casperboy77
Batavia, NY
New Member
Joined: 07/03/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
When I bought my travel trailer (used) from a reputable dealer I was shown almost everything about my camper. When I went on my first camping trip I discovered a switch under one of the benches that I cannot figure out what it does. Seeing that it goes to the hot water tank my guess is that it heats the hot water tank without using the propane.
In the first picture I know what those switches are. When I turn on the hot water heater I get hot water and it works perfecty. Now when I turn that switch off and run the hot water until the hot water gets cold and the turn on the switch under the bench to what I presume is electrical hot water and wait a few minutes, I don't get hot water. The only thing I didn't try was waiting for an hour or so. Unless the electric is extremely slow compared to gas hot water. But I did wait quite a long time and never even got warm water. I hope these pictures will help me explain. Thanks for any help.
|
KMx2
Gilbert, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 04/01/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Isn't that the ejection seat switch...
Have you tested it to see if it is powered? Seems odd to have two electric HW heater switches, unless one is bad or the PO just didn't like where is was located and added the 2nd. Is one 12V and one for shore power? I don't have any of those on mine so I'm just throwing out ideas.
Kevin, Kim and Mason
2007 Chevy Silverado Z71 Vortec Max
2007 Shamrock 233
2010 Nights camped- 13 +1 driveway
2011 Nights camped- 8
|
DandSW
West Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 10/06/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
It appears you have a gas/electric water heater....the switch in the first picture is for gas and the one in the second picture would be the electric element. In use, you can run either one or both to heat water.
Dave
2010 Newmar CS3647 / 2010 Ford Escape
 (100x78).jpg)
|
rvsatek
AZ, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
That switch is for the electric heating element on the water heater. It should heat the water in about 30 minutes. If it doesn't, check your ac breakers. If they are good, then your element may be burned out.
Larry
1994 Ford F250/7.5L/410 gears
2001 Keystone Sprinter 276RLS 14' slide
|
mister_d
Southeast, MI - hardly qualified to be a
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2006
View Profile
|
I'm def not a pro but my guess would be that in fact it is for your electric water heater. It takes longer to heat the water that way and never gets as hot IMO but when hooked to electric it's free at least. Several ppl will leave it on electric and then switch the propane on before taking showers.
You have to be very careful with it though. Turning it on without water in the heater will burn it up very quickly. Perhaps if yours isn't working that's the case.
2011 F150 4x4 Ecoboost 6.5 SCREW 3.73 Max Tow
2011 Lacrosse 296BHS video tour
Me '77
DW '78
DD '04
DS '07
Maximus (slobbering camping buddy)
|
|
|
gates59
Sudbury Ontario
Full Member
Joined: 08/03/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
mister_d wrote:I'm def not a pro but my guess would be that in fact it is for your electric water heater. It takes longer to heat the water that way and never gets as hot IMO but when hooked to electric it's free at least. Several ppl will leave it on electric and then switch the propane on before taking showers.
You have to be very careful with it though. Turning it on without water in the heater will burn it up very quickly. Perhaps if yours isn't working that's the case.
Well on my rv the electric hot water tank is realy hot. Might even be hotter than gas. Does take a little longer to heat thought. I wish I know how to add a switch on the inside like this guy. Mine in on the outside and no wire to attach one too. Switch is direct on the element.
|
DandSW
West Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 10/06/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
casperboy77 wrote:The only thing I didn't try was waiting for an hour or so. Unless the electric is extremely slow compared to gas hot water.
Upon rereading your post, it appears you know the second switch is for the electric element but are wondering why it doesn't work or seem to work. If you are starting with a cold tank, on electric only, it will take some time to warm-up. After 1/2 to 1 hour however, it should be hot and if it isn't I would suspect a burned out element.
|
bdpreece
Woodburn Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 05/27/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Probably is for the electric hot water. Most likely since it does not provide hot water the element is burned out. The element will burn out in as little as 20 seconds if the switch was turned on when the tank did not have any water in it.
Brian & Loretta
2008 Holiday Rambler Endeavor PDQ40
2008 Ford Explorer toad
|
Chuck_S
Broadview Hts, OH, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/15/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
20 seconds? Try 2! 
This is what RV dealers call a "high demand" part. They have plenty on the shelf. Or so I'm told! 
-- Chuck
'06 Roo 23SS behind '07 Expedition out of Cleveland
Our Photo pages
|
mister_d
Southeast, MI - hardly qualified to be a
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2006
View Profile
|
gates59 wrote:mister_d wrote:I'm def not a pro but my guess would be that in fact it is for your electric water heater. It takes longer to heat the water that way and never gets as hot IMO but when hooked to electric it's free at least. Several ppl will leave it on electric and then switch the propane on before taking showers.
You have to be very careful with it though. Turning it on without water in the heater will burn it up very quickly. Perhaps if yours isn't working that's the case.
Well on my rv the electric hot water tank is realy hot. Might even be hotter than gas. Does take a little longer to heat thought. I wish I know how to add a switch on the inside like this guy. Mine in on the outside and no wire to attach one too. Switch is direct on the element.
I wish ours would get that hot): When I saw his pic I was thinking how I was glad we didn't have one on the inside because of my kids and their desire to flip switches on and off.
|
|
|
