suburban SW12DE Hot Water Heater

[cobramustang]

I have a problem that I can't fix. I have a suburban SW12DE hot water heater. Had to replace the element again for the second time. When everything hook up and installed I get nothing on the two contacts on the element. I should be getting 120 Volts across the two contacts on the element. When I take off the two wires that goes to the element I get about 10 volts. I can't find a short anywhere. The RV is a 2009 Cardinal 30TS. Can it be the module board that has gone bad. Any help would be appreciated

[paz]

With the heating element disconnected and the water heater electric heat switch on, you should get a reading of 110-120V across the wires that go to the heating element. With the element connected, I think you should get a very low voltage reading across the terminals since you are only reading the voltage drop across the element or across the circuit leading to the element. This could easily be near zero depending on what range you select on your volt meter.

I'm not sure why you get only 10V with the element disconnected, but I would start by checking the element itself. With the element disconnected, you should get a resistance reading across the terminals of the heater element. The resistance depends on the wattage of the heater, but I think it should be in the range of 10 ohms. If the resistance is near zero, then there is a short in the element. If the resistance is infinite, then the element is burned out.

[RV Wizard]

If you are putting the volt meter in series with the heating element you probably will only see 10 volts. This could be figured out by using Ohms law. If you are checking to see if there is sufficient voltage to operate the heating element you need to check the voltage across the two terminals on the element. You should read some where in 110-130 volts ac. If you have this voltage then it should be heating if the element is good. If you have a clamp on amp meter it could check the amperage of the element to verify that it is good or not. Be very careful when working with electricity. Do not perform testing barefooted on wet ground!

[cobramustang]

I have found the problem with my hot water heater. We move some wiring and I had a short in the connection box. Hard to get to but I managed to and the dang thing is working just fine now. Thanks for all the replies.