Open Roads Forum

Print  |  Close

Topic: Water heater, electric heater not working

Posted By: acritzer on 03/29/17 09:06pm

Boy I hope this is the last snafu with our new trailer.
The electric side of the water heater does not work. Anything to check besides a new element? It's a suburban sw6de I think is the model.
Propane works fine.


Posted By: ktmrfs on 03/29/17 09:34pm

first, if you have a switch for the AC element inside the trailer check and make sure the switch outside in the wh is also set to ON. most of the time they are set off and you need to change it. then the inside switch will turn on the element. the inside switch is a 12V signal to a relay inside the wh control board.


2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!



Posted By: Old-Biscuit on 03/29/17 10:24pm

ktmrfs wrote:

first, if you have a switch for the AC element inside the trailer check and make sure the switch outside in the wh is also set to ON. most of the time they are set off and you need to change it. then the inside switch will turn on the element. the inside switch is a 12V signal to a relay inside the wh control board.


Not quite......

Suburban electric is a DIRECT fed from a AC Circuit Breaker to On/OFF switch to the set of t-stats then to element

(Atwood uses the 12V DC relay for AC element)

Yes..
If you have an ON/OFF switch inside RV then the OEM outside switch has to be ON also (lower left corner)

Also check that the High T-stat has not tripped.....Rubber cover in outside compartment 'Push To Reset' (if tripped you will feel resistance as you reset------Left side for AC/Right side for LP)


If switches are ON and Hi T-stat didn't trip/is reset then you should have 120V AC at element (Voltage between Black wire terminal & White wire terminal)

No voltage......turn switch OFF and measure continuity between the two terminals (Should have continuity)
And 'No Continuity' between Black wire terminal and element flange

IF tests good then remove cover over t-stats and see if 'connecting wire' between Hi and Normal t-stat has burnt in to

IF turned on without water......element burnt out

[image]


Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31


Posted By: Sam Spade on 03/30/17 06:55am

You do realize that the electric side works ONLY from 120 V AC.....right ??
And it probably needs 12 V DC for the control circuit too.


Posted By: MFL on 03/30/17 07:25am

Like usual, Old-Biscuit covered the workings very well. He also mentioned, if turned on, no water in tank, element will burn out. I always make sure to check/push outside switch to off, before draining heater. It's just too easy to forget! If you plug the trailer in, switch on, the element is toast, if tank is empty.

Jerry






Posted By: BB_TX on 03/30/17 08:10am

Various problems found by others when WH not working on electric include:

- bad heating element
- bad thermostat
- bad hi temp cutout switch
- bad on/off switch
- loose neutral wire connection in junction box on back of WH
- bad/loose wire connections else where in circuit
- tripped breaker

With a voltmeter and the schematic shown above you should be able to isolate the problem if you are comfortable troubleshooting 120 vac electric.


Posted By: ScottG on 03/30/17 10:02am

When mine wouldn't heat I just went straight to the back of the element. Voltage present and no hot water? Element bad.


Posted By: ktmrfs on 03/30/17 10:29am

Old-Biscuit wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:

first, if you have a switch for the AC element inside the trailer check and make sure the switch outside in the wh is also set to ON. most of the time they are set off and you need to change it. then the inside switch will turn on the element. the inside switch is a 12V signal to a relay inside the wh control board.


Not quite......

Suburban electric is a DIRECT fed from a AC Circuit Breaker to On/OFF switch to the set of t-stats then to element

(Atwood uses the 12V DC relay for AC element)

Yes..
If you have an ON/OFF switch inside RV then the OEM outside switch has to be ON also (lower left corner)

Also check that the High T-stat has not tripped.....Rubber cover in outside compartment 'Push To Reset' (if tripped you will feel resistance as you reset------Left side for AC/Right side for LP)


If switches are ON and Hi T-stat didn't trip/is reset then you should have 120V AC at element (Voltage between Black wire terminal & White wire terminal)

No voltage......turn switch OFF and measure continuity between the two terminals (Should have continuity)
And 'No Continuity' between Black wire terminal and element flange

IF tests good then remove cover over t-stats and see if 'connecting wire' between Hi and Normal t-stat has burnt in to

IF turned on without water......element burnt out

[image]


well on my suburban the inside the trailer switch is a 12V switch with 12V going to the WH to turn on the 120v to the WH. Likewise on several others I know with suburbans. true, the 120V feeds directly to the switch in the WH.


Posted By: acritzer on 03/30/17 11:44am

BB_TX wrote:

Various problems found by others when WH not working on electric include:

- bad heating element
- bad thermostat
- bad hi temp cutout switch
- bad on/off switch
- loose neutral wire connection in junction box on back of WH
- bad/loose wire connections else where in circuit
- tripped breaker

With a voltmeter and the schematic shown above you should be able to isolate the problem if you are comfortable troubleshooting 120 vac electric.


I'm not particularly comfortable trouble shooting electrical systems and don't eeven have a voltmeter. So, for $15 and what I think is the most likely problem I plan to replace the element today. Hopefully that's the issue.


Posted By: Sam Spade on 03/30/17 11:49am

acritzer wrote:

Hopefully that's the issue.


And if not, what will you do next ?

A voltmeter will cost you $15 or less.....and will save you MUCH more than that in wasted guesses on other things that will surely come up in the future.


