Suburban sw12delc water heater

[Karlwarren]

Trying to access the water heater AC junction box that is supposed to be mounted on the side of the heater. I pulled the 2 panels inside the storage compartment next to the wet bay (2023 High country 373rd) and can barely see the heater through all the mess of wires and plumbing. Will the water heater have to be removed to get it the junction box? Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

[Daryles]

Yes, the 120vac junction box containing the relay is on the left front side of the water heater.
I believe there is enough slack in the plumbing and wiring to pull the heater out enough without disconnecting things.
Drain the tank. It makes it easier to handle. Water is heavy.

[Daryles]

Karl, in your other thread,
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...t=Water+heater
I believe you are missing the neutral return on your element. You temporarily attached it to ground (frame) and it's working.
The neutral only passes through the relay box. There is no connection in there.
I believe you need to go to the wall plug in behind the water heater.

[Karlwarren]

Can't see a wall plug anywhere, do I have to pull the water heater out to get to it?

[BB_TX]

In that mess of wiring is there a standard looking 3 wire black power cord coming from the front of the water heater area? If so try tracing that to the other end.

If no black power cord, try having someone outside at the WH try pushing/pulling that white wire thru the metal case while you watch that wiring mess inside for a wire to move. Best done with power off of course.

[Daryles]

Here's a picture of the back of my water heater. 2019 3130re.
The 120vac electrical side comes from a wall receptacle through a plug and cord to the relay box.

If yours is not easily accessible, maybe use your phone and reach back in there to look around.
With your model you may have to remove the water heater to get to the receptacle. Hopefully the plug just needs to be pushed in all the way. Another of our members found that to be the case.

[Karlwarren]

Well I found where the AC plug is for the water heater. I unplugged and repluged it in, still not working. Plugged into a 10 gauge extension cord and then into a outlet in the storage compartment and bingo it's working. The switch at the control panel still turns the heater on and off so I'm assuming that the original plug for the water heater must be bad. I hope this will be ok until I get it back to camping world.

[BB_TX]

It is likely the press connection outlet as daryles pointed out in your other thread. Those connections work ok when done well, but are too often not done well and only making marginal connections that loosen or overheat over time.

You should be fine with the extension cord. Depending on what else may be on that same circuit (may be other outlets wired to that same breaker), it’s possible you might trip that breaker if there happens to be another high current device on it. You should soon know.