Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-07-2011, 10:12 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Jack1234's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
electric water heater "switch"

Our electric hot water heater switch is a simple "toggle style" wall switch mounted under our kitchen cabinet. The switch has three settings... (1) up for ON (2) middle for OFF (3) ....?

Does anyone know "what" the third position for this switch controls?

Cheers
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
Jack1234 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-07-2011, 11:35 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
sparkydog's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 436
On our three way heater switch there are two heating elements, down is one element, middle is off, up is both heating elements for quicker recovery!
__________________
Gary & Janet
'12 American Eagle
'06 Jeep Wrangler
sparkydog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 05:40 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 78
On our Fleetwood the "up" position is for the microwave. 30 amp service can't run both microwave and water heater at the same time.
Samc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 06:52 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Skip426's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,269
Jack 1234, if you have 50 amp service in your coach, then Sparkydog will have your answer, beyond that you need to compare W/H brands and models #'s with him, or run a check at the tank to check for a second element, and when it is powered up. If you do have a dual element set up and are staying at a park with only 30 amp power ,as per Sam's advice, use only one element or you could brown yourself out.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
Skip426 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 07:41 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Jack1234's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
Great... Many thanks for the advice & comments... Easy enough to check... After my morning shower, I'll check the amp draw with the switch UP & with the switch DOWN...if we have two elements it should be pretty easy to see which is which.
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
Jack1234 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2011, 07:06 PM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
The brand and model of water heater would also be a good clue - very few have dual elements. I'm not aware of any in recent production, but I could be wrong.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2011, 08:21 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Jack1234's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
FYI- our water heater is a Suburban SW10DE and it does not have two heating elements. In order to get to the bottom of this issue I decided to give Rexhall a call.... duuuuuuuh! According to them the switch is to be used in conjunction with the generator and it separates the hot water heater from the microwave.

Unfortunately, I was so anxious to get the answer to my question it was not until I had hung-up that I could not understand why a 7500watt generator can run 2 AC units and not be able to run a hot water heater & the microwave at the same time? I know the micro & the heater pull around 22amps which must be more tan the generator can handle?

Maybe someone who is a whiz with watts, amps, etc. can clarify this issue?
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
Jack1234 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2011, 06:03 AM   #8
Member
 
dinkie0720's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 38
Smile Hi! to water heater switch

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack1234 View Post
Our electric hot water heater switch is a simple "toggle style" wall switch mounted under our kitchen cabinet. The switch has three settings... (1) up for ON (2) middle for OFF (3) ....?

Does anyone know "what" the third position for this switch controls?

Cheers
I do have the same switch, but in my Motorhome that switch is for the Microwave, and the water heater, and in the meadle, is off, usually at nigth in the campground we set on the switch for the water heater,so we will had all day long hot water, and at nigth too.during the day my wife turn to the microwave.

My rig, 2003 Pace Arrow 8.1 Vortec
dinkie0720 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2011, 08:07 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Jack1234's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
Dinkie...your switch would appear to be the same as ours "except" when we are attached to "power" (30 or 50a) the switch only controls the water heater on/off and does nothing to the microwave. According to Rexhall the switch only becomes "active" when we unplug and start using the generator.

My question is "why" can my 7500w generator power both my AC units at he same time while 30a power cannot..... yet 30a power can handle the heater & the micro at the same time while the 7500w generator cannot..... This does not seem logical to me. (have not yet had the opportunity to test the switch with the generator to see if Rexhall is correct or just blowing smoke!)

Cheers
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
Jack1234 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2011, 09:42 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
sparkydog's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 436
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
The brand and model of water heater would also be a good clue - very few have dual elements. I'm not aware of any in recent production, but I could be wrong.
I think the confusion about two elements is because I have Aqua Hot. It states that there are two 2000 watt elements, but you can only use both if on generator or 50amp service only. My rig is 2008 HR Imperial.
__________________
Gary & Janet
'12 American Eagle
'06 Jeep Wrangler
sparkydog is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
heater, water



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Small leak in the water pump / water heater compartment David K Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 10 03-01-2011 06:26 PM
Electric Water Heater Switch mikeyj67 Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 12 03-29-2009 12:04 AM
Water heater electric heater replacement dirko Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 5 10-20-2005 09:53 AM
water heater bypass confusion ottersea Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 2 10-13-2005 07:00 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.