Replacing my suburban gas and electric 6 gallon water heater

The SW6DE has the 120VAC wire hooked directly to the water heater at the junction box. The control switch is located on the front of the water heater.

The SW6DEL uses a 12 volt relay and a second switch inside the RV to turn on the 120 volt power to the water heater.

You have three options.

Buy a SW6DE just like you removed.

Remove the relay from your new SW6DEL and this will convert the unit to the SW6DE. (This is the easy way to go for your problem) Just remove the relay located in the connection box and then wire the unit just like the one you removed.

Or, Option 3, add a 12 volt control switch and run a 12 volt wire. This takes some skill and time.

Got a new tank and installed it today but now I have a new problem. I ordered a sw6de and they sent me a sw6del. It said it was a same replacement but I have an extra orange wire that runs off the new. Im guessing it's for the A/C side of the heater but my unit only has a single switch to flip inside. Can I wire the red and orange together up to the switch in the coach. The 120v is on the outside of the unit behind the gas tube. Anyone have this issue besides me?

Hi yes the tank did fail right on the welds on the bottom side of anode rode placement hole.

Curious, did the tank itself fail ?...would be the only reason to replsce it.
Just thinking that 10 yrs is a rather short life for a RV water heater.
My same heater is 15 yrs old.

SW6DE..............replace it with another SW6DE as it is a Direct swap

Trying to replace with a SW10DE would require a larger opening

Trying to replace with an Atwood Model would require a different size opening and different wiring scheme/controls