water heater

[davidfrafaly]

Need help. Water heater has an electrical burning smell when operating on electric. Works fine on propane. Can't find the source of problem. Smell is inside camper. No smell outside. Looked at thermostat and element and no visible signs of arcing. Have 120 volt at element. Turned elect off until we can figure this out.

[RRman]

Check the " Electrical Box" mounted on the WH (assuming its Suburban) as the wire connectors may be loose. If you can get to your WH/see it, one screw on the outside panel holds the box in place. Once its loose, you can take the cover off the box and inspect the wiring. Wires in my box eventually shorted out, burned up the wiring to the external switch and started the WH foam insulation on fire. I rewired the WH and got rid of the box and connected directly to a residential switch I added on the inside of the RV (Got tired of replacing the chintzy external on/off Rocker Switch).

[davidfrafaly]

Thanks. Will check this out when we go back this weekend.
I am not sure the brand of the WH. We have a 2012 3100RL.