Forum Discussion

Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Jan 01, 2014

Gas/electric water heater switchover?

OK - I searched, and came up with nothing.....

When we purchased our Keystone Laredo, the woman who owned it said something about it having a dual-heat water heater; something she hadn't been aware of until quite late in ownership. I *think* she said that the rocker switch has to be "on" for gas, and "off" for electric? (even though that seems counter-intuitive for an electrical switch?) When I looked behind the panel that covers the water heater compartment - ALL I see is a rocker switch that says either on or off.

Did I remember that correctly?

I'm assuming the red button near the kitchen sink turns the heater on no matter which source it uses?
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jan 01, 2014
    Suburban WH?

    One ON/OFF switch with light on panel inside?

    IF yes........
    The On/Off with light is for propane operation
    The On/Off Rocker switch located in outside compartment is for 110V AC electric heat element.

    If light stays on...'fault' has occurred
    If on propane either the man flame failed to light/main flame didn't prove lit OR ECO (high temp t-stat) has operated (opened)
    If on electric.....ECO has operated (opened)
    ECO has reset..push on rubber button cover to reset 110V t-stats on left, 12vDC for propane on right.
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Jan 01, 2014
    The two heater are separate systems completely. They can work separately or in parallel. The switch inside is most likely for the gas system only. The switch outside behind the WH cover is for the electric side, but some RV's have a duplicate switch inside for the electric side. Depends how yours was done....
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Jan 01, 2014
    2oldman wrote:
    The rocker in the WH itself is On/Off electric. The red button is likely the gas on/off.


    This is correct. You won't need to use the switch inside to run electric heat. You can run both electric and propane at the same time if you want, to heat water faster.

    Never leave the electric switch to on, if you drain the WH. If plugged in, electric on, no water in heater, will burn out heater element.

    Jerry
  • shadoow's avatar
    shadoow
    Explorer
    Jan 01, 2014
    On our water heater the switch behind the outside cover is used to turn on the electric portion of the heater. There's also a breaker in the breaker/fuse panel that must be on for the electric portion to work. For gas operation we have a rocker type switch inside on the same panel as the controls for the slides, tank level lights, awning, etc. We have a different trailer than you so your control locations are probably different. Anyway, we just push that switch for gas operation.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jan 01, 2014
    The rocker in the WH itself is On/Off electric. The red button is likely the gas on/off.

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