Community Forums

awolsmith · 04-24-2016, 10:25 AM

We are finally full time RV'ers and still haven't figured out what the switch on the right does. The red light comes on so it is wired up, I thought hot water heater switch for electric but can't confirm that. Anybody else got one in their National Tradewinds?

dons2346 · 04-24-2016, 10:27 AM

Water heater switch

mike9999 · 04-24-2016, 10:29 AM

On my dolphin it is the electric element in the water heater. When I first got the MH it didn't work. Turns out there is a breaker on the waterheater itself that was tripped. Hard to find. Inside the electric box on the water heater. Need to use a small dowel or pencil to push in t0 reset it. I took it apart before I found it.

awolsmith · 04-24-2016, 10:49 PM

Mike, does the water heater on electric heat just as fast. I guess I could not use the propane for a day then try flipping the switch on to see if it heats up the water. Where can I look for this hard to reach fuse?

mike9999 · 04-25-2016, 02:26 PM

I'd say the electric is about as fast as propane to heat up (I've never actually timed it).

I first tested mine when the gas had been off and the tank was cold. I turned the electric and it never warmed up.

My water tank is under the sink. there is an access hole but it's hard to get at. I removed a small wooden panel and was able to get to the back of the water heater tank. There is a electric box that the wires go into. There is a small hole in that box. I can reset the the breaker by using the eraser end of a wooden pencil and just pushing it back in. This assumes yours is the same setup. I was expecting to have to test the element and possibly replace it but all I had to do was reset the breaker. It has worked great for 6 years.

blang · 04-25-2016, 02:42 PM

Awolsmith,
Just to add a tidbit... using the electric and propane at the same time will give you quick recovery if someone has a habit of using more than their fair share of hot water.

awolsmith · 04-27-2016, 07:26 PM

Mike, I opened up the cabinet and found this. looks like it will take that pencil just fine but didn't want to go poking around in something that could make things worse.

vsheetz · 04-27-2016, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blang

Awolsmith,
Just to add a tidbit... using the electric and propane at the same time will give you quick recovery if someone has a habit of using more than their fair share of hot water.

Yup. Do this in our trailer. Heats up pretty quick.

mike9999 · 04-29-2016, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awolsmith

Mike, I opened up the cabinet and found this. looks like it will take that pencil just fine but didn't want to go poking around in something that could make things worse.

That doesn't look exactly like I remember. Unfortunately my coach is 2000 miles away and I won't be there for another month so I can't check. I thought the reset hole for the circuit breaker was round. There was a rectangular hole like you show that actually had a rocker switch in it to turn the power off. That switch had actually burned up and I took it out of the circuit since the switch under the sink does the same controls the power. I;ve worked with 110V power a lot so if it was me I would make sure all 110V power was disconnected (unplug from park power and inverter off) and then take the cover off the box so I could use a meter to check if there is power to the heating element. If you aren't comfortable working on electrical things I would recommend getting someone who is to take a look. Sorry I can't provide any more details.

awolsmith · 04-29-2016, 10:16 PM

Thanks Mike I will shut the power down and open up the box. I found a diagram in the manuals for the Atwood 10 gal WH. It shows a switch in there and states to use an eraser on the end of the pencil to push on it with power off to reset the temp sensor.