Water heater electric?

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Our 1994 Kountry Aire has a model GC10A_2E water heater. The brochure from that year says the water heater is 10 gal gas/electric. Does that mean the water heater will run on electric? Or does it mean electronic ignition?

These are the switches we have in our kitchen. The water heater will fire right up with gas using the switch on the top right. Is the bottom switch for electric water heater, or something else. It doesn't seem to do anything when I turn it on.

-Joe

[KIX]

Joe, Since I don't have a coach like yours my reply involves a little guesswork. I think the term gas/electric means it will heat water using either gas (Propane) or 120vac (shore or gen power).
When you say you turn the bottom switch on "nothing happens" I am assuming you mean the light above the switch does not come on and the water does not get hot. Several things may be happening.
1. The switch is not for the water heater
2. The "pilot light" in the switch is burned out
3. There is no power to the switch
3. The switch sends power to the heater but the element is defective
4. The circuit breaker that controls power to heater /switch is off.

You need to do some troubleshooting starting at the circuit breaker panel then at the switch in the picture to see if power is even getting to the switch then the heater element. If you in fact have power passing through the switch my bet is a bad element. I'm also guessing that the switch in your picture is in fact a switch for the heater element. Let us know what you figure out

[Triker56]

Quote:

does it mean electronic ignition?

"DSI" means electronic ignition in a water heater

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The light on the switch turns on when I flip the switch. I left the switch turned on for several hours, but the water didn't get warm. I haven't found any switches on the water heater, and all the fuses seem to be ok.

-Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIX Joe, Since I don't have a coach like yours my reply involves a little guesswork. I think the term gas/electric means it will heat water using either gas (Propane) or 120vac (shore or gen power). When you say you turn the bottom switch on "nothing happens" I am assuming you mean the light above the switch does not come on and the water does not get hot. Several things may be happening. 1. The switch is not for the water heater 2. The "pilot light" in the switch is burned out 3. There is no power to the switch 3. The switch sends power to the heater but the element is defective 4. The circuit breaker that controls power to heater /switch is off. You need to do some troubleshooting starting at the circuit breaker panel then at the switch in the picture to see if power is even getting to the switch then the heater element. If you in fact have power passing through the switch my bet is a bad element. I'm also guessing that the switch in your picture is in fact a switch for the heater element. Let us know what you figure out

[ebprod]

This is a picture of the water heater (taken before I de-winterized).

["007"]

Joe the switch below the gas operate switch is for electric element in your water heater, the red led should come on when you operate the switch.
If not you could have a burnt out element because someone put on the switch without water in WH.
On my WH there is a black switch on face of the WH outside which has to be turned on also. Its a safety switch in case someone puts on switch inside when you may not have water in heater.

["007"]

Can you access the back of your WH there will be a electric box on back and wiring to the element.
The spade clips from element may have come loose or someone placed the spade clip in between the male spade and plastic holder wall and poor connection melted the plastic and spade is loose.
If all connections are good than you need a meter to check wiring to element and see if you get a resistance reading. If not than you have to change the element.

[KIX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007" Joe the switch below the gas operate switch is for electric element in your water heater, the red led should come on when you operate the switch. If not you could have a burnt out element because someone put on the switch without water in WH. On my WH there is a black switch on face of the WH outside which has to be turned on also. Its a safety switch in case someone puts on switch inside when you may not have water in heater.

Sounds like the element to me. Hard for these eyes to tell for sure but is that a switch within the black area at the upper right???????

["007"]

If the heater does not back up into bathroom cabinet or Kitchen cab which looks to low and is in your compartment area.
There maybe a access panel behind it but under the chassis area.

[ebprod]

Is this the switch you are talking about (with the arrow). It feels soft, but I can't tell if there is a switch under the black plastic. I cant' find anything else in the heater that resembles a switch.

-Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007" On my WH there is a black switch on face of the WH outside which has to be turned on also. Its a safety switch in case someone puts on switch inside when you may not have water in heater.

["007"]

Kix there could be the switch is a small rocker type but that is his igniter for gas firing I believe.
I see it was it on or off?
It maybe a reset switch or the switch for electric.
Your element looks like its on back of WH.
What model heater is this?
What does the lettering say above that switch?

[ebprod]

The water heater is Atwood GC10A-2E. There isn't any lettering on the black box. The instructions on the left side of the heater doesn't mention the electric mode, only the instructions for gas operation. I haven't found the back side of the water heater yet, but it is dark outside now. I'll look in the morning.

-Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007" Kix there could be the switch is a small rocker type but that is his igniter for gas firing I believe. I see it was it on or off? It maybe a reset switch or the switch for electric. Your element looks like its on back of WH. What model heater is this? What does the lettering say above that switch?

[KIX]

Joe.......I don't know if that's a switch or not. My water heater is a different mfg. Whatever the brand of heater it is you'r going to have to get access to the screw-in element to check the resistance on it. And, if I was going to go to that trouble I would just replace the element. It would be really irritating to have to do a lot of work to check the element, find it good then it goes bad in a few days.
I'm still betting the element is the problem.

["007"]

Talk in morning the back of WH is where you may have to get at.
I looked for owners manual they start 1999 nothing for your coach.

This PDF pg-8 10 Gal, element item 17 and switch 19 on wiring box rear of WH.

This is a GC10A-3E not yours but close enough.