gcloss · 10-18-2015, 04:01 PM

I hope your water heater was filled with water before turning on electric part of the water heater. If not, you may need a new heating element.

robkelly · 10-18-2015, 04:39 PM

Don't know if your unit has a fireplace, but if it does, there is a separate switch that must be set for water heater or fireplace. Learned that the hard way...

BigJohnD · 10-18-2015, 06:35 PM

I never had a problem taking a full shower with the water on the whole time. Just gotta do it quicker than with the 10 gallon we had before. Reheat time is pretty quick. We pretty much use electric only since we're already paying for that. Glad all worked well for you.

ecksdude · 10-19-2015, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcloss

I hope your water heater was filled with water before turning on electric part of the water heater. If not, you may need a new heating element.

I'm fairly certain it did, this was far from the first time I ran water through the hot-water tap... so it wouldn't have been dry, though I can't say whether it was full or not?

ecksdude · 10-19-2015, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Remove the "outside" water heater access panel and check for an additional electric on/off switch, some brand/models have one.

Bob

I will have to check that. If so, I'm not aware of it.

Camper_bob · 10-19-2015, 08:31 AM

I can always get a full shower without running out of HW. Actually, me and DW both do. With a 6 gal Atwood. I turn on electric as soon as we plug in, turn on gas when DW goes into the bathroom, turn gas off after I'm done, just before bed. Between DW's shower and mine, HWH has plenty of time to recover. We only have a problem occasionally when city water is REALLY cold and needs more hot to make it comfortable. If it happens DW will warn me she used it all up, and I'll just relax and have another cold beverage before I take my turn to give the WH a little more time to work.

Congrats on your Maiden Voyage!!

Rustic Eagle · 10-19-2015, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecksdude

I will have to check that. If so, I'm not aware of it.

This particular electric on/off switch is incorporated on Suburban HWH's, haven't ran across one on Atwood HWH's.

This video shows the location (somewhat hidden):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDmiNrRrA14

Bob

**Crabman** · 10-19-2015, 11:47 AM

The 6 gallon Atwood has always given me plenty of water for a shower as well. Possibly yours is not working properly on gas either unless you take real long showers. Long showers are something we learn to do without with RV`s, especially if you are running off your fresh water tank and/or using your grey tanks and not sewer hook ups....

Camper_bob · 10-19-2015, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabman

The 6 gallon Atwood has always given me plenty of water for a shower as well. Possibly yours is not working properly on gas either unless you take real long showers. Long showers are something we learn to do without with RV`s, especially if you are running off your fresh water tank and/or using your grey tanks and not sewer hook ups....

+1 When I say "full shower" that usually corresponds to "full hookups". When we're running without full hookups, the showers are of the Navy variety. Even then, we're not too bad off because I learned last time that I can use my "utility bucket" to ease the stress on the gray tank. I just bleed some out of the gray tank and dump it into the black tank. It really helps a lot, and with a 5/8" garden hose adapter for the waste valve outlet, it's a nice clean job.

**Crabman** · 10-19-2015, 12:18 PM

^^^Yes and if you have a bunch of grey to get rid of you can always get a tote tank if the need arises..

TWP723 · 10-19-2015, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robkelly

Don't know if your unit has a fireplace, but if it does, there is a separate switch that must be set for water heater or fireplace. Learned that the hard way...

As did I. Heating elements eat up amperage like crazy.

**norty1** · 10-19-2015, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

This particular electric on/off switch is incorporated on Suburban HWH's, haven't ran across one on Atwood HWH's.

This video shows the location (somewhat hidden):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDmiNrRrA14

Bob

That switch is there so that when the wh is drained, it can not be turned on from the inside by someone who does not know it is drained.

cekkk · 10-19-2015, 04:59 PM

We got a bit more shower time from the 6 gallon water heater that was in our first trailer by replacing the stock shower head with this Oxygenics. You can get them at Camping World, but probably cheaper elsewhere. Here's what it is.
BodySpa RV Shower Kit - White - Oxygenics 26781 - Shower - Camping World

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