Maybe I'm missing something on the water heater...

[Msu50000]

We've got a 2017 Catalina Coachman bunkhouse. We're visiting family for the 4th of July weekend and are hooked up to 15amp shore power and the city water connection.

I've double checked and the water feed we're getting is cold. The water heater switch is off. The issue that I'm concerned about is we appear to have an endless supply of hot water with the water heater switch in the off position. Does it turn on automatically when connected to city water? I thought the heater was propane only, is it also electric?

[Lynnmor]

Msu50000 wrote:


Maybe I'm ignorant of the design, but why wouldn't they put the electric switch and gas switch for the WH right next to each other in the TT?

To answer that question; it might cost 12 cents to do it.

[Msu50000]

the_happiestcamper wrote:
Probably a hidden switch for electric - but how long is your hose to the city water and is it in the sun?

Hose was maybe 50 feet and in the sun. I thought of that, but kind of tested it with my wife in the shower and me doing dishes. We ran through a lot of hot water. It ended up being the small switch on the WH itself.

Maybe I'm ignorant of the design, but why wouldn't they put the electric switch and gas switch for the WH right next to each other in the TT? Anyways, it's good now and thankfully I didn't burn out the heating unit.

[the_happiestcam]

Probably a hidden switch for electric - but how long is your hose to the city water and is it in the sun?

[Msu50000]

Thanks for all of the info guys, it was the switch on the WH itself. We're very lucky to have had water in it as we've been camping a ton over the past month and a half. Learning a bunch form the forum, appreciate it very much all.

[Old-Biscuit]

Your Catalina comes standard with a Suburban SW5DE ----6 gal electric/propane electronic ignition water heater

Open outside compartment door..electric On/Off switch lower left corner is ON

You are lucky that water heater has had water in it...otherwise electric element would have burnt out and you would have another 'mystery'---why no hot water


Never leave electric switch ON when not connected to city water OR using on-board pump.

[WA4HTZ]

Msu, there may be another quick way to check if you have a propane/electric water heater. Look in you electric power center and see if you have a circuit breaker labeled WH or water heater. As said, these draw 1400 watts and should be on a separate breaker. If so, just turn it off and you can run the WH on propane when you need hot water. This will keep you from tripping the house breaker if you turn on a high current appliance and the WH is in a heating cycle.

Ken

[SoundGuy]

SoundGuy wrote:
The question is - why is the OP not also running his water heater only on gas, particularly considering his source power is a limited 15 amp circuit. :h

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Because the guy is new to RVing and is learning all of these quirks we already have learned. I applaud him for trying to learn and profit form the knowledge of others. Offering advice instead of criticism will help his journey.

Fair enough, but I did offer advice - based on what he's told us his water heater is operating exactly as it should. If he is new to the sport (which he never indicated) he either wasn't given proper instruction on how the water heater works or if he was he didn't pay attention during his orientation. Regardless, the lesson here is that every RV owner needs to take ownership of their rig by fully understanding how it all works and what to do about it if it doesn't if they expect to enjoy the full benefit of their investment. Seems obvious to me, 'though apparently surprising to others. :R

[DownTheAvenue]

SoundGuy wrote:
The question is - why is the OP not also running his water heater only on gas, particularly considering his source power is a limited 15 amp circuit. :h

Because the guy is new to RVing and is learning all of these quirks we already have learned. I applaud him for trying to learn and profit form the knowledge of others. Offering advice instead of criticism will help his journey.

[SoundGuy]

bguy wrote:
If you are on 15A with the WH on electric you should have melted the cord by now.

afidel wrote:
No, the Suburban draws 10A, a 15A branch circuit is rated for 12A continuous draw so as long as you have an appropriate cord and adapter there should be no problem assuming minimal other power draw.

A Suburban electric water heater element is rated @ 1440 watts or 12 amps @ 120 vac. A 15 amp circuit is fine for source power as long as no other heavy loads are simultaneously imposed on the circuit. This element is thermostatically controlled and doesn't draw constantly anyway. That said, I more often than not just run my Atwood water heater on gas and don't bother with the electric option even when we're camping on a 30 amp site as it's just one less load on my incoming source power that I have to keep in mind when running other devices such the microwave oven and A/C. The question is - why is the OP not also running his water heater only on gas, particularly considering his source power is a limited 15 amp circuit. :h

[afidel]

Double post

[afidel]

bguy wrote:
If you are on 15A with the WH on electric you should have melted the cord by now.

No, the Suburban draws 10A, a 15A branch circuit is rated for 12A continuous draw so as long as you have an appropriate cord and adapter there should be no problem assuming minimal other power draw.

[ScottG]

You don't say what model you have so it is plausible that you have one of the newer on-demand WH's available.
If so, you do indeed have endless hot water.

[bguy]

If you are on 15A with the WH on electric you should have melted the cord by now.

[nickdarr]

We have a Suburban heater and we have two switches in the trailer and one on the heater. One in the trailer is propane and the other two are electric. Both electric switches have to be on for ours to switch to electric. Check the propane side. It recovers faster than electric as well which may account for your more plentiful hot water. Also, if it is hot and you are sun side with the heater, it can heat up the water a little.