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03-18-2016, 05:28 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Washington
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #12274
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Water heater switch
There is an on-off switch on my water heater which looks like it cuts electrical power when heating with electricity. It's gone faulty for the second time.
Do I really NEED this switch? There's a breaker in the cabin if I need to shut the WH off (and I won't get wet if it's raining). I'd like to bypass the switch if it isn't needed for anything.
Opinions?
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03-19-2016, 02:02 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Yes, you can bypass this switch as it is only necessary when a camper does not also have an inside switch. Make sure the power is OFF when you do the job!
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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03-19-2016, 02:05 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Only time ours has ever been touched was when we took it home the first time. Switch has been on ever since.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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03-19-2016, 03:57 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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we have bypassed on two of our rigs. We also always leave ours on and control from the wall switch.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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03-19-2016, 04:40 AM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Fowler
Posts: 414
M.O.C. #12748
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Mine melted, bypassed it and works fine. Use the inside switch on the panel or the breaker when I want to shut it off.
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03-26-2016, 03:49 PM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Washington
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #12274
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Thanks, all. Bypassing the switch is on my to-do list.
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03-27-2016, 02:08 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Brookings
Posts: 313
M.O.C. #18275
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Just installed a lighted switch for the water heater yesterday for the inside. That way I can leave the little black switch on all the time on the outside and just control it on the inside. Done this mod on 2 previous 5ver's and has always worked with no problems with the switch.
__________________
2018 Montana HC 330RL
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06-26-2021, 06:57 AM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #29036
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2002 fifth water heater
where is my switch for the gas water heater ? I have looked every where in the cabin and there is a [ looks like a white switch ] on the wall near the steps going to the bathroom. can some one help us, first timers with a Montana.
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06-26-2021, 08:16 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
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Mine is a 2006 so maybe similar to yours. The white switch going up the stairs on mine serves two functions. The forward switch is for the on board water pump. The switch to the left of it is for gas operation of the water heater. The switch to control electric heating of water is outside toward the bottom on the face of the water heater. Black rocker switch almost hidden by the gas line. We use both gas and electric at the same time when back to back showers are needed.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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06-26-2021, 08:35 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
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What year and model of Montana do you have? Answering these types of questions is easier (and tend to be more correct) when we know the specifics. I am guessing, from your MOC id, you have a 2002 Montana. Most of them had the gas water heater switch on the panel with all the other switches (lights, slides, etc.). But if you have a rear kitchen, I remember they put the switch, along with the water pump switch, near the sink, under the counter.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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06-26-2021, 10:16 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
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Quote:
Originally Posted by montana2002
where is my switch for the gas water heater ? I have looked every where in the cabin and there is a [ looks like a white switch ] on the wall near the steps going to the bathroom. can some one help us, first timers with a Montana.
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My 2007 had a switch inside for the water heater on gas. But no inside switch for electric. For electric I had to go outside, remove the grill over the W/H, and turn on the little black switch down in the bottom left hand corner of the water heater.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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06-26-2021, 11:46 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2020
Location: UPLAND
Posts: 1,252
M.O.C. #26190
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Quote:
Originally Posted by montana2002
where is my switch for the gas water heater ? I have looked every where in the cabin and there is a [ looks like a white switch ] on the wall near the steps going to the bathroom. can some one help us, first timers with a Montana.
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The outside switch is hidden here.
__________________
2019 Keystone Montana 3560RL, 2020 Chevy 2500 HD, Firestone airbags, Air Lift wireless compressor, Curt gooseneck, 20K Reese Goosebox, TST-507, USMC combat vet & retired LEO. Robert, Anika, Breanna, Dylan (daughter-in-law Stephanie). & our Great Pyrenees Layla
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06-26-2021, 04:47 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Livingston
Posts: 350
M.O.C. #12009
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The worst thing about that switch is it's an interior switch, they are worth about $1.00. Yes bypass!
Quote:
Originally Posted by treadaway
There is an on-off switch on my water heater which looks like it cuts electrical power when heating with electricity. It's gone faulty for the second time.
Do I really NEED this switch? There's a breaker in the cabin if I need to shut the WH off (and I won't get wet if it's raining). I'd like to bypass the switch if it isn't needed for anything.
Opinions?
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__________________
2014 3850FL
2008 F350 SRW
David and Liz
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06-27-2021, 06:10 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northport
Posts: 624
M.O.C. #12724
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Pretty sure yours is like mine and the WH is on a dedicated 120V breaker. You can leave the switch on the WH on all the time and control with the breaker. Or you can do what I did and go in behind the breaker panel and cut the wire between WH and breaker. Run a wire from both sides of your cut wire to a switch you mount to your wall.
__________________
Paul Northport,AL W4XH
2013 358 RLT Mountaineer
2008 Silverado Duramax
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08-19-2021, 06:54 PM
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#15
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Bradford
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #29451
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I have a 2018 Montana, does that switch also turn on power to the inside control panel for the heater??
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08-19-2021, 11:11 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Harwood
I have a 2018 Montana, does that switch also turn on power to the inside control panel for the heater??
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Short answer = YES
The switch on the panel inside has to be ON before power is available to the rocker switch in the outside compartment.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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