Suburban water heater problem

Question

I fried my heating element when I plugged my TT in to get ready for this season and the water heater was left on from last season. I installed a new element and tested it out. Got hot water.... woohoo! Then went to turn it off and the rocker switch on the water heater wouldn't go to the off position. Went in the rv to flip the breaker and noticed it was tripped. Flipped it back on, went out and was able to turn it off with the switch. Tried again and again the switch wouldn't turn off but this time no tripped breaker. Flipped breaker and then could turn off the switch. Not feeling very confident, I went out a few hours later and the water was still really hot. Its like its not shutting off. Unplugged the rv for tonight.

Any idea what I obviously did wrong?

scottg · Answer

I don't think it's your fault, those switches are cheap and just fail on their own.
It's a common SPST switch you can buy from Radio Shack or some HW stores. Or of course you can buy the exact replacement on-line.

Cheers,
Scott

rengob · Answer

Thanks! I'll pick up a new switch and give that a try. Was just wondering if I maybe had the hot and neutral reversed.

westend · Answer

Rengob wrote:Thanks! I'll pick up a new switch and give that a try. Was just wondering if I maybe had the hot and neutral reversed.There should be no neutral on the switch if is a typical 12V or 120V switch. The switch interrupts the hot side.

old-biscuit · Answer

The ON/OFF switch is a 120V AC type.Hot from circuit breaker to switch Hot from switch to set of t-statsHot from t-stats to one side of elementThen Neutral wire from other side of element back to neutral bus in AC dist. panel

rengob · Answer

New switch did the trick!Thanks!

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Suburban water heater problem

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