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fairlaniac's avatar
fairlaniac
Explorer
Dec 12, 2021

Can you install a SW6D water heater instead if SW6D-E?

I need to remove my SW6D-E water heater due to a leaking tank. I have access to a one year old SW6D (no electric) water heater for $100. A friend of a friend deal. Can I install the non-electric heater an just don’t hook up the wiring not used?

Thanks,
Doug
  • If it is physically the same dimensions (H x W x D) then it should fit without any needs to modify the opening.

    May or may not need to modify the plumbing depending on if they changed locations of the connections between the two but even that is pretty easy to fix.

    Get the dimensions and check those against what you have..

    $100 deal, I would jump on that if I had that chance, although I am used to manual pilot light water heaters, they don't bother me.
  • They are the same dimensionally. Connections at same locations. Seems just one is gas only and my RV and original unit is gas/110v. I assume just extra wiring to deal with. I don’t plan to be a pioneer on this swap. If others have done it, I’d like to hear so.

    Thanks,
    Doug
  • You can wire nut and ignore the electrical connections since you will not have any need for those with the SW6D.

    For future reference, mark the wires as to function in case you ever decide to go back to a SW6D-E.

    The 120V wires, put those in a electrical work box and wire nut off inside the box so you do not have a random 120V wire dangling around to cause trouble.. Mark the box as to what its function was for future reference.

    12V wires do not need to be in a work box unless you want to make things neater and if you do, put them in a separate box from the 120V wire.
  • Agree on wire nutting the 120 vac wires. But also turn off the circuit breaker to remove any chance of short due to wire nut working loose.
  • I watched a mobile tech do it at the 5er next to us in FL in 2017. The owner of the rig didn't even know that it was gas/electric when he ordered a replacement from the mobile guy who installed it. The tank in the original was leaking.
  • BB_TX wrote:
    Agree on wire nutting the 120 vac wires. But also turn off the circuit breaker to remove any chance of short due to wire nut working loose.


    You could of course remove the offending breaker provided there is no other items on that circuit to be more certain that no power will exist on the unused 120V water heater wiring.. They do make generic block off plates for breaker panels..

    Or, just wire nut, wrap a few rounds of black tape around the wire nuts and wire. The black tape will hold the wire nuts even if the nuts get loose..

    Many ways to do this but the main key is making sure you do not have any bare exposed wires.
  • Agree with the above posts. Don't use electric.

    I did the opposite replacement. I installed a SW6D-E where I only had a SW6D. Fit perfect, I just had to run an electric wire to it.
  • You could repurpose the circuit for another dedicated high watt 120v appliance. The existing water heater specs show it rated at 120v/1400 watts. You could rerun the 120v wire for maybe a new outlet for an electric heater. If you get another gas/electric water later you can always change it back.

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