No 110 Volts to Hot Water Heater Element

enblethen….. When I tested the voltage from my Honda 2200 it was showing 125 volts at the plug. When I tested power at the element and the frame I was getting 12.5 volts ( Honda was on ECO mode & not on high revs )… Did a continuity check on outside switch and values did not change either on / off. Bad outside switch?

Where is the Plug? The thermostat for the water heater normally has a red reset button. It is a bi-metal type.

AC scale.. getting 125 volts from the plug.

The outside switch is or should be 120-volts AC.
Are you one AC or DC scale?

BB TX … Tried your suggestion of 1 lead to the hot & other to frame; getting 12.5 volts that way..

#1Flyboy wrote:
BB TX… I’ll give your suggestion a try in a day or so; if’s I still don’t show 110 volts do you think it would be the outside switch?

Very well could be. Those cheap switches have been reported failed a number of times.

But the best course of action is to use a meter and the schematic. You can quickly determine if you have power to that switch, and if so, if you have power out of that switch. That will determine whether the problem is the switch itself, upstream of the switch, or downstream of the switch. Then you will know which direction to proceed. And point to point testing from there.

The above is assuming you are knowledgeable of and comfortable with troubleshooting live 120 vac. If not, then you should call a mobile RV repairman. There is an element of danger there.

Have you tested the 120-volt control switch? It sends power to the coil of the relay.

BB TX… I’ll give your suggestion a try in a day or so; if’s I still don’t show 110 volts do you think it would be the outside switch?

Manual. Manual
Yes, there is relay

2nd switch is the inside 12 vdc switch that operates the relay at the water heater.

Voltmeter and understanding of the circuit (schematic available in the WH manual) will greatly help in quickly finding the problem.

If you are placing your meter leads across the two terminals on the heating element and not showing 120 vac, it could also actually be loss of neutral. Burned neutral wire in the J box has also been reported multiple times. Try putting one meter lead on the hot side of the element and the other meter lead on the metal frame of the water heater.