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ceasare's avatar
ceasare
Explorer
Aug 26, 2019

Atwood water heater electric switch

I thought our water heater wasn’t working on electric, Now I find out that it was. light in the switch that wasn’t working. Ok pick up a new switch and the water heater is still working but the light in the switch is still not. Any other ideas? As usual thanks a million.

4 Replies

  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    One you may have mis-wired the light
    Two.. I installed an "Indicator light" (led) next to the switch way easier than a new switch.
  • The original switch probably had an incandescent lamp. They make that switch with an LED lamp but you might have to look closely on the package to tell them apart. The LED isn't as bright but doesn't have to be - I can tell the difference between on and off. It will last much longer too!
  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer III
    Was the light ever working? You need 3 connections to the lighted switch. You have the hot wire to the switch, you have the wire from the switch to the relay that turns on the 120v heating element, and you have the ground wire that is only required so the switch will light up.

    If the heating element is working, then wires 1 and 2 are working. The only other possibility is the ground wire is not grounding.

    (Once the switch lights up, if it is lit up ALL THE TIME, you have wires 1 and 2 reversed.)
  • dumb question...but you got the same lighted switch? 12 volt or 120 volt pilot light?

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