Forum Discussion

jdavis1877's avatar
jdavis1877
Explorer
Jun 05, 2018

Water heater breaker?

Hey guys I just bought at 2010 Dutchmen Aristocrat and I’m getting ready to take it out for the first time this year. During my walk around I decided to test out the hot water heater and I noticed that my breaker panel has a breaker labeled “H. Water” so naturally I assumed I have a hybrid gas/electric hot water heater. However when I go and open the heater itself I see no heating element anywhere. Since I’m new to all of this, I might be asking a stupid question but if there is no heating element why is there a breaker? I have to manually light the hot water heater when it’s on LP so it doesn’t have any switches to light it from the inside. Thanks in advance for any insite and hopefully I wasn’t too dumb of a question lol
  • wrgrs50s's avatar
    wrgrs50s
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2018
    If it's an Atwood water heater, the element is in the back of the tank.

    Do not turn it on without water as it will immediately burn out the element.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Jun 05, 2018
    It is always best to state the brand of appliance, and the model number. If Suburban, the electric switch may be on the outside, in lower left corner, hidden behind some piping.

    The model numbers/letters will tell if electric option is present.

    Jerry
  • jdavis1877's avatar
    jdavis1877
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2018
    Sorry guys I didn’t know the model until I started looking around. It appears to be an Atwood “g6a-7” but I don’t see any wires that would indicate that it has electric on it. Maybe the breaker is for if you replace it?



  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer II
    Jun 05, 2018
    An Atwood has the electric element on the other side of the water heater and is not visible from the compartment door.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jun 05, 2018
    Sorry 'jdavis1877'........that Model is GAS only with Pilot Flame

    Possibly previous owner had issues with original water heater which could have been a Electric/Propane ......replaced it with just a gas only
    Otherwise NO reason for RV MFG to install/designate a AC Circuit Breaker for 'H. Water"

    Do you have the original component list....inside a cabinet door or drawer etc
    It would list OEM equipment trailer came with
  • jdavis1877's avatar
    jdavis1877
    Explorer
    Jun 05, 2018
    thanks everyone for the quick responses, ill try to get the OEM listing and see what came with it

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