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ATWOOD Water heater

yves1956
Explorer
Explorer
My Rv is an Holiday Rambler 2003 Admiral SE

I have a 10 gallons Atwood water heater gas and electric located underneath the sink in the kitchen. The water heater is plugged on a 110 ac outlet. There is no current to the outlet when I put the switch on on the main pannel. The breaker and the fuse are ok (in the bedroom) I can not find the problem somebody got an answer.

The gas is working fine for the water heater.
25 REPLIES 25

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Getting answers to relevant questions is like pulling teeth.........

I'm done
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

yves1956
Explorer
Explorer
enblethen wrote:
If the water heater plugs into an outlet, and there is no power to the outlet, then the problem should not be in the water heater. Test outlet with a known good appliance such as a drill motor.
Some water heaters have a switch in the exterior and inside to operate water heater control. The one out side is for protection of workers and is shut off during winterizing.
I believe your rig is new enough to have 12 volt control for 120 volt operation. drawing 12 page 7. Manual


Thanks for the manual!

yves1956
Explorer
Explorer
Old-Biscuit wrote:
enblethen wrote:
If the water heater plugs into an outlet, and there is no power to the outlet, then the problem should not be in the water heater. Test outlet with a known good appliance such as a drill motor.
Some water heaters have a switch in the exterior and inside to operate water heater control. The one out side is for protection of workers and is shut off during winterizing.
I believe your rig is new enough to have 12 volt control for 120 volt operation. drawing 12 page 7. Manual



IF OPs water heater is an Atwood and it is a 2003 yr then it should have 120V AC directly to element on back of WH Tank with separate t-stats located with element.




Atwood changed/swapped to 12V DC control for the 2004 models


OP stated water heater works when plugged into a different 120V AC outlet using an extension cord.
SO issue is with power to that outlet




OP stated this AM
I found that one of the wires in the control box doesn't get 12 Volt
It could be a ground problem. There is also a faulty toggle switch.


PLEASE explain.
What control box....where is it located
What toggle switch are you referring to.

AND would you PLEASE post MODEL NUMBER (GC10A-XX etc)

IS it like this one.........4 pin connector on module in outside compartment


Or like this one..........4 pin & 6 pin connectors




Model # is Atwood GC10A-3E, the switch is on the mian panel board in the RV corridor

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
I asked how OP tested early in posting. He never responded how he tested the outlet or the circuit breaker. Did not answer if he has energy management system.
His problem is not in water heater it is in the 120 volt circuitry getting to the water heater.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
enblethen wrote:
If the water heater plugs into an outlet, and there is no power to the outlet, then the problem should not be in the water heater. Test outlet with a known good appliance such as a drill motor.
Some water heaters have a switch in the exterior and inside to operate water heater control. The one out side is for protection of workers and is shut off during winterizing.
I believe your rig is new enough to have 12 volt control for 120 volt operation. drawing 12 page 7. Manual



IF OPs water heater is an Atwood and it is a 2003 yr then it should have 120V AC directly to element on back of WH Tank with separate t-stats located with element.




Atwood changed/swapped to 12V DC control for the 2004 models


OP stated water heater works when plugged into a different 120V AC outlet using an extension cord.
SO issue is with power to that outlet




OP stated this AM
I found that one of the wires in the control box doesn't get 12 Volt
It could be a ground problem. There is also a faulty toggle switch.


PLEASE explain.
What control box....where is it located
What toggle switch are you referring to.

AND would you PLEASE post MODEL NUMBER (GC10A-XX etc)

IS it like this one.........4 pin connector on module in outside compartment


Or like this one..........4 pin & 6 pin connectors
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

tropical36
Explorer
Explorer
yves1956 wrote:
My Rv is an Holiday Rambler 2003 Admiral SE

I have a 10 gallons Atwood water heater gas and electric located underneath the sink in the kitchen. The water heater is plugged on a 110 ac outlet. There is no current to the outlet when I put the switch on on the main pannel. The breaker and the fuse are ok (in the bedroom) I can not find the problem somebody got an answer.

The gas is working fine for the water heater.

Is there voltage present on the load side of the breaker and all the breakers in the panel, in fact?
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."

07 Revolution LE 40E_Spartan MM_06 400HP C9 CAT_Allison 3000.

Dinghy_2010 Jeep Wrangler JKU ISLANDER.

1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal Chevy Model 6350 (Sold)

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
If the water heater plugs into an outlet, and there is no power to the outlet, then the problem should not be in the water heater. Test outlet with a known good appliance such as a drill motor.
Some water heaters have a switch in the exterior and inside to operate water heater control. The one out side is for protection of workers and is shut off during winterizing.
I believe your rig is new enough to have 12 volt control for 120 volt operation. drawing 12 page 7. Manual

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

yves1956
Explorer
Explorer
Old-Biscuit wrote:
enblethen wrote:
The receptacle should be hot all the time from the 120 volt AC power distribution panel.
Some rigs have this receptacle ran through a GFCI receptacle. Locate your GFCI receptacles and check to see if one is tripped.
Have you reset your circuit breakers? Turn off all circuit breakers applying light pressure toward off. Then turn on main circuit breaker if equipped, and then each of the branch breakers one at a time.
Get one of the small normally yellow circuit analyzers that plug into the receptacles to identify what is issue.


X2^^^^^^^^

Your vintage uses 120V AC directly to water heater element.
So if no 120V at outlet circuit breaker is tripped OR GFCI is tripped that feeds that outlet.

IF CB/GFCI tripped could be because WH electric element has shorted.




I found that one of the wires in the control box doesn't get 12 Volt
It could be a ground problem. There is also a faulty toggle switch.
I will change the switch and checked again.

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
Do you have an energy management system?
What size is shore power 30 or 50 amp?
Are you using an adapter?

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

10forty2
Explorer
Explorer
My water heater has a main switch that controls the outlet that it is plugged into. That switch is located right beside the bypass valve for the water heater. My heater is located in the vanity cabinet right underneath the bathroom sink. You may have something similar.
1999 Holiday Rambler Endeavor, 36' Gasser
Triton V10, Ford F53 Chassis
-----------------------------------------

rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Explorer III
Since it works with an extension cord, it seems like you do not have 120 volt power to the outlet where the water heater is plugged in. You should have a 20 amp circuit breaker in your electrical panel which you say you have checked.
To go any farther you need to have access to an electrical meter or you can just change the circuit breaker in the electrical panel. In my Monaco coach, the water heater is on it's own circuit, without any GFI breaker, etc. Since it is the only item in the circuit, either the breaker is bad and provides no power when it is reset, OR a wire has come loose somewhere between the circuit breaker and the power outlet.
If you are not comfortable working with electric it may be time to ask a friend that has a voltmeter to locate the problem. Circuit breakers do occasionally go bad and the only way to be sure is to reset it check the voltage out.

yves1956
Explorer
Explorer
enblethen wrote:
Haven't seen a response as to what kind of shore power connected to rig from my previous post.
Does all other 120 volt items work?
ACs, microwave?
Do you have an energy management system? It could be shutting down water heater.


Yes all other items is working on 120 volts

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
If water heater works via an extension cord to another outlet.........then the outlet it normally plugs into either is bad, ON/OFF switch is bad OR circuit breaker feeding that circuit is tripped.

It is a simple direct AC circuit

Check for AC power to Switch--------tripped CB or bad wire
Check for AC power from Switch------bad switch
Check for AC power to Outlet--------loose/broken wire
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
Haven't seen a response as to what kind of shore power connected to rig from my previous post.
Does all other 120 volt items work?
ACs, microwave?
Do you have an energy management system? It could be shutting down water heater.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker