Water heater, electrical funtioning

So glad I joined this forum, thanks! I have not had the chance to go out to my rig, but I am leaning towards that scenario (after market hott rod). Assuming a hott rod was installed, how do I use it when utilizing shore power? I read that I should splice the power cord and install a light switch? In order to avoid plugging n unplugging?I have no idea how I would go from gas to electric? Thanks to all again!

For this post water heaters come in 2.2 types

One is Gas/Electric, on these you do not normally plug them in, but there is a switch or two.. Assorted ways they switch.. I can not describe them all. but this is a FACTORY option.

2.1 is Propane only.. This is common on many low-end RVs
2.2 is Propane only, but modified by the addition of a HOTT-ROD AC heat element.

This one has a plug

HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A HOTT-ROD

Go outside, open the water heater access panel you find there. If you have a GAS ONLY you will have plumbing, possibly an electric Solenoid and some "12 volt" type wiring. (Single wires runnign this way and that assorted colors)

IF you have a Hott Rod you will have a heavy duty ZIP cord (Twi black wires) running to a rubber like cap that is connected to something screwed in the drain hole near the bottom, usualy left, of the water heater. That is the AC heat element. It's usually around 400 watt so it take a while to heat the water, but heat it it does.

You may also find a thermostat either stuck, on the tank somewhere or zip tied to the TPR valve depending on the age of the modification. I found the zip tied ones did not do well, but the stick on one did It's about 1" by 1" by 3" with wires of course.

I bet the water heater is a gas only model and a previous owner added the "Hott Rod" electric water heater conversion kit.

http://www.campingworld.com/search/index.cfm?Ntt=hot+shot+water+heater+electric&N=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=primary&Nty=1&Ntpc=1

Next time you are at the storage you will need to look at water heater.

Brand/model of trailer doesn't mean you have gas only/gas-electric water heater not does it indicate whether or not previous owner added an aftermarket heating element to a gas only water heater.

SO...........go have a look.

I traced the cord back and it seems to be the water heater. Here are the specs on the trailer down below. I am the third owner and the previous owner did not even know the cord was there. I cant get the model number of the actual heater as the trailer is stored away.

2003 Travel lite R Vision 8000 series 27 feet 8261

Thanks again!!

Find the end of that electrical cord....where does it go???

Some mfg. did install an electrical cord that plugged into a 'switched outlet'
for water heater electric heating.


Some owners have installed an aftermarket electric heating element (using the drain hole) and that element came with an electric cord that needed to be plugged into an outlet......but those also came with on/off switch and a set of t-stats.


Which BRAND/MODEL of water heater do you have???

Does this electric cord go to a device in the drain hole?
Does it go to water heater at all?

IF you decide to plug it in...........and can't ID where cord goes..........make sure water heater is FULL of water. IF it is for an electric element then it needs water so it won't burn out.

Post back what you find!!!

Such an electrical connection certainly would not be the norm. Is this a new trailer? Or a pre-owned? If pre-owned I would suspect the previous owner did that. As to what it is connected to, you would just have to trace the wiring to what ever it goes to.

Check your manual for the water heater and see if it is a 120VAC and Propane modle.

You should have a folder somewhere around your trailer that has all of the appliances info in it...

If you don't have a manual find the model number off of the water heater and search on google search for a manual.pdf

Or just list the model number on here as someone else will have same unit.

My water heater uses both 120VAC and Propane for heat.

Listing your trailer model would be helpful as well...

Roy Ken