Water heater propane vs electric

[5picker]

Mine had a piece of silver/aluminum colored tape over it from the factory. Was very hard to spot unless you knew it was there.

[cpaulsen]

I added a switch with a light inside for the electric and just keep the one outside on all the time.

[5picker]

My current unit came with two switches inside. One for electric and one for propane.
It also has the switch on the WH. Like cpaulsen, I just leave the outside switch on all the time and use the inside switch to control.

[Browns-Camden]

Thanks everyone. One reason I love this site....quick, accurate, and caring responses to everything.

[Wbunney]

We have a 2008 Berkshire and the electric switch is located on the outside behind the access panel. (Suburban water heater). My question is, why in the h would they put the switch in that location. This is the first unit i have owned with it located here after probably owning 10 travel trailers through my lifetime. The switch should be located on the control panel inside the trailer next to the switch for the propane mode. Here you can select which you want or both if you want. That setup has been on all my travel trailers. Don't understand their location logic.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Wbunney

We have a 2008 Berkshire and the electric switch is located on the outside behind the access panel. (Suburban water heater). My question is, why in the h would they put the switch in that location. This is the first unit i have owned with it located here after probably owning 10 travel trailers through my lifetime. The switch should be located on the control panel inside the trailer next to the switch for the propane mode. Here you can select which you want or both if you want. That setup has been on all my travel trailers. Don't understand their location logic.

So add a switch where you want it. All of the trailers I've owned (8) dating back to 1976 have had the electric switch outside in the wh compartment. Never been a problem.

[Dc8mdtmech]

On my Georgetown352XL the only time I shut the electric hot water switch off is after I winterize for the off season. You must remember to put water into the bottle/reverse the valves you changed to winterize before you turn the electric element on. I also use propane to augment the heat cycle as d/w and I use a fair amount of hot water to shower

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Wbunney

We have a 2008 Berkshire and the electric switch is located on the outside behind the access panel. (Suburban water heater). My question is, why in the h would they put the switch in that location. This is the first unit i have owned with it located here after probably owning 10 travel trailers through my lifetime. The switch should be located on the control panel inside the trailer next to the switch for the propane mode. Here you can select which you want or both if you want. That setup has been on all my travel trailers. Don't understand their location logic.

They put a switch there for ease of installation of the WH.
Some manufacturers don't want to add the expense of installing a second electrical switch inside the unit. With the WH built this way, all the mfg. needs to do is install the WH and plug it in. The switch is for the user to be able to shut off the electric element when so desired.

Don't blame the WH mfg... blame the trailer mfg if they choose to not install the inside switch.

[doc73]

And like most things in the RV indust the WH is simply a sourced part, not made for the item it is put in, the item is made to fit the WH. I'd love to install a second switch inside to keep from needing to possibly wear the breaker from constantly flipping but the 4.99 breaker is easier to replace then running another switch..