Community Forums

wbaird · 03-29-2013, 07:05 AM

It is a model GC10A-4E, and is in my 2004 American Eagle. Removed the unit, replaced a broken water hose and re-installed it. I did drain the tank and de-energize prior to making the repairs. Also, once installed, I filled the tank with water prior to energizing with electrical and gas.

I turned on the electricity, received a trouble / warning light on the electrical side, so turned the switch off. Energized with the gas side and it worked perfectly.

After several days of running the system on gas, I gave another try to heating water with the electrical side only......nada, nothing, not even the warning light.

Swapped back to gas and the unit heats water just fine.

Any ideas why the electrical side will not heat water?

Al help is appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

Wbaird

YC1 · 03-29-2013, 08:40 AM

Check the ac outlet where it should be plugged in. You did remember to plug it in? My hwh is controlled through a relay which is controlled from a wire on the control switch.

YC1 · 03-29-2013, 08:50 AM

Black box contains relay for 110 volt control.

wbaird · 03-29-2013, 09:35 AM

I did not check the relay. How does one do that with a multi meter?

JBDISCOVERY · 03-29-2013, 09:50 AM

We have an Atwood heater in our Discovery, and on the AC side there is no relay. We have an AC switch in the bathroom which when turned on, and AC is present, the heater temp control switches the electric on and off to the heater element. The DC side does have a relay which activates when the AC is off. If you have a relay, you should be able to hear it operate when you turn on the water heater at your main panel.
Check to see if a AC breaker has tripped and also check the lead on the AC heater element with a multimeter to see if the element is open.
Good luck.
JimB

wbaird · 03-29-2013, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBDISCOVERY

We have an Atwood heater in our Discovery, and on the AC side there is no relay. We have an AC switch in the bathroom which when turned on, and AC is present, the heater temp control switches the electric on and off to the heater element. The DC side does have a relay which activates when the AC is off. If you have a relay, you should be able to hear it operate when you turn on the water heater at your main panel.
Check to see if a AC breaker has tripped and also check the lead on the AC heater element with a multimeter to see if the element is open.
Good luck.
JimB

I checked the main 15 amp breaker and it is good. i need to check the electric heating element so ensure it is good. My coach also has a switch such as you described. The manual states that if numerous 12 vdc items do not operate, then the gas side will not operate neither. That being so, I am leaning towards the heating element being bad.

Think I need to remove the tank and check the element and power supply to it.

Thx

Wbaird

Skip426 · 03-29-2013, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbaird

I did not check the relay. How does one do that with a multi meter?

The yellow wire going in behind the cover in YC1s lower picture is the 12v control for the relay, the ground side is allached to the cover mount stud.
With 110 power removed, pull the cover to locate the relay, it's attached to the inside of the cover. 4 terminals in use on the relay.
12v power , yellow wire from control module . Check that you have 12v here when tank is switched to 110 , you do not have to plug in 110 power to do this. 12v ground wire, check for zero resistance, between the relay and the tank. 110 power in and out are the other terminals , with 12v supplied and good ground to the relay , resistance between these terminals should be zero.
Remember just moving the tank may have been enough to do in the 110v element in the tank, so check it for an open circuit.
Sorry I was called away when I was typing and missed your 9:07 post.