Operation of Hot Water Heater in electric mode.

[John Donuthin]

We have a 2003 30 SKW Limited which is new to us. It has 6 gal Atwood hotwater heater. I haven't been able to get it to work in electric mode, but I may be doing something wrong. Works fine in gas mode.

It has hw switch in the bathroom. When it is in on position the gas works fine. When it is off, and the switch on the backside of the heater is in on position, I do not get hot water. I suppose the element could be bad.

Any advice on diagnosing the problem would be appreciated.

Incidentally, getting to it and being able to see what you are doing is a bit much for this super sized old cooter.

[ExcelRVGuy]

John,

You should also have an electric water heater switch besides the one on the back of the w.h. We use to mount them on the wall but in more recent years they are included on the monitor panel beside the gas switch.

I'm in Rhode Island this weekend and I can't remember where yours was mounted on that model in 2003. It seems like there should be a switch under the kitchen sink if you open the door below the sink.

Leave the switch on the back of the w.h. ON all of the time and use the secondary switch to turn the electric on and off.

Hope this helps.

Bryan

[MakinSmoke]

Bryan, you are amazing! Glad I'm a member.

[GaryKD]

Hi John,
To work in electric, one needs to be supplying 110VAC to the heater. Are you connected to shore power?

Next, there should be a breaker, in the breaker panel, for the HWH. Is the breaker tripped or on?

Like previously posted, there is another switch to turn on the HWH. I do not know your coach. The switch could be the one in the bathroom or it could be on the panel, next to the propane HWH switch.

If all the lights and switches are on, can you measure 110VAC coming into the heating element?
If no, there is another switch, fuse or breaker keeping the element from getting power. If yes, can you measure the AMPS the heating element is drawing? If you are getting VAC but no AMP draw, the problem is the heating element is bad.

[Still Working "NOT"]

John,
The electric switch for my 2003 30'RGE is in the cabinet below the sink, which puts it close to my water heater. I've got a rear kitchen and the water heater is in the back passsenger side of the fiver.

[MonacoMama]

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryKD: Like previously posted, there is another switch to turn on the HWH. I do not know your coach. The switch could be the one in the bathroom or it could be on the panel, next to the propane HWH switch.

Gary... he does not OWN a coach. This is a fifth wheel and they are a bit different from our motorhomes.I think the infor he is getting from the other Excel Members & President of PI is the info he is looking for.

MM

[DAN L]

is there an eco overheat reset button on the back of the water heater in the vicinity of the electric heating element? if there is you can reset it with something small like a pencil eraser end. turn power off before attempting to reset.
you can find pictures of the water heater components using the find and search function of this forum.

[GaryKD]

Hi MM,
I've always thought of motorhomes, 5vers and trailers as coaches. I did not know the term only refered to motorized RVs. Guess I need to tell Mickey he needs to change how he refers to Cinderella's "coach". And the pioneers that rode in stage trailers (I thought they were called stage coaches).

My posts may not always hit the mark.

[John Donuthin]

yup, it was in the cabinet below the sink. I had looked in the area several times. Was right there and I didn't see it.

Thanks to all of you, especially Bryan. Pretty exceptional service for sure.