Circuit Breaker problem

[sjbradshaw]

I'm new to posting so hope I'm doing this right. Last night the 15 amp circuit breaker that controls the hot water heater and living room overhead lights tripped and won't reset. Does anyone have any ideas of what we need to do?

Thanks!

[757Dave]

Welcome to the forums. Did you try to turn the breaker all the way off. Sometimes if you push it all the way to the off position then it will reset to the on position. Hope this helps.

[geotex1]

Would that be a gas-electric hot water heater? If so, go out and turn the electric element off if 757Dave's suggestion doesn't do it. If that works, your electric element is shot.

[sjbradshaw]

757Dave we tried that with no luck. Also replaced element a few months ago but will check that once we stop for the night later today.

[elind]

Is the breaker a 12 volt (battery) or the 120 volt AC? Water heater elements run on 120 volt and the gas side needs 12 volt for the controls. The lights usually run on 12 volts. Off of the battery, before the fusebox, is a mini circuit breaker (about 1"x1") inline from the battery. This breaker has a mini reset button on the side of it. If you find it, push the button in and check for 12 volt power inside.

[edgewant]

Are you in a Berkshire? If so what year and model?

[sjbradshaw]

We have a 2011 BerkshireRB

[tmmar]

sj,
First of all welcome to the FORUMS. I'm sure that some one will be able to help with the issue you are having. As you stated, the breaker controls the water heater so that indicates to me that you have a gas/electric water heater. You said that you replaced the heating element but the new one could have gone bad. As suggested, turn the electric switch on the heater off until you can trouble shoot the problem further. Another possible issue is that if that breaker controls a GFCI outlet, that outlet may have tripped also. Reset all of your GFCI outlets to see if that helps.

[sjbradshaw]

Thanks for the information so far. The light issue is solved. Apparently, we had inadvertently turned off the living room light switch at the door and it just so happened to coincide with the water heater issue. There are two switches for the water heater. One inside in the convenience center in the hall and one on the outside of the coach in the water heater compartment. Which controls the electric and which controls the gas operation of the water heater? Do it automatically switch from electric to gas if you are not connected to a power outlet? Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!

[geotex1]

Originally Posted by sjbradshaw

Thanks for the information so far. The light issue is solved. Apparently, we had inadvertently turned off the living room light switch at the door and it just so happened to coincide with the water heater issue. There are two switches for the water heater. One inside in the convenience center in the hall and one on the outside of the coach in the water heater compartment. Which controls the electric and which controls the gas operation of the water heater? Do it automatically switch from electric to gas if you are not connected to a power outlet? Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!

Switch at the heater under the outside cover is for the 120V element. That's what you need to shutdown and try to reset. If you don't regularly shut it off, you may have drained the tank and energized it in an empty tank which cooks it. It will be electrically open and the short will tend to trip the breaker. The gas/12VDC operation is independent.

[tmmar]

It does not automatically switch from electric to gas operation. The switch inside will operate the heater on gas. The switch outside is for electric operation. The heater will continue to operate in which ever mode it is set to - electric or gas or both if the outside switch is on and the inside switch is on.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by sjbradshaw

Thanks for the information so far. The light issue is solved. Apparently, we had inadvertently turned off the living room light switch at the door and it just so happened to coincide with the water heater issue. There are two switches for the water heater. One inside in the convenience center in the hall and one on the outside of the coach in the water heater compartment. Which controls the electric and which controls the gas operation of the water heater? Do it automatically switch from electric to gas if you are not connected to a power outlet? Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!

As the others have correctly pointed out to you, there are two switches that control the water heater either on propane or 120 volt electricity.
This FAQ link may help in the understanding and operation:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ore-36197.html

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by geotex1

Switch at the heater under the outside cover is for the 120V element. That's what you need to shutdown and try to reset. If you don't regularly shut it off, you may have drained the tank and energized it in an empty tank which cooks it. It will be electrically open and the short will tend to trip the breaker. The gas/12VDC operation is independent.

If the electric element is burnt out, it will be an open circuit and will have no effect on the circuit breaker. It's like the line was cut and no power is flowing. If in doubt, turn it off at the tank.

[geotex1]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

If the electric element is burnt out, it will be an open circuit and will have no effect on the circuit breaker. It's like the line was cut and no power is flowing.

I totally agree when it's cooked completely. If it's cracked, can go either way and it's not clear if they're running 120V currently. If they are, and flipping the switch outside let's the breaker reset, only have the thermostat and element as the culprit. If breaker doesn't reset, need to diagnose breaker. At least that would be my process of elimination.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by geotex1

I totally agree when it's cooked completely. If it's cracked, can go either way and it's not clear if they're running 120V currently. If they are, and flipping the switch outside let's the breaker reset, only have the thermostat and element as the culprit. If breaker doesn't reset, need to diagnose breaker. At least that would be my process of elimination.

Normally, the element is either fried or not, no in between and it normally will not trip the breaker when it goes. It's kinda like being pregnant, she is or she ain't.

[geotex1]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Normally, the element is either fried or not, no in between and it normally will not trip the breaker when it goes. It's kinda like being pregnant, she is or she ain't.

I dunno... Was just in the local news last Wednesday that a woman had no idea she was pregnant till she went to the ER for what she thought was a gall bladder problem. Turned out to be labor pains... She ain't but she was?!?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by geotex1

I dunno... Was just in the local news last Wednesday that a woman had no idea she was pregnant till she went to the ER for what she thought was a gall bladder problem. Turned out to be labor pains... She ain't but she was?!?

Bet money she wasn't slim and trim either.

[sjbradshaw]

Thanks everyone for the good information. We have the water heater operating on propane now. Will deal with the circuit breaker issue when we get back home. We have been operating on both electric and propane all this time since we didn't know there was a switch outside that operated electric. Now we know!

[wmtire]

Good deal, please let us know what you find out.

If the heating element doesn't fully burn out, it can leak to ground and cause the circuit breaker to trip. It can also burn up or severely weaken the wiring/connections that will cause same.