Water heater mystery

[Dovetail]

When we got to the campground Sunday pm, the water heater dod not work on electric. Figured maybe the element was bad.
Turned on the gas and heated the water. I turned off the gas after dinner dishes, figuring i did not need to keep the water hot all night and basically waste propane.
In the morning, water was still hot and continued to be thru Tuesday AM.
So electric working on the heater, good news.
Tuesday night water was cool again.

Circuit breaker seems ok. Would it be the electric switch on the tank, rather than the element? Or something else?

[OldCoot]

Could be the hi temp limit switch which is behind the 2 round rubber plugs on the black plastic cover in the upper lh corner of the wh access panel.

[Dovetail]

So, the reset button would fix if that was the problem?

[OldCoot]

I believe they are both 130° limits, one is for propane and one for 110v. They can trip from time to time. I replaced both of mine with 140° so I can use less hot water.

[Dovetail]

Coot, turns out both the element and the t stat/temp limit thingy were bad.
Now have hot water, thanks for your help. Q

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Dovetail

Coot, turns out both the element and the t stat/temp limit thingy were bad.
Now have hot water, thanks for your help. Q

Glad I could help.

[YoungKopernik]

I also had a water heater go out and I traced it to the high temp fuse.
I found it interesting that I could only buy the over temp fuse in twos(6yrs ago). At the time I was worried that these must go out often if they only come in twos. I have never had another one go out and I still carry the spare around.
I like the idea of putting a higher temp fuse in.
Thanks
John

[Dovetail]

Just had to buy one, but it was $36. I think it went out as a result of the element shorting out. The element was so corroded, the wire inside the tube was broken.
Not sure why it gat so bad. Anode rod was still good.