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Old 10-14-2010, 02:39 PM   #1
paddler67
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water heater

my water heater stopped working on the the electric side. the water heater still works with gas. i changed the electric heating element and there was no difference. two times after towing the water heater worked on electic for for a few cycles.
any suggestions
thanks
gene

07 monty md. 3295
 
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Old 10-14-2010, 03:09 PM   #2
wingerphil
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thermostat on the electric side of mine went out, I too thought it was the element and changed it out first but still no heat so I had the thermostat changed out and that fixed it.
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Old 10-14-2010, 04:09 PM   #3
gypsies2
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Lost ours on our trip this summer. Our dealer is working on the fix now so I'll find out what went wrong when its done. Talked to a Montana owner in northern Alberta who said he had to replace his outside electric hot water heater off /on switch five times. He felt it was from the heat created when he was boon docking and using propane. I know that panel gets pretty hot when running on gas. I'll let you know what caused mine to go when I pick up our rig.
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Old 10-14-2010, 04:41 PM   #4
paddler67
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things i have tried.

1. the breaker checked good.
2. heather elec. switch check good.
3. i got 118 volts from side to side on the switch assembly. no volts up and and down on switch assembly.
4. 114 volts across heating element.
5. i was told if the heater works on gas the DC switch is working ok and if you have voltage measureing from switch to switch the AC switch is ok.
6. did an ohm check on the element w/o pulling the element and it checked ok.
7. after all these items checked ok i was told that you could have a calcium build-up on the heating element which would cause the element not to heat up. after pulling the element to inspect for calisum i replaced it. there was very little calcium on the heating element.
8. i havn't pulled the on off switch to look for loose wires.
by the way this problem started while i was parked at the monty plant.???
thanks
gene
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Old 10-14-2010, 05:48 PM   #5
MuddyPaws
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Paddler67,

The rocker switch is a total piece of crap! It's overstressed and burns out very quickly. It's possible for you to see 120V and not have it pass enough through the switch to drive the element. I replaced it 2 times and finally put a 'real' switch under the sink - something many other MOC members have done as well.

The first thing I'd be testing is the 120v thermostat circuit.

Good luck with it.
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Old 10-15-2010, 11:02 AM   #6
paddler67
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.

never thought about moving the switch.
i'm leaning towards the rocker switch.
what is involved in moving the switch to under the sink.
did you have to pull the water heater out to get to the rocker switch wiring?
thanks
gene
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Old 10-15-2010, 11:10 AM   #7
H. John Kohl
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Paddler, back by the rear wall drawers on the kitchen side there is a drop panel for viewing into the hot water heater area. You can see the 110vac wires. I have not installed the switch yet but will probably do it this winter while in Fl. I did have to replace the black outside switch on the water heater.
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Old 10-15-2010, 01:14 PM   #8
paddler67
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.

i may have a bad black switch

the 120.0 volt switch assembly checked good, 116.0 volts top and bottom. turned electric switch off to recheck and had no voltage on the switch assembly. turned the (black rocker switch) electric switch back on and had no voltage on the switch assembly. after turning black switch off and on several times i did get a voltage reading on the switch assembly.
dark in va. will pull black switch later.

thanks
gene

07 md. 3295- wet bolts, 5.5 kw lp gen., disc brakes, trailair hitch.
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Old 10-16-2010, 02:09 AM   #9
jimcol
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Paddler, You may already know this but I'll throw it out anyway. If the switch is marginal it can check good but put under a load for a few minutes can make it bad. In other words as the heater is running and pulling current through the switch it might go open. Jim
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Old 10-17-2010, 03:59 PM   #10
paddler67
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didn't know a switch could check good and be bad.
pulled the black rocker switch out and could see burned color on one side of switch. rigged up a switch and the heater has cycled on and off all day.
we have an 07 md. 3295 5ver.
i would like to install a switch( to replace the black rocker switch ) inside of trailer but couldn't see how to get the wires to the inside. one wire from the black rocker switch is going up to the 120 v start/hi-limit switch assembly but i could determind where the other black wire was coming from. i tried looking thru the door in the kitchen but couldn't see the other wire to the black rocker switch.
thanks to all moc members.
paddler.
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Old 10-17-2010, 04:36 PM   #11
H. John Kohl
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Gene,
If you will check my upper post I described how to get access to the 110 that supplies the power to the heater. I would replace that switch and then install a proper 110 switch in the rear kitchen area. I will do that in the next couple of weeks.
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Old 10-19-2010, 10:22 PM   #12
Freeda II
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Thanks guys. I guess I also have a project waiting for me in FL January
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