Residential Thermostat

[I M Lost]

99 Newmar Dutch Star
Having trouble with attwood water heater. Opened outside heater cover and this is where it got weird. Someone had zipped tied residential type thermostat to relief valve. It is set to open at 100 degrees. Wiring is running inside and back toward ref. Ref has been changed to residential style. Just got back from trip where everything seemed to be working o.k. Have not had time to start taking things apart. Wondering if anyone has an idea what they might have been trying to accomplish. Hot water heater and this rube Goldberg rig are not connected Thanks Charlie

[GaryKD]

Hi I M Lost,
Sounds like it is connected to exhaust fan(s) to come on at 100 degrees. Could have been for fans for the original refer. What problem are you having with the water heater?

[Old-Biscuit]

DO you have a OEM Drain plug (nylon) in water heater drain

OR
does it have an electric element in the drain hole??


Some of the aftermarket heat rods used a t-stat attached to T&P Relief Valve for temp control


Otherwise............No clue WHAT the previous owners idea/intent would have been
Fridge fan t-stats open/close based on fridge condenser fin temps
Water Heater T&P Relief Valve would have no logical bearing on anything else besides the water heater

[I M Lost]

Old Biscuit It does have some type of sensor in the drain plug hole. It is in series with the thermostat. However it is only thermostat wire. I don't see how it could be an electric element

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by I M Lost

Old Biscuit It does have some type of sensor in the drain plug hole. It is in series with the thermostat. However it is only thermostat wire. I don't see how it could be an electric element

Drain plug SHOULD be a Nylon Plug.
No wires/nothing connected to it


That is an aftermarket heat rod....
AC goes to the t-stat then to the heater rod.
Low wattage heat rod ---used as alternative to propane heating


Lightning Rod
https://www.westernleisureproducts.c...structions.pdf