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rickvikki's avatar
rickvikki
Explorer
Feb 09, 2015

Hot water tank on/off switch

Hello everyone: What should be a simple job is not :(
We just changed the on./off switch for propane hot water because it was no longer lighting up when in the on position, but the little red light above would still go out when propane ignited. Now the light on the switch glows in the on position and little red light above stays red and propane igniter is clicking to fire up but never does. Now this would be too much of a coincidence that propane will not ignite anymore for some other reason than changing the on/off switch. Any ideas as to what is going on?

We have a Tiffen Phaeton 2006 DP, 40ft.

Thanks, Rick
Class A
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Feb 10, 2015
    FIRE UP wrote:
    Well Gang,
    I'm a bit confused. The OP states his light in his water heater switch for "Propane" is not working and, has attempted to repair it. And, another poster has stated that "everyone has the same switch" so, I knew I had the same switch but, something was not "clicking" right in the brain when reading this and associating that switch with the propane side of the water heater.

    You see, if you look at the picture below, it's of my "One Place Panel" (as it's called for Winnebago/Itasca owners), you'll see a red(lighted) switch in the upper left corner of the picture. But, also notice, that switch controls the "110VAC" side of the water heater, not the propane side. If you look just a bit below that switch, you'll see the water pump switch and, a PROPANE water heater switch. It, is not a lighted switch. There ARE, little LEDs below that propane water heater switch that indicate whether or not the water heater is functioning normal or, the pilot light is out. But, the switch itself is not illuminated.

    So, we must have a different setup than the OP. No biggie, just wondering.
    Scott


    Yes, you do have a different set up. THAT is Winne's installed switches, not the W/H makers switches. That is why I asked for a pic. Tiffin used the W/H supplied switch panel. Doug
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Feb 10, 2015
    rgatijnet1 wrote:
    The switch only has two wires and is powered by 12 volts. Try just shorting the two wires together and see if it makes a difference.


    Why sir, you sound just like Atwood cuss-some-more non-service.

    The switch has 3 wires and if you connect them all together it will blow the fuse,,

    three wires
    HOT (provides power for switch and control board)
    Switched Provides power FROM switch to control board
    GROUND: for the light inside the switch.

    (There is another thread in one of the forums about this 3 wire issue)

    If you use just two wires, the switch will not light. The water heater will not work or the fuse will blow (Depending on which two).

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