Question OASIS Hydronic heating underperforming with electric elements?

[MapNerd]

Huh. You guys get decent hot water on electric? I never ever have. We always use the burner because without it, we only get luke warm water at best, even in AZ and Texas in the summer.

wish I’d not read this. I was perfectly content with my ignorance.

 

[Buly]

Huh. You guys get decent hot water on electric? I never ever have. We always use the burner because without it, we only get luke warm water at best, even in AZ and Texas in the summer.

wish I’d not read this. I was perfectly content with my ignorance.

John,
We are in Michigan, and we use only electric. It is enough for two people.
You may have only one heating element working? Check if your amperage consumption goes up when you switch from One to two elements..

 

[MapNerd]

It was off. Haha. We’ll see if that makes it better

 

[JohninFL]

ITR was of no help. Only advice was to wait till tank reaches temperature, or to use the diesel heat. That doesn't work when we have guests at home and coach is in the garage. Duh.

 

[Neal]

When I go to Newmar in September I'm having the heater fluid purged and replaced which I'm guessing is something most are not doing but it is in the service schedule. I'll let you all know if this alone improves the situation. I'm guessing if the coolant system is not performing as it should you're not going to have proper heat transfer. The only other suspect is the electric burners have a lifetime and need to be replaced.

 

[turbopilot]

When I go to Newmar in September I'm having the heater fluid purged and replaced which I'm guessing is something most are not doing but it is in the service schedule. I'll let you all know if this alone improves the situation. I'm guessing if the coolant system is not performing as it should you're not going to have proper heat transfer. The only other suspect is the electric burners have a lifetime and need to be replaced.

OR, given some of the posts I have seen with fried electrical connections in the Oasis unit, what if there is a progressive deterioration in the quality of the electrical connections to these Oasis electrodes leading to heating of the wire instead of heating the boiler elements. All this leading to the wiring electrical fires we have seen posted on this forum. Whether you are heating the wires or the elements both would still show a high amp draw. I think we have a connector problem growing.

 

[Neal]

OR, given some of the posts I have seen with fried electrical connections in the Oasis unit, what if there is a progressive deterioration in the quality of the electrical connections to these Oasis electrodes leading to heating of the wire instead of heating the boiler elements. All this leading to the wiring electrical fires we have seen posted on this forum. Whether you are heating the wires or the elements both would still show a high amp draw. I think we have a connector problem growing.

If you haven't pulled the front panel off and traced the wires to the electric elements, I welcome you to do so and let me know your opinion. I've been in there far too much and the wire gauge is concerning and the type on top of that. The transition from the romex coming in the top and then the path to the electric elements are very odd, to me.

 

[turbopilot]

If you haven't pulled the front panel off and traced the wires to the electric elements, I welcome you to do so and let me know your opinion. I've been in there far too much and the wire gauge is concerning and the type on top of that. The transition from the romex coming in the top and then the path to the electric elements are very odd, to me.

Sounds like we know the answer. I have not pulled the panel. On my list. How long are the leads? Can they be easily changed? Going to use the boiler until there is an answer.

 

[Neal]

Sounds like we know the answer. I have not pulled the panel. On my list. How long are the leads? Can they be easily changed?

Well, it worked fine in the past. Seems like things have changed which is why I wonder if replacing the heater fluid (anti-freeze) will have a better result.

The romex comes in and transitions to some other odd wire type (braided?) then goes to a relay. The relay then has a wire to the electric elements I'd guess are 12-18 inches long. I'm guessing that wire is 12 awg (this is 120V and 20A I think?). I'm more comfortable with the wires from the relay to the electric element than I am from the romex to the relay. I recently replaced a relay as the spade separated from the bottom. Cheap chinese crap.

 

[turbopilot]

Well, it worked fine in the past. Seems like things have changed which is why I wonder if replacing the heater fluid (anti-freeze) will have a better result.

The romex comes in and transitions to some other odd wire type (braided?) then goes to a relay. The relay then has a wire to the electric elements I'd guess are 12-18 inches long. I'm guessing that wire is 12 awg (this is 120V and 20A I think?). I'm more comfortable with the wires from the relay to the electric element than I am from the romex to the relay. I recently replaced a relay as the spade separated from the bottom. Cheap chinese crap.

Are these wires documented with images (before they burn up) in some post?