Atwood Water Heater still trips CB new element new CB

[Jlfulcherjr]

Changed water heater element, installed new CB , still trips CB … lights dim right before it trips. Works great on propane but electric trips breaker.

[Old-Biscuit]

Lets start with Model of your Atwood?

Lights dim then CB trips I am going to take it you have a 'newer' model that uses 12VDC for control of both gas & electric functions

When you changed the Element did you inspect the 120VAC wire connections on the DC Relay?
*Sounds like DC Relay is causing lights to dim and AC wiring at Relay causing Circuit Breaker to trip

[HaloThere]

Well... maybe the CB is weak and needs replacing?

Wait for Old-Biscuit to chime in. Maybe he can tell you what to do next?

Maybe your ECO Thermostat is shorting at the tank? ...I just don't know if this would trip a 120V breaker inside your coach since this is all on the 12V side and your Atwood ignition control module manages all the switching/safety on the DC side.

On the AC side of the hot water heater, there is nothing but the Intelletec 620 EMS board that may come into play. IDK. We are still fishing, right?

May I suggest you open your mains circuit panel and visually inspect your EMS-620 Load Shedder circuit board... and run your fingers over the row of resistors. ...If they crumble you just found your problem.

In this case, just remove the board an replace with high wattage resistors; and/or take the board to any old school TV/CB repair shop. (See last picture for burned resistors.)

[Gary RVRoamer]

With a new element and new breaker, the only thing left is a short somewhere. Maybe a high resistance short, so you have time to notice the high amp drain (lights dim) before the actual CB trip.


You should have constant 120v power from the CB to the 12v relay at the heater. With the heater element turned off (relay open), does the breaker trip anyway? If so, short is between breaker & relay. If not, short is between relay and element, including both of those components themselves.

[HaloThere]

Gone Fishing: ...Just saying, I know my Intelletec 620 EMS (load shedder) circuit board will drop the 120V to the heating element.

That said, I'm asking: Can bad resistors on this 620 load shedder board create noise on the 120V+ wire to the heating element... and trip the GFI?

If not: At least all who have read this thread know a little more about the functions of this Inteletec 620 Load Shedder board/function that if not well understood or discussed.

[dons2346]

Can't really tell but it looks like you might have let the smoke out of resistor 11. The board is really dirty compared to the areas around other components.
Those 4 resistors are in series so something isn't working

[Jlfulcherjr]

Atwood 20 gal WH,New CB exact replacement…New element, exact replacement. New WH relay .Still trips breaker propane works great. 2014 Fleetwood Discovery 40g

[Old-Biscuit]

Disconnect 120VAC wire FROM relay......reset CB
Turn WH on electric........does CB Trip?
YES-----short in hot wire to Relay

NO----
Disconnect Hot wire to element
Turn WH on electric....does CB Trip?
YES......short in Hot wire from relay

NO....
OPEN the CB
Check continuity between white wire terminal and element flange
Got continuity.......element is shorting (bad rubber gasket/flange making contact with tank???)