2005 Safari Simba Hot Water heater 120 volt Electric

[Aesop1]

https://imgur.com/a/lx6WYkcHello,

Recently got a new-to-me 2005 Safari Simba Motorhome 30 ft with the vortec 8100.

The hot water heater works fine on propane, however on the electric hot water heater switch on the panel right next to it, where the switch is in the "off" position there is a faint red light. However when the electric hot water heater switch is then flipped up into "the on" Position the light then goes away completely and the hot water heater on electric doesn't appear to work at all.

I've checked the fuses in the bedroom of the motorhome and they both seem to be fine.

here are some images of the control panel

https://imgur.com/a/lx6WYkc

Does anyone know why the hot water heater on electric is not working? The motorhome is hooked up to shore power.

[Aesop1]

https://imgur.com/a/F1fH0QQ

dougrainer wrote:
That is an Atwood. The Tstat and electric element are behind that black plastic box. Odds are from how old the W/H is, the element has burned out. Doug

https://imgur.com/a/F1fH0QQ


here are the pictures of thr water heater from the outside.

[Aesop1]

Boomerweps wrote:
My wolf pup also has a goofy single plug outlet near the water heater that the water heater plugs into under the front bed behind a filler panel. The only switch for electric is on the exterior of the heater.
If the indicator light is lit, even dimly, and goes out when you move the switch up to the on position, might your switch be mounted upside down? And operate the opposite of what you thought?

yeah, that's how it was on my old 2000 Komfort 23T travel trailer, one needed to flip the switch on the water heater access panel on the outside of the panel.

yeah I thought that it too might be upside down. but I doubt it since that would be kind of weird. I'll check the water heater access panel on the outside.

[Aesop1]

dougrainer wrote:
That is an Atwood. The Tstat and electric element are behind that black plastic box. Odds are from how old the W/H is, the element has burned out. Doug

so to fix that. just gotta go to the outside of the motorhome to the water heater access panel and se what I can do out there?

[Boomerweps]

My wolf pup also has a goofy single plug outlet near the water heater that the water heater plugs into under the front bed behind a filler panel. The only switch for electric is on the exterior of the heater.
If the indicator light is lit, even dimly, and goes out when you move the switch up to the on position, might your switch be mounted upside down? And operate the opposite of what you thought?

[dougrainer]

That is an Atwood. The Tstat and electric element are behind that black plastic box. Odds are from how old the W/H is, the element has burned out. Doug

[Aesop1]

https://imgur.com/a/9lGXd1F

StarkNaked wrote:
An electric water heater element should be on a dedicated 110V breaker.

An electric water heater element should be hard wired directly from the breaker to the junction box on the water heater.

Here's how you described your wiring: "there is an electrical cord that is plugged into the outlet where the water heater tank is located. we tested that the electrical outlet works by plugging a phone charger into it".

This is NOT how a water heater element should be wired.

https://imgur.com/a/9lGXd1F

here are the pictures. the water heater is located under the kitchen sink and as you can see it has an electrical cord going to a single outlet.

[Aesop1]

StarkNaked wrote:
An electric water heater element should be on a dedicated 110V breaker.

An electric water heater element should be hard wired directly from the breaker to the junction box on the water heater.

Here's how you described your wiring: "there is an electrical cord that is plugged into the outlet where the water heater tank is located. we tested that the electrical outlet works by plugging a phone charger into it".

This is NOT how a water heater element should be wired.

I'll take some pictures and upload them for you.

[StarkNaked]

An electric water heater element should be on a dedicated 110V breaker.

An electric water heater element should be hard wired directly from the breaker to the junction box on the water heater.

Here's how you described your wiring: "there is an electrical cord that is plugged into the outlet where the water heater tank is located. we tested that the electrical outlet works by plugging a phone charger into it".

This is NOT how a water heater element should be wired.

[Aesop1]

StarkNaked wrote:
First question - What kind of water heater do you have?

This link was just the first one I found, but I don't know if it's the brand of water heater that you have. If it's not, search for a DIY video for your brand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu9EqCPmLOk

As mentioned already, if you are not comfortable working with 110V power, then you need to find someone that does know how to work on live voltages.

And last, never turn the 110V water heater switch to the on position if you do not have water in the heater.

there is water in the water heater tank as we have used it a little since getting it on propane and the water is hot when using it on that method. the water heater "bypass" valve is also turned to normal so that water is indeed flowing into the water heater tank. there is an electrical cord that is plugged into the outlet where the water heater tank is located. we tested that the electrical outlet works by plugging a phone charger into it.

I will check out your link here shortly.

[StarkNaked]

First question - What kind of water heater do you have?

This link was just the first one I found, but I don't know if it's the brand of water heater that you have. If it's not, search for a DIY video for your brand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu9EqCPmLOk

The electric water heater element will be on a breaker, not a fuse.

As mentioned already, if you are not comfortable working with 110V power, then you need to find someone that does know how to work on live voltages.

And last, never turn the 110V water heater switch to the on position if you do not have water in the heater.

[Aesop1]

CA Traveler wrote:
Check the AC voltage at the heater, if OK relplace the heater. Other wise trace back to where you have voltage to isolate the problem.

Be safe - If you're not trained on AC hire a mobile tech.

How do i do this "check the AC voltage at the heater?"

[CA_Traveler]

Check the AC voltage at the heater, if OK relplace the heater. Other wise trace back to where you have voltage to isolate the problem.

Be safe - If you're not trained on AC hire a mobile tech.