Command Center Hot Water Switch

AllenCrabtree · 08-27-2009, 07:09 PM

Forgive my stupidity but I am definitely a newbie here not only to the forum but also to RV's in general. We just took delivery of our first RV. It is a Georgetown 379TS which we love for the bunk house option. One thing that I have noticed that is really bugging me is the Hot Water Switch on the Command Center. I find it quite non intuitive that the rocker panel switch is supposed to be down in order for the hot water heater to be "ON". Well like an idiot I trusted the face plate only to find out later that we drove all the way home with the hot water heater on. I have contacted FR and they just suggested that a rotate the switch around so that it is "ON" when the rocker panel switch is down. That really seems backwards to me. It really looks like a misprint. I would appreciate hearing back from other Georgetown owners. Is the hot water switch supposed to be upside down? If so, what is the logic. If not, how do I go about getting a corrected Command Center face plate.

dezolen · 08-27-2009, 07:26 PM

Why not just replace switch with a lit one like the others.(water heater on when lit) Readily available at an auto parts or hardware store for a couple of bucks. Easy to remove existing one by prying out with sharp knife and be careful not to scratch faceplate surface.
Better yet run on hydro almost exclusively and you won't even need to flip switch on as it only controls propane heat. Water heater electric operation switch is normally located in outside heater compartment

Max Power · 08-27-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezolen

Why not just replace switch with a lit one like the others.(water heater on when lit) Readily available at an auto parts or hardware store for a couple of bucks. Easy to remove existing one by prying out with sharp knife and be careful not to scratch faceplate surface.
Better yet run on hydro almost exclusively and you won't even need to flip switch on as it only controls propane heat. Water heater electric operation switch is normally located in outside heater compartment

Careful, if the switch is for the 110V heater the switch could easily be switching 110V on in which case you would blow that 12v bulb up instantly. I would flip the switch and find a nice label to relabel the on to off.

dezolen · 08-27-2009, 08:47 PM

Normally switch is for the propane option on the panel. Easy to measure voltage to the switch. I have yet to see switch on panel for electrical operating option.
That would make too much sense to have one for propane and the other for 110V operation in full view

AllenCrabtree · 08-27-2009, 09:21 PM

It is my understanding that the switch on the Command Center simply turns on/off the water heater. There is a separate switch outside the coach where you switch between propane and 110V.

Max Power · 08-27-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezolen

Normally switch is for the propane option on the panel. Easy to measure voltage to the switch. I have yet to see switch on panel for electrical operating option.
That would make too much sense to have one for propane and the other for 110V operation in full view

I had an 03 Jayco 283 that had a switch inside for the 110V hot water heater. I really miss that on my new Sandpiper. Just another reason why I need to custom make the perfect 5er.

NWJeeper · 08-28-2009, 12:11 AM

Switch on the inside panel is for the gas side, electrical switch is on the heater itself outside both are separate from each other and both can be on at the same time which is the way we leave ours in most cases, makes for quicker recovery when connected to power. I have not seen a modern RV where the water heater switch is up for on. For some reason the manufacturers fly in the face of electrical wiring code and convetion by making down the "on" postion for the water heaters. Don't know why but this isn't just a Forest River thing, they all do it.

cfsoistman · 08-28-2009, 12:31 PM

On my Georgetown when I press the top of the WH switch to turn it on, the bottom of the switch which now is sticking out is marked red. It's not a light just red plastic.This is done to caution you that the switch is on. I can only imagine why they didn't just use the same type switch as the water pump and artic pak is there is no neutral to complete the circuit to light a rocker switch? But the caution light next to it surely has one. I haven't looked to see, but if there is a neutral the same type of switch could be used. They come in four diferrent colors- Red, Amber, Green and Blue. The switch on my arctic pack burned out so I replaced it with an amber one so if I look from a distance I know which switch is turned on. Looks like I have some investigating to do this weekend. If that neutral is there I'm thinking- water heater (Red switch), arctic pack (Amber switch) and water pump (Blue switch).

AllenCrabtree · 09-01-2009, 04:46 PM

Thanks NWJeeper! Now I don't feel quite as stupid. I thought for sure that this was a misprint. After I did a little more research, I actually found a place online where you can purchase the remote wall switch. I could not believe it when I saw it. How can they utilize such a configuration? I would have thought they would have to abide by electrical wiring guidelines. I am taking Dezolen's suggestion and replacing this switch with a lighted one identical to the other two switches. That way I can tell simply by looking at my panel if I have left something on. The people at KIB Enterprises were very helpful; they are sending me the replacement switch. Thanks to everyone for your replies!

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