Electic water heating

[chief02]

It seems my Electic water heating element is not working, may never have. When I flip the water heater to Electirc heating there is no "ON" light that comes on like there is when in gas heating mode. I checked the breaker but still no hot water. Any Ideas.

[wa8yxm]

A fairly common "OPPS" is turnin on the electric water heater when there is no water due to it having been drained... For this reason I like to do my own winterize, because I've seen profesisonals skip a step, the step that prevents this from happening.

IF this happens the electric element will quickly burn out.

Tht's the bad news

now the good news

The element is very common, you can likely find one at Lowes or Home Depot, and the price is reasonable.

[rockintom]

Hi Chief,

You do not have a light on the panel when you are operating on electric W/H. The best quick check is to check breaker for the water heater in the electrical panel inside the rig. If in doubt....cycle the breaker completely off and back on. Then go to the heater element in the tank and check for 120 volts with the panel WH switch on. If you have proper voltage at that point, you have a bad/open element. The elements are fairly robust and usually fail do to an operator error. IE the electric water heater was accidently turned on with no water in the heater.....burns itself out in a matter of seconds. Good luck.....very easy check. Let us know what you find. rockin'

[bob109]

If your water heater is a Atwood it has both a thermostat and a ECO ( emergency cut out ) switch. The ECO has a reset button and can be accessed from the back side of the water heater. As has been mentioned the first step is to ensure you don't have a bad element. Turn your power off and remove one of the wires to your element and use a volt/ohm meter to make sure it's ok. If the element is bad, replace it. If it's good then check the ECO.

[rockintom]

IRRC on our Excels......if you need a reset....you switch both electric and propane off for about 15 or 20 seconds.....then you turn back on. I've had to do it on ours a couple of times. Guess it can go into a "logic lockup". rockin'

[chief02]

Thanks guys, I will follow up

[gdbontly]

I have a red light between my Electric and Gas switches, but it never comes on regardless of whether I turn on the Electric or the Gas switch (or both). Ralph (RV Sales) said the light would only come on if there's a problem, so I guess I'm good. Both Electric and Gas modes seem to work fine. But there's no indication that they are "on", other than the fact that I have hot water. Just my observation.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdbontly I have a red light between my Electric and Gas switches, but it never comes on regardless of whether I turn on the Electric or the Gas switch (or both). Ralph (RV Sales) said the light would only come on if there's a problem, so I guess I'm good. Both Electric and Gas modes seem to work fine. But there's no indication that they are "on", other than the fact that I have hot water. Just my observation.

Glenn,
Ralph gave you good info. On your system......you only have a "reset" light on propane only. That light would come on if the Electronic ignition (like the pilot light on old time units) try to light the burner 3 times within a few seconds and it didn't light, thus causing a reset light.

On our 2010 model we have the older panel control. If the electric is on.....no light.......propane light on with a "on" light. "Reset" light if the flame fail to light within a few seconds meaning you'd have to shut the propane switch off for a few seconds and try again.

Just FYI.....you're furance has the same feature ...but doesn't have a light to tell you it needs to be reset. We refer to these features as "three strikes and you're out".

And just a bit more info. If the propane burner starts and run a little bit before going out, then the "reset" feature is not applied. Reset only happens when the relighting feature is tried and the system doesn't "see" the burner lit. Hope this helps you understand has these things work! rockin'

[edj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief02 It seems my Electic water heating element is not working, may never have. When I flip the water heater to Electirc heating there is no "ON" light that comes on like there is when in gas heating mode. I checked the breaker but still no hot water. Any Ideas.

What brand water heater do you have installed? I have a Suburban in my HH. There is a little toggle switch on the heater itself. It can be seen by removing the exterior access cover. It is usually used as a 'secondary' power switch that can be turned off when the water heater is drained just to be sure that it can not be turned on by mistake inside. The switch inside is a 'standard' 120 vac type of switch and the switch lights up when 'on'.

[bjsheldon]

Heres a tip. If the coach was winterize and the water heater bypass valve was switched; when you start back up and don't switch the valve back to nornal, the water heater will not get water (even though you get water out of the spiget) and the element will burn out in less than a minite. I know, I did it.

[chief02]

Cycled the breaker and switch. Water is warm but not hot after being on electric all day.

[rockintom]

Chief......it sounds like you have a stuck mixing valve....does it heat water when you run it on propane? If you have about 100* water at the faucet when on either propane or electric.......you probably have a stuck mixing valve. I thought I read that you had hot water with propane....but read back and didn't find it. If you have luke warm water at the faucet.......go out to the WH outside and carefully feel the tank itself. If it is hot.....then you have a bad mixing valve. Let us know. rockin'

[chief02]

Rockin,
I have pelenty of hot water on gas so the mixing valve seems good. Either no power to the element or the element is burned out. I will see Ralph in Las Cruces the end of Aprl and see what he has to say. LOL. For now i'm gonna relax here in Tucson.

[rockintom]

OK Bill,

Do you have 120V to the element at the tank with the switch on? If so, than Ralph could bring a fresh element to the outing and install it! I will gladly help by holding Ralph's wine to protect it from all those ratscallions in NM!!!