2003 Arctic Fox 29V

[sallysgolfin]

All, I am a new member & hope I'm posting question in correct place. I own & live in a 2003 Arctic Fox & have not been able to figure out the 2 interior switches for the hot water heater. Though Northwood has been helpful in a couple of areas, due to the age, they can't help with this. Water heater can run on gas or electric. Which is which? One switch is by the stove & one is under window. Any owners out there who can help me? Thank you!

 

[Hammster]

No idea which switch is which, but there may be a way to figure it out. One of those switches will be for propane flame. The other for the electric heating element. Something to try.
Make sure water heater tank is full of water.
Turn on propane.
Operate one of the switches and then go out to the water heater and listen for the flame to ignite. Assuming all is functioning correctly you should hear the whoosh of the flame pretty soon. If not, you may have found the electric element's switch. Remember which switch you first operated.
Turn that switch off.
Now try the other switch and do the same. Go out and listen for a whoosh (assuming you didn't hear the whoosh on the first switch).
Whichever switch lights the flame is the propane switch. Label it.
That makes the other one the electric element switch. Note that for the electric element to work there may be another switch on the water heater itself that needs to be turned on. This switch does not need to be turned on for propane to work.

Oh, and it should be ok to have both switches (gas and propane) on at the same time. Suggesting this just to make sure the water heater's heating options are working. If you get hot water then you know at least one of the systems is working.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

It should be easy to hear, see and feel when the propane burner is on. Subject to the thermostat, of course, but when it is heating you can hear the burner roar, feel the heat from the exhaust at the outside access door, and if you open that door you can see the flame.  If the water in the heater is cool, you should hear the burner ignite (a click or two followed by a deep but low roar) within a couple seconds of flipping the switch.

The LP gas burner switch usually has a red light associated with it.  The light comes on when you flip the switch and probably goes off when ignition is complete (some older heaters leave the light on). 


The electric switch does not cause any sounds from the heater and typically has no indicator light.  When on, the heater just gets hot silently.  You should have hot water in 20-30 minutes.  120v shore power hook-up is required, of course.

 

[grashley]

Gary is almost always right, bit my FW is part of the atypical group.  I have 3 switches grouped in my "Control Center", one is water heater - LP, one is water heater - electric, and the third is water pump.  All three are red and stay lit when energized.

 

[Old Blevins]

I have a 2006 Arctic Fox 29V.  It has two water heater switches - 1 for 120V and 1 for propane.  The one in front of the kitchen sink is for propane.  As Gary mentioned, when it is turned on, a red light next to it comes on for awhile.

The rocker switch under the front window is for 120V.  Mine didn't work until I learned there's a safety cutoff switch on the water heater itself that needs to be turned on.  That safety switch is to keep you from accidentally turning on the 120 V water heater element when the hot water tank is empty, which will burn out the element.  It is mounted on the side of the water heater where it is accessed through a door on the outside of the trailer (right side near the front).  It's kind of hidden behind pipes there.  Make sure it's turned on and that you have water in your hot water tank.  If you're plugged into shore power the inside rocker switch should turn your water heater on.  If it doesn't, you might need a new element - but those are pretty easy to replace.