Electric and LP water heaters

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by KyDan

I just switch off the breaker that's labeled WH.
Some units may have other things on that circuit but mine is all alone
so I can use the breaker as an indoor switch.

Don't do it in the camper, but use the breakers to shut the electric heaters on and off in the garage for 14 yrs and they are still working. Do the same on everything else, welders, air compressor, lathe, etc. To me it is a much safer way of knowing they're off. Never had a breaker fail yet, knock on wood.

[TURBS]

All im saying is if that breaker fails from constant switching it could be bad the one time the breaker fails.
I don't give a crap if you've done it and your dad did it and his dad did it for one hundred years without problems.

I wont sacrifice my family's life for 30 minutes worth of work and to trust the breaker works after constant switching for which its not designed for.

Good luck

TURBS

Sabre owners united!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

...I wont sacrifice my family's life for 30 minutes worth of work and to trust the breaker works after constant switching for which its not designed for...TURBS

What's to break? It either shuts it off or it doesn't. You can always shut the main off , it's right there or unplug the shoreline. Don't see any life threatening issue.

FWIW, I've seen more switches fail than breakers.

To each their own.

[RJHuser]

We have a breaker in the office that controls the daytime lights. Been turned on and off at least 5 times a week, 52 weeks a year, for 40 years (that's about 21,000 operations). Still good, works well, and trips at the proper amperage (just tested the other month or so).

So, should you use a breaker as a switch? Probably not, but you aren't endangering anything. My experience is, short of a hugh amp spike that welds the contacts together, breakers fail open.

Rick

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by RJHuser

We have a breaker in the office that controls the daytime lights. Been turned on and off at least 5 times a week, 52 weeks a year, for 40 years (that's about 21,000 operations). Still good, works well, and trips at the proper amperage (just tested the other month or so).

So, should you use a breaker as a switch? Probably not, but you aren't endangering anything. My experience is, short of a hugh amp spike that welds the contacts together, breakers fail open.

Rick

Most industrial shops I've been in do it the same way Rick.

[davel1971]

why would it have an "on" and "off" and not just a reset device if it wasn't to be used as a switch? They only cost several bucks a piece so big deal if it fails after 10 years of cycling on and off

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

All im saying is if that breaker fails from constant switching it could be bad the one time the breaker fails.
I don't give a crap if you've done it and your dad did it and his dad did it for one hundred years without problems.

I wont sacrifice my family's life for 30 minutes worth of work and to trust the breaker works after constant switching for which its not designed for.

Good luck

TURBS

Sabre owners united!

Originally Posted by OldCoot

What's to break? It either shuts it off or it doesn't. You can always shut the main off , it's right there or unplug the shoreline. Don't see any life threatening issue.

FWIW, I've seen more switches fail than breakers.

To each their own.

Gents,

Y'all sound like an old married couple. You're both right, they're not officially switches, but I've never seen one wear out including the shop I worked in that used breakers as switches for decades.

The way breakers are designed they're supposed to fail open, though anything is possible, whether you mess with it or not.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by davel1971

why would it have an "on" and "off" and not just a reset device if it wasn't to be used as a switch? They only cost several bucks a piece so big deal if it fails after 10 years of cycling on and off

15 amp breaker at Lowes $3.48. 10 years =$0.35/yr
Shop Square D Homeline 15-Amp Single-Pole Circuit Breaker at Lowes.com

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dutch

Hi everyone,


Is there a thread out there on how to bring the outside electric switch on the hotwater tank and wired it inside? Thanks in adavnce.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ight-9008.html

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Don't see any life threatening issue.
FWIW, I've seen more switches fail than breakers.

Me too!! And if it fails it's most likely gonna fail open. At the factory where
I worked my entire career, it was rare for a breaker to wear out but it
did happen a few times. All the ones I remember failed open. I don't see
how that is life threatening....

[Herk7769]

In aviation, every flight manual I have ever seen "WARN"s against using a breaker as a switch. Just sayiin'

Resetting tripped breakers is know as "Boom Checking." Resetting a tripped fuel pump breaker has been known to blow thing wing's off airplanes.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

In aviation, every flight manual I have ever seen "WARN"s against using a breaker as a switch. Just sayiin'

Resetting tripped breakers is know as "Boom Checking." Resetting a tripped fuel pump breaker has been known to blow thing wing's off airplanes.

When a breaker is TRIPPED it probably tripped for a reason!
We're talking about shutting off a breaker which is NOT the same thing
as a tripped breaker.

Is the main buss power switch on a helicopter a switch or a circuit breaker????

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by KyDan

When a breaker is TRIPPED it probably tripped for a reason!
We're talking about shutting off a breaker which is NOT the same thing
as a tripped breaker.

Is the main buss power switch on a helicopter a switch or a circuit breaker????

If it is wired like most aircraft I have flown, it is a DC switch that controls a contactor relay.