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Karlos · 03-06-2015, 05:51 PM

My current Atwood G6A-8E water heater has started to act up. I've cleaned out the burners, cleaned all the electrical connections and had it exorcized recently. At 15 years old, it is starting to become less reliable and I don't want to start replacing the expensive parts (controller card or gas valve).

I can replace it with the same model or upgrade possibly. The dual mode propane/120V electric model GC6AA-10E looks like the same box, but offers a 120V electrical element also. When on full hook-up, it can run off shore power and run propane otherwise.

Anyone out there do this upgrade?????

regards,
Karl

Karlos · 03-06-2015, 07:41 PM

Forgot to mention the existing water heater is the Propane-only 6 gallon unit many of the National rigs came standard with in this era.

Karl

Karlos · 03-15-2015, 05:17 PM

I'm re-posting this from the Class A forum due to no response....hopefully a National owner may have ideas.....

My current 6 gallon Atwood (G6A-8E) water heater has started to act up. I've cleaned out the burners, cleaned all the electrical connections and had it exorcized recently. At 15 years old, it is starting to become less reliable and I don't want to start replacing the expensive parts (controller card or gas valve).

I can replace it with the same model or upgrade possibly. Atwood offers a dual mode propane/120V electric model (GC6AA-10E) that looks like the same box, but has an electrical heating element as well. When on full hook-up, it can heat water from shore power. Otherwise, it runs on propane like the original.

Anyone out there do this upgrade????? Or have ideas???

regards,
Karl

nothermark · 03-15-2015, 05:31 PM

I have not changed one out. We traded motorhomes instead. I find the electric well worth it as it cuts back on propane usage. From what I see the swap out is not bad and done mostly from the outside. You do need to add a 120 VAC connection and switch where it is convenient. You also want a pilot light to tell you the tank power is on. I would add a powered outlet box and put a plug cord on the water heater so I could pull the plug when the unit did not have water in it. YMMV.

shiggs68 · 03-15-2015, 06:44 PM

While the pictures of the 6 and 10'gal. Models look the same, check the actual dimensions as I was thinking the 10 gal model was a little bigger.

And has already been said you'll need a 120v circuit and the control switch wiring. Those may be the hard part.

Karlos · 03-17-2015, 09:20 AM

The LP/elec model I was looking at is the same 6 gallon size I have now. The spec sheets show the same box dimensions.

Atwood offers a dual (LP or elec) switch which (most likely) drives a relay at the 120 volt outlet if you choose elec mode. It fires the propane if you choose LP mode just like the original. I think it is an either/or situation where both modes cannot be on simultaneously. I would need to installed a relay-switched 120 Volt receptacle and snake a new control wire from the hall switch panel to the relay as well.

Hope someone out there has done this one before or considered it.

Karl

nothermark · 03-18-2015, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karlos

The LP/elec model I was looking at is the same 6 gallon size I have now. The spec sheets show the same box dimensions.

Atwood offers a dual (LP or elec) switch which (most likely) drives a relay at the 120 volt outlet if you choose elec mode. It fires the propane if you choose LP mode just like the original. I think it is an either/or situation where both modes cannot be on simultaneously. I would need to installed a relay-switched 120 Volt receptacle and snake a new control wire from the hall switch panel to the relay as well.

Hope someone out there has done this one before or considered it.

Karl

We have dual fuel on ours. Other threads indicate it is either or/both. Each have their own switch on ours so I leave the AC on and the gas off when traveling. If we are boondocking then I turn on the gas as I need it. Either system heats the water fast enough to suit us so I have not tried both. If the tank is hot we can stop for lunch with enough hot water for a rinse and stack and hand washing without turning on the gas.

Karlos · 03-19-2015, 11:22 AM

Hi Nothermark,

Thanks for the reply.

Was your dual 6 gallon Atwood standard from the RV manufacturer, or did someone retro-fit it as a replacement of the original? Also, what rig do you have?

Karl

nothermark · 03-20-2015, 04:44 AM

It's a standard installation. It seems to be fairly common on the newer units. Both switches are on the central panel where the readouts are. I have not looked to see if there is a relay near the tank. The general feel of the setup would lead me to expect there is. There is a version in the parts list.

If you have not looked try this link for pictures and parts:

http://www.atwoodmobile.com/manuals/...rPartsList.pdf