Maybe I'm missing something on the water heater...

Msu50000 wrote:
We've got a 2017 Catalina Coachman bunkhouse. We're visiting family for the 4th of July weekend and are hooked up to 15amp shore power and the city water connection.

I've double checked and the water feed we're getting is cold. The water heater switch is off. The issue that I'm concerned about is we appear to have an endless supply of hot water with the water heater switch in the off position. Does it turn on automatically when connected to city water? I thought the heater was propane only, is it also electric?

1. hot water switch is not automatic. if it were and you forgot clear the water lines of any air bubbles you could damage the water heater.
2.hot water heater should work on both elec and propane

I'm stumped then, my wife has taken a shower, we've washed dishes, washed hands and in general have not conserved. It has also been more than 2 weeks since we last camped. Any ideas on how we're getting hot water with the switch off? No issues with battery drain while stored.

there is normally two switches for the water heater... one to control electric heating (which uses 120V... not 12v), the other to control propane heating. Are they both OFF?

Msu50000 wrote:
I'm stumped then, my wife has taken a shower, we've washed dishes, washed hands and in general have not conserved. It has also been more than 2 weeks since we last camped. Any ideas on how we're getting hot water with the switch off? No issues with battery drain while stored.

My hot water heater switch is on the control board above the sink and a small red light turns on when I turn the switch on. If you have no small red light to tell you if the heater is on or off, then I think it is time for a trip to the RV shop to have all the electrical systems checked.

Small switch with red light is off for the WH. I'm not aware of another switch in the trailer. Sounds like I may need to take it in.

Do you have a little black switch outside on the water heater all the way on the bottom? Most likely you have electric turned on.

Pretty simple really - from your description you have a Suburban DSI water heater, probably an SW6DE with the electric heating option. Unless the trailer manufacturer wired that electric heating element out to a remote switch located inside the trailer then it's obvious the switch which is located on the water heater itself is in the on position. The WH switch which you do have inside the trailer but which you say is off controls only the gas heating function. Lucky you that the WH tank has water in it, otherwise you'd instantly burn out that electric heating element. Assuming I've read between the lines correctly your water heater is working just as it should - electric heating element is switched on, gas heating is switched off.

SoundGuy wrote:
Pretty simple really - from your description you have a Suburban DSI water heater, probably an SW6DE with the electric heating option. Unless the trailer manufacturer wired that electric heating element out to a remote switch located inside the trailer then it's obvious the switch which is located on the water heater itself is in the on position. The WH switch which you do have inside the trailer but which you say is off controls only the gas heating function. Lucky you that the WH tank has water in it, otherwise you'd instantly burn out that electric heating element. Assuming I've read between the lines correctly your water heater is working just as it should - electric heating element is switched on, gas heating is switched off.

This is correct and the only plausible explanation to what the OP posted.

Remove the outside cover to the water heater. On the lower left, somewhat hidden behind the burner, is a black rocker switch with the words "on" and "off" on it. If the "on" part of the switch is depressed, the heater is on and vice versa.

I too am guessing the switch in the compartment was left on. its a small rocker switch in the lower left corner.

We have a Suburban heater and we have two switches in the trailer and one on the heater. One in the trailer is propane and the other two are electric. Both electric switches have to be on for ours to switch to electric. Check the propane side. It recovers faster than electric as well which may account for your more plentiful hot water. Also, if it is hot and you are sun side with the heater, it can heat up the water a little.