Suburban water heater trips breaker

[diandtom]

The Suburban water heater trips the breaker. We are at a campground in St. Augustine, Fl. and the voltage is 120 V. I have checked for loose connections at the fuse pannel and on the heating elemet. I am next going to check the switch on the wall. I have noticed that when the switch is on the voltage goes down to 118 V but the volt meter is not steady. I think I got a loose connection somewhere. Anymore ideas where I can look ?
Tom

[heavyequipt]

You should have a switch mounted on the tank (accessable through the coach exterior access panel).Turn the switch to the "OFF" position,then turn your inside coach switch to "ON" and note if the CB trips.(If it does not trip then you have a faulty heating element).

[diandtom]

Thanks, I will try that.
Tom

[Shadowcatche]

Check the voltage coming from the pedestal/shore power.

[diandtom]

I replaced the water heater element three weeks ago. Everything was fine until a couple days ago. I am now getting a burnt wire smell under the cabinet where the water heater is. The breaker has not tripped anymore.
Today I had a RV tech come and look at my problem. He claimed the element I put in was no good. It was making a noise when heating. Claims they should be quite. He did check the theromstat and everything looked good. He put in a Suburban element claiming they were the best and that was my problem. After he was gone about a hour the smell came back. I called him and he was here in a few min. This time he claims it the foam around the water heater causing the smell. After he left I turned the water heater on gas and the smell goes away. I think I got a bad connection somewhere. Anybody familar with how the wiring is run on a Cameo sb3 ? It looks like a small junction box on the wall past the slide, where they went from 14 ga solid wire to stranded wire so the wire can flex with the slide. The problem is I cannot figure out how to get to it and check it out.

[RV Wizard]

Tom, you definitely have some wiring burning and I highly recommend you not use the water heater on electric until you get the circuit repaired. BTW, find another technician when you need one. The heating of water can and usually does make a noise (expansion).

["007"]

Double check the wiring spade clip connection it may not be connected to spade or clip and is just push in between the plastic of the holder and element of heater.
THE CLIP HAS TO SLIDE OVER THE SPADE OF ELEMENT OR ITS GOING TO HEAT UP BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION.

[diandtom]

I agree with you Mike, I think this guy is just a parts changer. He did check the thermostat and it looked ok. There is a junction box on the wall outside the slide that I would like to check but I can't get to it. I can see it but that it. It where they went from 14 ga solid wire to stranded wire so the wire can flex with the slide. I got a good RV tech back at home and just may wait until I get back home. We are now in Crystal Beach, Florida

[Norm4015]

I have repaired three Suburban water heaters with burned up wiring. The three I repaired had an Off/On switch on the water heater and the 110 volt wiring ran through that switch to the thermostat mounted on the water heater. Due to bad connections the wiring burned up. I replaced all the wiring and soldered new spade clips on the ends.

As said above, I would not use the electric element until it is repaired.

[diandtom]

Norm, to check the off/on switch at the water heater does the water have to be removed ? What I need to know is how does the wire get from the fuse pannel to the water heater on a Cameo 35 SB3 ? The water heater is in the slide.
Tom

[Norm4015]

On the Suburban water heaters I have worked on the Off/On switch on the water heater can be removed by working a small screwdriver along the switch and popping it out. The wiring from the switch goes a few inches to the 110 volt thermostat. You get to the thermostat by removing the black rubber cover over the thermostat / resets. Surburban wires that circuit with slip on connectors and often I have found them loose and not making a good connection which causes them to overheat and burn up.

Before you work on it be sure to turn off the 110-volt circuit breaker for the water heater. I don't how your wiring is run to get to the water heater, but if the burned smell is coming from the water heater that is where you'll find the problem. Good luck and be safe.

[diandtom]

Thanks Norm, I took the switch out and it looks fine. I also brought the offdoor slide in so I could look at junction box on the wall under the the floor. It is a clear plastic box where they go from 14ga solid wire to stranded wire. It looks like it has been hot and the black wire should be copper colored but it is black. All I can do is look as I can't get to it from the top. The is a partition in the storage that is going to have to be removed. I am too big and too old and stiff to get to it, so I think I take it in to a guy that does my service when home. I am going to run the heater on gas until I can get it fixed.
Tom