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07-25-2008, 02:12 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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The electric function of my waterheater has stopped working. The switch does not light up, and the DW noted that while washing dishes, the water went cold and didn't heat back up. The WH had been on AC heat only. I checked the breakers, the fuse on the circut board, and the thermal fuse. All seem to be in good working order. When switched to propane the heater fired up and started heating.
Any ideas on where to look?
thanks, Sarge
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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07-25-2008, 02:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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The electric function of my waterheater has stopped working. The switch does not light up, and the DW noted that while washing dishes, the water went cold and didn't heat back up. The WH had been on AC heat only. I checked the breakers, the fuse on the circut board, and the thermal fuse. All seem to be in good working order. When switched to propane the heater fired up and started heating.
Any ideas on where to look?
thanks, Sarge
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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07-25-2008, 02:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 214
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Sounds like the AC side thermostat. Besides you have checked everything else.
This is a common condition.
__________________
Prevost XLII by MILLENIUM
2017 AGILE SS 4x4
Toad or Trailer or both
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07-25-2008, 03:51 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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I am trying to track that down, but not sure where to look. The element is in the back of the WH. Is that where the thermostat would be as well?
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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07-25-2008, 10:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Santa Clarita, CA.
Posts: 2,644
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You have to take that little access plate on the bottor off, but you can look the element with an ohm meter to see if it's open (might want to pull shore power just in case). Mine went out early on. Maybe the swx lamp burned out at the same time?
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Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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07-26-2008, 02:38 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 225
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I had the same type of problem on a Atwood heater. On the back of my heater was a small switch. I could just barely get my hand back there to try tripping the switch and found the toggle on the switch would not move. I ended up removing the water heater and found the switch melted inside the housing. Replacing the switch fixed the problem. At that time I posted online what I had found and heard back from several others they had switches that had also melted.
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https://www.bbrv.dreamstation.com
2000 Itasca 35U
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07-26-2008, 06:13 AM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,678
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The AC mode heat element and thermostat are on the back side of the heater. There is also a switch there and some models have a built-in circuit breaker that may have tripped. Look for a little red button to push in.
The heater element may have burned out.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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07-26-2008, 12:43 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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Thanks everyone, that will give me a place to start. I just pulled into Interior SD, at the Badlands National Park. I'm sure finding a heating element here will be a challenge......
Maybe I'll get lucky and it's just a switch. I'll let you know what I find out.
Sarge
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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07-27-2008, 01:17 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Gardiner, NY USA
Posts: 736
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Sarge,
Any hardware store should carry elements the homes ones will work as well. Just make sure they are the screw in type and match the connections with your current one.
__________________
Lenny and Chrissy
2 Boys & My Pups
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07-27-2008, 01:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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Hey thanks Lenny! I haven't tried to chase the heating element yet. It's hotter than heck here right now, and humid to boot. I just have to figure out how to get to the back of the WH. Can I do it without pulling it out?? I hope so. But thanks for the heads up about the element. It will cut down on the chasing around i'm sure.
Sarge
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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07-27-2008, 02:14 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Gardiner, NY USA
Posts: 736
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No problem. You can sometimes get to the element depending on your access to the rear and how they mounted it. Remember to drain all the water out and turn off all power to the unit. Have allot of towels if you try to replace the elemnt without removing the WH. Sometimes it is easier just to remove the WH.
Oh, I almost forgot, make sure the unit is filled with water befor the element is turned on because it takes 10 seconds for it to burn out if it is not submerged.
__________________
Lenny and Chrissy
2 Boys & My Pups
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07-27-2008, 02:40 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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All good points that I probably knew already, but I sure don't mind being reminded. It could prevent making a inconveinient situation a whole lot worse!
Sarge
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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07-27-2008, 03:54 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Country Coach Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 7,902
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Sarge:
Your heating element is probably fine. I had the same problem as you describe and it was the little switch on the back of the water heater. Since we have a switch inside the rig that provides AC power to the water heater, my RV mechanic just removed the switch at the water heater and bypassed it. That fixed the problem.
I could remove a panel right under the heater and reach inside and reset the switch. But after one heating cycle, it would trip again.
__________________
2007 Country Coach Allure Siskiyou Summit, sold/traded Nov. 2018.
2019 Grand Designs 384GK-R 5th wheel. Glen Allen, VA
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07-27-2008, 06:18 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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Wow, good info, I hope I get as lucky. I will crawl under tomorrow and see if I can find a panel to take off. The inside switch lights up when the power is turned on. I did note that I tried to turn it on a few days before and it didn't light up. A few minutes later the wife tried it and it worked. Hopefully it will be a bad switch.
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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