Water Heater Switch

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Suburban OEM On/Off Switch for electric is in outside compartment below gas valve

Because of its location outside many 'owners' add a 120V AC switch inside....wired in series with OEM switch

Here's the switch I installed in my K-Z Spree so I could control the Suburban SW6DE's electric heating element from inside the camper ...

Suburban OEM On/Off Switch for electric is in outside compartment below gas valve

Because of its location outside many 'owners' add a 120V AC switch inside....wired in series with OEM switch



Atwood older models (2003/previous) had the electric on/off switch on backside of water heater on cover that was over the element. PITA to get to so many 'owners' also added a 120V AC switch wired in series with OEM switch

For both Brands BOTH switches have to be ON for element to get energized. Only one needs to be off to turn element off.

I can get some photos after this weekend. Not going to be there at all. It seems to have no bearing on the water heater itself. Maybe they replaced the original one. Which is a possibility. I don't have any paperwork for it nor can I find any online anywhere for the camper itself. Figured I'd give it a shot.

jconway1006 wrote:
I have to manually light the pilot for hot water. However I have this switch. Whats the point. LoL or what am I missing. The water heater seems to work no what position the switch is in. Any help is greatly appreciated.

You haven't provided any information at all as to which water heater you have but it could be that it also has an electric heating element OR one was added by a previous owner, with this switch controlling 120 vac to the element. I did just this myself with a previous K-Z Spree which had a Suburban SW6DE water heater that was painful to use because the electric switch was on the tank itself and had to be accessed from outside, unlike the gas mode which was controlled from inside the camper. I used a paddle switch just like that you've shown.

FWIW, it would be helpful if you'd downsize your pic which is way too large.

That switch would be to run the heater on electric. Don't light the pilot light, just turn on the switch and see if it heats the water when plug into shore power.