No hot water

[Diesel Mech]

I am out on extended stay away from home. Haven’t used the camper in a couple years due to relationship issues and I am camping solo.
I got everything hooked up but forgot to turn the water heater bypass off. I turned on the electric heater. After I got up in the morning, I had no hot water.
That’s when I found the heater had not been filled.
The light on the switch comes on but no hot water.
I pressed both reset buttons and then tried LP. Still not working.
I was hoping that maybe it blew a fuse but can’t find the fuse box.

 

[Diesel Mech]

I did burn out the element. Got one on the way

 

[Carl n Susan]

Yup, it only takes a few seconds with power to the element and no water in the tank to fry the element. Make sure you have a socket that fits the element. I don't remember the size. It might be 1 1/4" or so.

I take it the propane side doesn't work either?

 

[RJS3791RD]

Good evening. Adding into this thread as it may be relevant. We’ve been in Florida since late October. We are on 50 amp shore power and everything has been good. Woke up this morning to “no hot water”. We have been using electric only. I immediately turned on propane option and had hot water within 15 minutes. Followed diagnostic procedure and determined element is receiving 120 volts. Measured resistance at heating element and determined element is bad. Replace element and all is well.

Note. With bad element the propane option should still function.

 

[Daryles]

FYI, there is a water heater service manual in the files section. It has the troubleshooting chart and wiring diagram.

 

[DutchmenSport]

If you have a gas / electric water heater then you should still be able to use the water heater on gas.

Second. If yours is gas / electric, you should have a second on-off switch on the outside of the water heater. If that second switch on the outside of the camper was in the "off" position, then you are still safe.

Make sure there is water in the water heater. Lift the pressure releaf valve and make sure something spits out of it.

Then, check for that second switch on the outside of the water heater and flip to the "On" position and then flip the switch inside of the camper to the "On" position.

Third, if still no heat, then flip on the gas.

If you still have no hot water, then something else is going on.

 

[RJS3791RD]

FWIW…. I have a 2022 Model Year (with InCommand) with Suburban model SW12DELC. It is a gas and/or propane unit. It does not have a switch outside at the unit.

 

[Rene T]

FWIW…. I have a 2022 Model Year (with InCommand) with Suburban model SW12DELC. It is a gas and/or propane unit. It does not have a switch outside at the unit.

You don’t have a rocker switch at the lower left hand corner of your water heater

 

[TJSkiRacer]

I have the same model, same year, already replaced the element, but still not working. Is the rocker switch moved inside on these newer models?

 

[LeftOverParts]

We have a ‘21, different model, but no rocker switch outside and as far I I know, no rocker inside.

Have you tried the reset switch above the element? If that isn’t it, you can test for 120V at the element and if you have if you have 120 there, you can remove the rubber cover and test for 120 incoming and outgoing terminals on 120 side of the reset switch. We had a situation once where the wire was shorted at the reset switch and the resulting heat damaged the reset switch and the wire. (We also recently had the same issue as the OP when I left the bypass on and burned out the element.)

If you replaced the element with one from a hardware store, those come in 120V and 240V. You want the 1400 watt or 1500 watt, 120V element.

 

[ChuckS]

If you have NO 120 volt switch outside on the suburban WH and the element is good then first place I would be looking at is the remote relay .. verify that yo7 have 12 VDC to the WH switch inside for electric mode

Remote relay operated via 12 VDC completes circuit for 120 vac to the WH thermostat and heating element

Location of remote relay is on the back left side at the top when viewed from the back ..

To get access may have to slide WH out depending on your installation

 

[TJSkiRacer]

Thanks for the tip on the relay, I haven’t pulled the water heater out to check yet since I am out on a trip right now. Is this something readily available from Amazon, or will I need to contact a dealer to order? Luckily being on the left side it might be possible to access through the cargo hold next to the convenience center too. That might be easier than sliding the unit out

 

[ChuckS]

Relay .. available from many places

Suburban Water Heater Relay 232948

Suburban Water Heater Relay 232948

pdxrvwholesale.com