Using gas only for WH on 235RS

[cullivoe]

Hi,
How can I get the water heater to use only gas and not electricity? This would help when using our generator. Does it go to electric automatically when it's plugged in? Is the switch by the sink the gas control? Is the switch on the WH the electric control?

[milzat]

Behind the outside access panel, in the bottom left there is a small black switch. This switch is to control the electrical heating element. Switch it to OFF and it will only work on GAS.

[milzat]

Yes, the switch by the sink is to control the GAS solenoid and igniter.

Questions & Answers

[cullivoe]

Thanks for the clarification...We burned out one electrical element, and don't want to do that again.

[milzat]

As long as there is water present in the water heater tank, the element won't burn. You have to remember, when using the electric element to heat water, make sure the tank is full before switching it ON. Also, when you break camp, turn the switch OFF before disconnecting from a water supply.


BTW, the element can be purchased at almost any hardware store. They're fairly inexpensive and easy to replace.

[acadianbob]

The switch is a black rocker switcher relatively well hidden in the bottom left hand corner.

[Good news guy]

The switch should have a safety pin so you can't turn it on by accident. When you are done with the electric I would re pin it off.

[KyDan]

My trailer has a circuit breaker in the power panel for the
electric side of the HWH. It's much easier for me to flip off
the inside breaker than to go outside and open the access door.
Either one will shut off the electric heating element.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by KyDan

My trailer has a circuit breaker in the power panel for the
electric side of the HWH. It's much easier for me to flip off
the inside breaker than to go outside and open the access door.
Either one will shut off the electric heating element.

My water heater breaker also power the fridge.

[milzat]

Originally Posted by KyDan

My trailer has a circuit breaker in the power panel for the
electric side of the HWH. It's much easier for me to flip off
the inside breaker than to go outside and open the access door.
Either one will shut off the electric heating element.

Yes, it is handy, but a breaker isn't meant to be used as a switch. It WILL shorten it's life.


While circuit breakers can be legitimately and safely used as switches, the frequency and duration of such use is limited. Routinely circuit breakers are manually operated for service-maintenance and repair type activities. With the preceding enhancing our understanding, we can say that circuit breakers can legitimately be used as switches; generally they are not intended for prolonged repetitive manual breaking and making type control of electrical energy utilization equipment.

When a circuit breaker is designed to also be routinely used as an on-off switch, they are marked SWD, for switch duty.

If you must, install a ON-OFF switch somewhere within the trailer. This is a very SIMPLE process. It can be mounted at easy reach and much easier than stooping down at the converter box to flip a "not intended for switch-use" breaker.


Thank you,

[KyDan]

[QUOTE=milzat;57243]Yes, it is handy, but a breaker isn't meant to be used as a switch. It WILL shorten it's life.

I hear ya but my 37 years of industrial maintenance experience says go ahead and flip the breaker.
This assumes your breaker only controls the HWH.
Mine does.
A new breaker cost less than 5 bucks and I would be
REALLY surprised if it ever wears out- at least during
the few years I will own the trailer.

At work we had breakers that controlled over head fans.
Some were operated on a daily basis and I can count
on one hand the number I ever needed to replace.
I'd like to see a life test--
A circuit breaker vs the 39¢ switch they put on the
water heater.
It wouldn't surprise me to find out the rocker switch
died first.

Just my 2¢

[cullivoe]

KyDan,
The HWH is also used by the same breaker as the fridge...so that's a no go. I will just use the little black switch .