Hot Water Heater Electric Switch

[awolsmith]

Hey my helpful National Motorhome Friends. I was told I have an electric and gas hot water heater in my 03 Tradewinds. But the switch under my sink that I was told turns on the electric element turns red but doesn't seem to keep the water in the heater very warm. Does anybody out there have this same switch and does it work as well as the propane element? Thanks everybody you have been very helpful on everything else.

[Rook]

In my coach, I have a 6 gal water heater tank, and that's pretty skinny (limited) when taking a shower. So, I keep the electric element on all the time and that provides enough hot water for routine things like dish washing. When I shower, I kick in the propane heater to make the water hotter and that lasts through my shower......works for me. Rook

[beepaj]

So THAT'S what that switch is for
Couldn't figure it out

[viper]

If the switch is OK,and you still have cooler hot water, you most likely have thermostats on the tank and they could be failing to allow the water to get hot enough. Suggest checking the stats.

[awolsmith]

Well I was told that was what the switch did, but maybe it's just a very dim night light?

[MikeandRuth]

In our '03 Tradewinds LTC, the AC switch is on the left side of the cabinet above the bathroom sink.
The attached red lamp illuminates when activated. We are full timers and only use the propane option as a supplement if we want extra hot water in a hurry! If you don't think it is working, perhaps the element is dead or there is a bad connection. Get your volt meter out and check the connections on the element in the tank for continuity. They are easy to get at right under the tank cover on the side of your coach.

[wa8yxm]

If your water is not getting hot enough, Yes, it is possible the T-Stats need replacing but much higher on the hit parade are SUE's. we all do SUEs (Stupid User Errors) Here are 2 or 3 that give you cool hot water.

1: My House as a 3 valve water heater byass. Used when winterizing, if I forget to CLOSE the bypass valve.. I get rather cool water out of it (Since the cold water flows via the bypass to the hot side)

2 (And 3) 2 is the outside shower.. Many are the people who have cut off the water flow at the shower head and left both hot and cold valves open allowing it to function like the bypass up above (3 is the indoor shower, same thing).

[hydro45640]

On my 2002 Dolphin 5355, I had to turn on the electric heater switch located on the back side of the water heater I never have to turn on the LP gas, the water is hot enough to nearly burn you.

[dwhit]

The two-sided-tape on my thermostat came loose allowing for space between the thermostat and the tank...boiling water out the pressure valve clue'd-me-in...I adjusted the thermostat for hot water we liked. The 6 gallon tank will last both of us using the shut-off feature on the shower head.

[mike9999]

On my 2001 dolphin I have the same setup. When I first got the MH the electric heater didn't work. I assumed the element was bad. I eventually got around to checking it out and it turns out there was a circuit breaker on the electric box mounted on the tank that was tripped. Have to use a pencil or small wooden dowel to reset it since it's deep in the box in a hole.

[awolsmith]

Mike was the fuse you spoke of under the sink cabinet, so the back side of the hot water heater or in the outside door where the drain plug is?

[greg6746]

Bad electrical element. Mine did the same thing. Replaced element...... all is good. Careful to NOT have switch on if water tank is empty. You will have to repeat the process again.

[HRS]

If the switch is left on for a long time with out water moving through the system i.e. Hooked up to water or the water pump on the tank can go dry and the electric heating element will burn out. This happened to me. To check the heating element disconnect and check the terminals of the element with a meter. It should show resistance. If it show an open condition you need to replace the element. Hope that this helps.