Replacement of Suburban water heater...

Suburban has 2 models of 120 dsi water heaters. Your OLD unit has the 12 volt activated 120 relay that that white wire was connected to the orange. The white should have 12 volts when you turn the inside 120 water heater switch ON. Your new unit, does NOT have the relay and was the older style that had direct 120 to the water heater. You had to have either a 120 rated inside wall switch to turn it ON or use the outside On/Off switch below the gas valve. Look at this link and determine which model you have. DE or DEL. Doug

https://suburbanrv.com/files/product_documents/Water%20Heater%20Controls/Tank%20Water%20Heater%20101121.pdf

Thank you for the schematics/owners manual...

Thanks for the tip...
Here is the photo link:

Your pictures

Here is the Suburban manual. Maybe page 11 figures 10 and 11 will help understand the wiring.

Suburban manual

^ I don't see a pic. Just google rv.net photoposting for an easy to follow link.

I think I may have edited my post to include a url of the photo's I took.
Thank you for your reply sir!...

I replaced mine a couple of years ago and if I remember some wire colors did not match, but I took photos before I disconnected anything. I doubt I still have the photos, but if I do I will edit this blog and try to send you the pics if you need them. I have a 10 gal elect/propane. Is yours the same?