Hot Water Heater "ON" Light

LKicklight · 07-13-2013, 04:10 PM

In our Crusader 270RET, the hot water heater selection panel is located in the head right over the sink basin. As most look the same I will talk as if yours is the same: When ever we select the electric use of our hot water heater, the red indicator light does not come on. Even if we select the Propane use neither does the indicator light come on. This had caused us a small problem in that the last time we used the coach, two weeks ago, someone left the hot water heater in the electrical mode on. Since the tank was full of water nothing happened, had lots of hot water. I simply hooked up the house water hose to the coach and ran all the hot water out, then returned the electrical switch bank on to make sure nothing was damaged by being left on. With that said, I was under the impression that the red indicator light will come on whenever the hot water is turned on in either mode: If the light is suppose to come on and its not, what is the repair?

dretired · 07-13-2013, 04:28 PM

Our new 2014 325 Crusader..does not have those rocker switchs that "light up red" either....i am sorry to say.. our last 5th wheel ..and out 1st TT both had switchs that would light up....maybe thats a way to save money for the rv makers ...but i for one dont like that

LKicklight · 07-13-2013, 04:35 PM

so what you are saying is, you have the rocker switch's and the red lense, but they do not light up like in our sunnybrook???

Ida Ratherbe Camping · 07-13-2013, 05:02 PM

On ours, when you have the inside switch on and the light on, your heating with gas. To run it on electric, have to go outside and open access panel to hot water heater and push the on button in there. Usually with pop the campsite breaker with it and A/C running. So we just use gas. Was told never to run with both at same time. Yours may not be like that though.

OldCoot · 07-13-2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKicklight

In our Crusader 270RET, the hot water heater selection panel is located in the head right over the sink basin. As most look the same I will talk as if yours is the same: When ever we select the electric use of our hot water heater, the red indicator light does not come on. Even if we select the Propane use neither does the indicator light come on. This had caused us a small problem in that the last time we used the coach, two weeks ago, someone left the hot water heater in the electrical mode on. Since the tank was full of water nothing happened, had lots of hot water. I simply hooked up the house water hose to the coach and ran all the hot water out, then returned the electrical switch bank on to make sure nothing was damaged by being left on. With that said, I was under the impression that the red indicator light will come on whenever the hot water is turned on in either mode: If the light is suppose to come on and its not, what is the repair?

Might be a bad light in the switch.

LKicklight · 07-13-2013, 05:18 PM

Ours has two separate switch's. You can select either one if you have the propane on. The Electric mode has a switch right next to the propane switch. When we first get at a campsite, I will run the propane for quicker hot water supply, then turn it off and switch on the electric side. Out Sunnybrook also has two switch's, but they are not together on the same panel. Very confusing as we never knew the Sunnybrook had an electrical heater until it was three years old. Found by accident that it did in fact have an electrical mode. DW ordered the 03' Sunnybrook before we were married, that is how we found out by accident that she did in fact order the ten gallon hot water heater, dual mode. Its lights come on when the heater is on in either mode:

sail2liv · 07-13-2013, 05:29 PM

Rocker switch on panel and red light when in gas mode light up.....electric is on water heater thru outside access, a rocker on off switch with no light....both can run at same time, but if no water in tank you burn up the electric heating element...

dretired · 07-13-2013, 05:36 PM

Heres whats in my 2014 crusader 325...rocker switchs (to the left) have on/off function...water pump (right side of pic)will be "lit up red " when on...

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sail2liv · 07-13-2013, 05:41 PM

The gas is powered by 12v......turn inside switch on and it is blue and red light next to switch lights when gas ignites....plus can hear it.....

The heating element from the 110v is turned on/off by the rocker switch on tank thru the outside access....

So if no shore power no electric heat, and if battery dead or bad fuse no gas heat....

This is about it for my system good luck

RJHuser · 07-13-2013, 06:24 PM

I see from your picture of your switch panel that you have an Atwood water heater.

The red light on the switch panel is not an "ON" light, it is the gas side lockout indicator.

Refer to your instruction manual for the water heater for further information.

Rick

Tiggerdad · 07-13-2013, 06:40 PM

My 2013 Crusader also does not light when when on. Only comes on when there is a problem. IMO, a dumb design. One can have either or both on at same time. A red light when on would prevent a lot of people from leaving on by accident.

LKicklight · 07-13-2013, 07:59 PM

Already knew that, at least the water heater was still full of water from our last trip out recently, plus DW had used the hose from our house which also kept the water heater full. Our sunnybrook has run very successfully in the past with both switch's in both modes with no problem. Whenever there is hot water in the heater, the electrical mode will cut off and only use the propane. Leaned that the hard way before we purchased the Crusader:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sail2liv

Rocker switch on panel and red light when in gas mode light up.....electric is on water heater thru outside access, a rocker on off switch with no light....both can run at same time, but if no water in tank you burn up the electric heating element...

garbonz · 07-13-2013, 09:23 PM

The red light is only onif the gas does not light and locks itself out.

TURBS · 07-13-2013, 09:30 PM

Install lighted switches when turned on such as mine.
Easy as pie!
Speaking of pie I'm hungry. ....

timarti · 07-13-2013, 10:20 PM

Different trailers seem to have different setups! On ours, the inside water heater switch (blue light) controls the propane water heating only. To use electric heat a small rocker switch in the water heater compartment needs to be turned on. For really fast heatup, both can be used together. Just have to make sure the electric heater is off before draining the tank!

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