water heater smoking?

[davidfrafaly]

When I turn on the electric water heater there is smoke coming from the elect junction box. Assume a loose wire connection. Cannot figure how to access.
3100RL. WH is under Kit cabinets. cannot access from under the sink. to much stuff (furnace, pipes, wires, vents) in the way from basement..... What is difficulty of "pulling" WH out far enough outside to access JB? Thanks.

[jcurtis934]

Should be enough slack in all its connections (12vdc, 120vac, and water) to allow it to be pulled out for access to the box. On mine the application of 120vac power to the unit happens by 12vdc to a relay which is also in the 120vac junction box...so it may be that instead, but issues talked about by other moc members not lack of quality work in the wiring.

[davidfrafaly]

Thank you. by pulling the drawers out I was able to see both the relay and 120 volt wiring compartment. definitely the 120v JB. Just cant reach it through the drawer. the relay is easily accessible. will look for you tube video of pulling the water heater.

thanks.

[rohrmann]

To pull the water heater out far enough to access the junction box, you remove the outer trim ring, then remove the screws that hold the unit to the perimeter of the wall, and the electrical and water should be OK to move it out far enough, but the propane line may not have the slack needed. That may need to be disconnected before pulling the water heater out.

[WeBeFulltime]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

To pull the water heater out far enough to access the junction box, you remove the outer trim ring, then remove the screws that hold the unit to the perimeter of the wall, and the electrical and water should be OK to move it out far enough, but the propane line may not have the slack needed. That may need to be disconnected before pulling the water heater out.

This is correct and actually pretty easy. I had the same problem and it was the neutral wire. I remade all connections while I had it out. Make sure to have the power off before working on it.

[davidfrafaly]

thanks for replies. I had service tech come to our site and pull WH and we found the neutral wire connection was loose. Wires had melted back about 3 inches. Able to get enough slack and make repairs. Glad to be back to normal.

[katdon]

We had similar problems, smelling burning. The electrical relay on the outside of the tank was burned. RV Tech replaced the relay but within 2 weeks it was gone again. Same problem, burned wires. Taking it to the rv tech after our first campout post covid. Still works fine on propane. Also no moving during the second relay failure. We were in place in Arizona. There was a thread about this problem but I can't find it.

2011 Montana 33

Kath

[BB_TX]

Kath - I see this is your first post. You have replied to a 3 year old discussion. It would be much better to start a new thread about your problem.