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06-04-2020, 11:36 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 359
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Stuck water heater switch???
Ok... this is a new one to me. Anyone had the external on/off switch for the electric water heater get stuck in there on position?
Mine is frozen. I finally had to kill it at the breaker. Any ideas on how to unstuck
Thanks!
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06-05-2020, 02:51 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 153
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The same exact issue happened to me about 2 years ago. Finally had to just replace the switch. If memory serves me correctly replacing the switch was pretty straight forward.
__________________
Thanks,
rkulbok
(Ron & Karin)
2015 Georgetown 328TS
Full time since October 2015
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06-05-2020, 05:39 AM
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#3
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,185
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This problem is usually reported by users with the Suburban brand of water heaters.
These switches have experienced this same trouble for years. The current draw through these switches causes a melting failure to make them inoperable. The interim remedy has been to use the breaker at the power panel until the switch is replaced.
They can be easily replaced.....HOWEVER make sure you turn the breaker off when you do the replacement. The actual plastic switch can be removed by prying the ends out of the metal cut out of the heater panel. You’ll typically find the switch is connected to 2 black wires, and it really doesn’t matter which one attaches where.
However....I have been known to touch the odd wrong wire and then ⚡️⚡️ Just kidding.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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06-05-2020, 05:45 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 309
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The switch does melt. It happened to me. Easy replace. Cost about $6.
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06-05-2020, 06:18 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,525
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Mine stuck on and I just used the breaker from then on. Actually it stuck on because I never turned it off. I always used the breaker. We had that RockWood 7 years and that's how I shut it off the entire time. No problem.
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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06-05-2020, 03:08 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: British Columbia Canada
Posts: 556
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EricNJ
Ok... this is a new one to me. Anyone had the external on/off switch for the electric water heater get stuck in there on position?
Mine is frozen. I finally had to kill it at the breaker. Any ideas on how to unstuck
Thanks!
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Sales guy at RV store said better buy a couple extra switches when I bought a replacement.
He was right..
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2017 FR3 28 DS
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06-05-2020, 03:35 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,578
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EricNJ
Ok... this is a new one to me. Anyone had the external on/off switch for the electric water heater get stuck in there on position?
Mine is frozen. I finally had to kill it at the breaker. Any ideas on how to unstuck
Thanks!
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I unstuck mine with a screwdriver. Next trip it failed in the OFF position. I jumpered it and used the breaker until a got a new switch.
__________________
2015 FR Wildcat 295RSX / GMC Sierra
Nights Camped: '13 = 49/'14 = 74/'15 = 74/'16 = 85/'17 = 110/'18 = 111/'19 = 86/'20 =108/'21 = 115/'22 = 135/'23 = 78; Booked for 2024 = 69 |
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06-05-2020, 11:53 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 359
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Great feedback! I was worried I’d need a whole new heater. Where should I go to buy a new switch for me Dometic water heater?
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06-06-2020, 07:53 AM
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#9
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,185
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Any reasonably stocked RV parts and repair location should have the switches.
The cut out opening in the metal is size specific, so it helps to take the defective switch with you.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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06-15-2020, 01:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 359
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan
Mine stuck on and I just used the breaker from then on. Actually it stuck on because I never turned it off. I always used the breaker. We had that RockWood 7 years and that's how I shut it off the entire time. No problem.
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So I did the same. I turned it off at the breaker expecting to turn it back on at the next destination. Sadly, it’s not coming on even through I’m connected to 30amp. Could there be another fuse or issue preventing it from coming on or is this likely just the death of the switch?
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06-21-2020, 06:20 PM
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#11
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,185
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Have you tested for voltage at the heating element?
Those switches are junk, and when one of mine broke, it melted so bad it didn’t complete the circuit to energize the actual heating element.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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06-21-2020, 06:46 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,472
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__________________
You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality – Ayn Rand
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06-21-2020, 06:59 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,352
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bob213
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Rather than having to replace the switch from time to time, why not just remove the old, join the wires with a butt connector and then add an on-off switch near the winterizing bypass valve.
When winterizing and the tank is empty, switch off. Tank full and bypass "active" switch on.
There are three switches in the water heater circuit. Breaker, one on control panel, and one at heater. If there was a lockout on the control panel switch for when the tank is empty two would do the job well.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change  )
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06-22-2020, 09:12 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 592
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My 3rd switch failed in the on position. I use the breaker ( first switch on the row).
__________________
 John & Susan, Olivia the dachshund
2011 Georgetown 337DS
2003 Dodge Dakota
Hampton Roads VA
2016 174 Days camping, 2017 66 days 2018 24 days 2019 48 days 2020 25 days 2021 6
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07-06-2020, 10:23 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 359
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mogman
My 3rd switch failed in the on position. I use the breaker ( first switch on the row).
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Hi all. Thanks for the help. I ended up buying and replacing the switch. All is good now. I would love to have a better switch at some point as the one i replaces is in a hard to reach spot. That said, it’s easier to get to than the breaker on the pedestal of the bed.
I’d take the suggestion of tying the wires at the current switch and adding a new switch if I felt more capable in terms of running a new set of wires and a switch into the coach somewhere. That just seems a bit daunting.
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