I've got an intermittent AC outside switch on the Suburban Water heater and the original had the little spring clip to help avoid inadvertently turning on the water heater switch accidentally. In my search I have found that the original switch was part # 232362 which seems to have been replaced by part number 232259. It appears that the new switch doesn't have the hole in the rocker for the spring clip. Anyone happen to know what the new switch provides that the old one didn't?

My guess is that the "new" switch w/o the hole is just a cheaper of the shelf part. FWIW, there's nothing special about the switch. You can go to any HW store and get one that will work fine. It's a simple SPST switch.

Or...go to hardware store and buy a lighted household switch(a switch with a separate red light in it) and wire the water heater to that. Switch on....light...heater on. Switch off....light off....and heater off.

You may want to just drill a hole in the rocker arm so it functions like the old one.

I got a switch from Ace Hardware and installed it more conventionally! That is bottom in and it is off. Top in and it is on. This is the reverse of how the OEM switch is installed. No hole for the clip.If your switch is getting hard to switch, then the spring loaded rocker end piece is melting and you should replace it ASP, before it becomes intermittent.Chris

Jumper out the switch so it (heater) is always on. Turn on and off the curcuit breaker as needed. No big deal, and you don't have to go outside to do so.

Suburban Water Heater AC switch at the water heater

ScottG
Nomad
Jun 02, 2014
My guess is that the "new" switch w/o the hole is just a cheaper of the shelf part.
FWIW, there's nothing special about the switch. You can go to any HW store and get one that will work fine. It's a simple SPST switch.
cpaulsen
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Or...go to hardware store and buy a lighted household switch(a switch with a separate red light in it) and wire the water heater to that. Switch on....light...heater on. Switch off....light off....and heater off.
golf_bears
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
You may want to just drill a hole in the rocker arm so it functions like the old one.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jun 03, 2014
I got a switch from Ace Hardware and installed it more conventionally! That is bottom in and it is off. Top in and it is on. This is the reverse of how the OEM switch is installed. No hole for the clip.

If your switch is getting hard to switch, then the spring loaded rocker end piece is melting and you should replace it ASP, before it becomes intermittent.

Chris
aruba5er
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Jumper out the switch so it (heater) is always on. Turn on and off the curcuit breaker as needed. No big deal, and you don't have to go outside to do so.
MrVan
Explorer
Jun 03, 2014
Thanks for the comments do far. I also sent an email to Suburban yesterday and they responded that there is no difference in the switch other than no hole drilled in the rocker. This change occurred when they changed vendors for the heating element. Not sure what was changed on that!
diesel_man_03
Explorer
Jun 04, 2014
Agree with aruba5er.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2014
Now that the issue is resolved, you can drill a hole in it if that is what you would prefer.

As far as wiring the switch permanently on, my manufacturer cheaped out and the fifth wheel does not have a switch inside for the electrical portion of the water heater.
Landroamer1
Explorer
Jun 04, 2014
Mine also has a circuit breaker in the panel so i leave the rocker switch on the heater on and turn it on and off with the breaker.
MrVan
Explorer
Jun 04, 2014
I asked Suburban what the new element Part Number is that caused them to not drill a hole in their current switch and not use the sping pin anymore.

The new Heating element Part number is: 520900

Supposedly this new element will last up to 10 minutes before it burns out when the water heater is empty and power turned on.