Posted By: wnjj on 03/30/17 11:53am

acritzer wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

Various problems found by others when WH not working on electric include:

- bad heating element
- bad thermostat
- bad hi temp cutout switch
- bad on/off switch
- loose neutral wire connection in junction box on back of WH
- bad/loose wire connections else where in circuit
- tripped breaker

With a voltmeter and the schematic shown above you should be able to isolate the problem if you are comfortable troubleshooting 120 vac electric.


I'm not particularly comfortable trouble shooting electrical systems and don't eeven have a voltmeter. So, for $15 and what I think is the most likely problem I plan to replace the element today. Hopefully that's the issue.


The most likely is the switch is off. I assume you checked that?


Posted By: Old-Biscuit on 03/30/17 12:18pm

ktmrfs wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:

first, if you have a switch for the AC element inside the trailer check and make sure the switch outside in the wh is also set to ON. most of the time they are set off and you need to change it. then the inside switch will turn on the element. the inside switch is a 12V signal to a relay inside the wh control board.


Not quite......

Suburban electric is a DIRECT fed from a AC Circuit Breaker to On/OFF switch to the set of t-stats then to element

(Atwood uses the 12V DC relay for AC element)

Yes..
If you have an ON/OFF switch inside RV then the OEM outside switch has to be ON also (lower left corner)

Also check that the High T-stat has not tripped.....Rubber cover in outside compartment 'Push To Reset' (if tripped you will feel resistance as you reset------Left side for AC/Right side for LP)


If switches are ON and Hi T-stat didn't trip/is reset then you should have 120V AC at element (Voltage between Black wire terminal & White wire terminal)

No voltage......turn switch OFF and measure continuity between the two terminals (Should have continuity)
And 'No Continuity' between Black wire terminal and element flange

IF tests good then remove cover over t-stats and see if 'connecting wire' between Hi and Normal t-stat has burnt in to

IF turned on without water......element burnt out

[image]


well on my suburban the inside the trailer switch is a 12V switch with 12V going to the WH to turn on the 120v to the WH. Likewise on several others I know with suburbans. true, the 120V feeds directly to the switch in the WH.




That is a 'modification' by RV MFG
The RV MFG. has done that due to all in one monitoring panel plus controls for pump and WH.

Suburban OEM is 120V AC direct
Suburban doesn't use a 12V DC relay for electric.

That could be an issue for troubleshooting cause ALL Suburban 120V AC schematics will NOT show that 12V DC circuit and relay

And Keystone doesn't have schematics


Posted By: acritzer on 03/30/17 03:57pm

New heating element fixed the problem. Thx for the replies.


Posted By: westend on 03/30/17 04:34pm

acritzer wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

Various problems found by others when WH not working on electric include:

- bad heating element
- bad thermostat
- bad hi temp cutout switch
- bad on/off switch
- loose neutral wire connection in junction box on back of WH
- bad/loose wire connections else where in circuit
- tripped breaker

With a voltmeter and the schematic shown above you should be able to isolate the problem if you are comfortable troubleshooting 120 vac electric.


I'm not particularly comfortable trouble shooting electrical systems and don't eeven have a voltmeter. So, for $15 and what I think is the most likely problem I plan to replace the element today. Hopefully that's the issue.

Hopefully, that's the issue. While you are buying the element, pick up a non-contact voltage light. They are a small plastic probe affair that indicates if voltage is present with a light.


'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton


Posted By: acritzer on 03/30/17 04:37pm

westend wrote:

acritzer wrote:

BB_TX wrote:

Various problems found by others when WH not working on electric include:

- bad heating element
- bad thermostat
- bad hi temp cutout switch
- bad on/off switch
- loose neutral wire connection in junction box on back of WH
- bad/loose wire connections else where in circuit
- tripped breaker

With a voltmeter and the schematic shown above you should be able to isolate the problem if you are comfortable troubleshooting 120 vac electric.


I'm not particularly comfortable trouble shooting electrical systems and don't eeven have a voltmeter. So, for $15 and what I think is the most likely problem I plan to replace the element today. Hopefully that's the issue.

Hopefully, that's the issue. While you are buying the element, pick up a non-contact voltage light. They are a small plastic probe affair that indicates if voltage is present with a light.


You missed my update. It's all fixed. New heating element did the trick.


Posted By: ktmrfs on 03/30/17 08:06pm

here is a schematic for a suburban with the 12VDC remote switch for the 120V element. apparently it is model SWDEL
this should help those with a 12VDC switch inside the trailer. the schematics seem somewhat confusing and contradictory at first, but then I think what the show is the first schematic shows the 12V wiring, relay, spark ignitor section of the WH and the second shows the 120V wiring side.
Note the relay shown in both schematics. that's the new piece showing how the 12V circuit interfaces and controls the 120V to the WH electric element showing the 12V and 120V sides of the relay. my WH in my home built toy hauler has on the 120V w/o the relay section, while my outback has what is shown below with a relay.

[image]


Posted By: Old-Biscuit on 03/30/17 10:24pm

'ktmrfs'

THANKS!

Haven't seen that set up on Suburban.

Interesting ------DEL models Electronic Element w/ 12 volt relay


Print  |  Close