Water heater switch

took a look at my wico electrical panel. three double breakers, one labeled WH. think I will just use that to cut off WH electricity. yes I know a breaker is not a switch, but can throw that when not hooked up to 120 v. can leave it off normally and only turn it on when getting ready to hook up in campground.
the other option would be as I see a piece of romex going to the bottom of the WH under my bed I could just cut into that and mount a recessed switch to the side of the bed.
bumpy

test of someone else's image ... didn't work - sorry

ChooChooMan74 wrote:
Mine has only an external switch. I wired in my own switch Here.

so you did all the wiring at the junction box, no where near the WH. I'll have to check that out.
bumpy

Mine has only an external switch. I wired in my own switch Here.

Atwood.......2003 and earlier models
AC switch on box/cover over element on backside of tank along with the set of t-stats for element. Propane t-stats in outside compartment with an ON/OFF switch on panel inside RV.

After 2004......
AC & Propane ON/OFF switches inside RV on panel
One set of t-stats for both electric/propane in outside compartment
Electric element still on backside of tank (under a cover with a DC relay-----uses DC to activate the AC to element)

Suburban \
AC element in outside compartment
AC ON/OFF rocker switch in outside compartment (may also have another AC ON/OFF switch inside RV...both have to be ON for electric)
Propane ON/OFF switch inside RV on panel
Separate set of t-stats in outside compartment
One 120V AC set and one 12V DC set...under cover with 'push to reset' on cover (resets HI temp t-stat if it trips)

gkainz wrote:
varies by mfg or rig, I believe. Mine has 1 inside switch that activates the propane on the water heater. Has a small switch on the face of the water heater that activates the electric element. The two are completely and totally independent of each other ON MINE. YMMV ...

Best answer in thread.. The switches are usually installed by the body builder so they vary by RIG, On some the outside switch might be a 2nd switch for winterizing (On mine you remove a wire from a terminal) on others it controls one or the other side of the water heater.

On mine I have two side by side switches INSIDE that decide gas/electric or both/neither. On some the inside switch only chooses between gas and electric.

It is entirely up to whoever built the rig how they switch it.

1. I assumed it was a Suburban W/H
2. If Atwood, the 120 switch is indeed inside on the backside of the water heater and it also has to be ON for the remote 120 switch to work. UNLESS the OEM bypassed it which is rare. I have NOT seen such a switch in years. The newer(10 years and newer) Atwood use a 12 volt activated relay on the back side of the Water heater to activate the 120 element. The wall switch inside is 12 volt not 120 volt. Doug

skipnchar wrote:
Some folks don't LIKE the outside electric switch but I wouldn't have one any other way. Someone just bump against the switch and turn it on at the wrong time and you're buying a new electric heater.

yep, that's why I want one. to avoid those issues I have my TT battery hooked up to a multi state charger and don't hook up 120 to the trailer unless needed. the other day I just leaned across to do something else and noticed the LED was lit. :s
bumpy

Some folks don't LIKE the outside electric switch but I wouldn't have one any other way. Someone just bump against the switch and turn it on at the wrong time and you're buying a new electric heater.

[IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/2djdp2v.jpg[/IMG
how about this, did I leave off a ]?
bumpy

well that didn't work either. everybody please cover their ears since I am going to scream a naughty word.

dug out the owner's manual for the WH. the only switch in the schematic is the remote one with LED in it.
bumpy