Several questions...

[PoppaT]

Hot water heater - lighted rocker switch, but the light is burnt out. Do I replace the switch or is there a way to only replace the bad light bulb inside the rocker switch?

2) Will shore power recharge the battery if the battery disconnect is engaged?

3)2016 295RST Crusader. When the first propane tank is empty, will it automatically switch to the second tank or is that a manual operation?

4) Control panel has rocker switch for Black Tank 1 and Black Tank 2. Do I have to do anything to "manage" two black tanks? Does the black tank valve empty both of them?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by PoppaT

Hot water heater - lighted rocker switch, but the light is burnt out. Do I replace the switch or is there a way to only replace the bad light bulb inside the rocker switch?

2) Will shore power recharge the battery if the battery disconnect is engaged?

3)2016 295RST Crusader. When the first propane tank is empty, will it automatically switch to the second tank or is that a manual operation?

4) Control panel has rocker switch for Black Tank 1 and Black Tank 2. Do I have to do anything to "manage" two black tanks? Does the black tank valve empty both of them?

2) No
3) Depends on which regulator
4) Don't believe you have 2 black tanks unless it states that in the specs. Usually it might have 2 gray tanks but rarely 2 black tanks.

[SeaDog]

Agree with BD on 2 - 4. Are you sure the light is burned out. When you turn the switch on does the propane side of the WH lite? You have to replace the switch if it is the light.

[PoppaT]

FR is doing a great job of confusing the newb. When I check the levels of what is labeled Black 1 - it's almost full.
Level of labeled Black 2 is Empty to 1/3. I know tank sensors can be confused, but why would I get different readings when I flip the switch?
(We should be empty. Dumped last weekend and hasn't been used since.)

Does the regulator/switch over valve photo give any clues as to automatic or manual?

Hot water switch in question is shown. Where does one find replacements? Box store? Amazon?

I turned off the Battery Disconnect so battery can be charged. Thanks!

[PoppaT]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

Agree with BD on 2 - 4. Are you sure the light is burned out. When you turn the switch on does the propane side of the WH lite? You have to replace the switch if it is the light.

Switch on Propane side does light. Electric side works (water was hot), but does not light.

Can you point me to a source for switches?

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by PoppaT

Hot water heater - lighted rocker switch, but the light is burnt out. Do I replace the switch or is there a way to only replace the bad light bulb inside the rocker switch?

2) Will shore power recharge the battery if the battery disconnect is engaged?

3)2016 295RST Crusader. When the first propane tank is empty, will it automatically switch to the second tank or is that a manual operation?

4) Control panel has rocker switch for Black Tank 1 and Black Tank 2. Do I have to do anything to "manage" two black tanks? Does the black tank valve empty both of them?

You'll need to replace the switch. An automotive store may have one exactly like the original.

2 - Shore power will charge the battery as long as the battery disconnect is engaged and the breaker labeled "conv" is on.

3 - As long as you have both propane tanks turned on, when the one that the black knob is pointed to runs out, the regulator will automatically switch to the other tank. But, the indicator will show red until you turn it toward the full tank, then it will show green (as long as it has gas in it).

4 - They use a generic control panel for several different models of RV. You only have one black tank so, only one of the tanks will show any variation in level of liquid in it. The other one will probably always show empty or not light at all. If you are still showing that something is in the tank even though you emptied, it's a normal condition for the type of cheap level sensors installed in the tank. "Stuff" like TP & other solids get stuck on the sensors & give false readings. Most just learn to live with it & after awhile you'll pretty much know when you're near full and time to dump. There are chemicals & other methods that can possibly clean the sensors but, it's a never ending cycle. There are also more expensive sensor systems that can be installed and more reliable.

[Bama Rambler]

See comments in the post below.

Originally Posted by PoppaT

Hot water heater - lighted rocker switch, but the light is burnt out. Do I replace the switch or is there a way to only replace the bad light bulb inside the rocker switch? A lot of places carry those switches, Mouser, Allied, even Amazon has them. Match the size and color and you should be able to find plenty. You can even find different color lens. There should be some markings on the side of the switch that you could use to match it exactly if you wanted to.

2) Will shore power recharge the battery if the battery disconnect is engaged? I don't like the words engaged and disengaged for disconnect switches. It's confusing terminology. If the switch is 'Open' the batteries won't charge from shore power. If the switch is 'Closed' they will charge from shore power.

3)2016 295RST Crusader. When the first propane tank is empty, will it automatically switch to the second tank or is that a manual operation? The regulator you show in the picture below is an Auto Switchover Regulator, so it should switch to the Secondary cylinder when the Primary cylinder is empty. However once it switches you need to switch the lever to make the active cylinder the Primary side.

4) Control panel has rocker switch for Black Tank 1 and Black Tank 2. Do I have to do anything to "manage" two black tanks? Does the black tank valve empty both of them? That RV only has one toilet, so you'll only have one black tank. Those indicator panels default to light the Empty light even if there's no wiring connected to the panel. And a lot of times the light may bleed into the 1/3rd lamp so it looks like it's illuminated.

[SeaDog]

Originally Posted by PoppaT

Switch on Propane side does light. Electric side works (water was hot), but does not light.

Can you point me to a source for switches?

That lighted switch is for the propane side only there is no light for the electric side. get in the habit of turning the electric side off when you travel and on when you hookup. You can run both propane and electric for faster recovery when using allot of hot water.

[phillyg]

1. I don't know if you can replace only the bulb, but the switch is so inexpensive I'd replace the whole thing.

2. Depends on how the disconnect is wired, and you'd have to take a meter to the battery to find out. Regardless, if connected to shore power, leave the switch on.

3. I don't know.

4. I don't know.

[Mr. Dan]

1. My water heater propane switch was never lighted. My dealership’s co-owner said they never are. Oh, yeah? I pulled the switch and found that the tab for the bulb had no ground wire. I installed a wire to ground and now my bulb lights when the switch is on as it should.

[nomad297]

My switch for propane to the water heater lights-up as well.

Bruce

[PoppaT]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

That lighted switch is for the propane side only there is no light for the electric side. get in the habit of turning the electric side off when you travel and on when you hookup. You can run both propane and electric for faster recovery when using allot of hot water.

Replaced the switch (thought having a light would be a GREAT reminder to switch electric WH OFF when breaking camp). No light with new switch either. Once again I learn that my assumptions aren't necessarily how things really work!

Just finished washing roof and front/back/one side before the rains arrived. Winterized in a steady rain. Fingers crossed that I have everything protected before 27 degrees arrives Monday!

10,000 projects, On Wheels

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

That lighted switch is for the propane side only there is no light for the electric side. get in the habit of turning the electric side off when you travel and on when you hookup. You can run both propane and electric for faster recovery when using allot of hot water.

Originally Posted by PoppaT

Replaced the switch (thought having a light would be a GREAT reminder to switch electric WH OFF when breaking camp). No light with new switch either. Once again I learn that my assumptions aren't necessarily how things really work!

Just finished washing roof and front/back/one side before the rains arrived. Winterized in a steady rain. Fingers crossed that I have everything protected before 27 degrees arrives Monday!

10,000 projects, On Wheels

Missed that one too!!

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by PoppaT

Replaced the switch (thought having a light would be a GREAT reminder to switch electric WH OFF when breaking camp). No light with new switch either. Once again I learn that my assumptions aren't necessarily how things really work!

Then something is wrong. A simple ON/OFF rocker switch would have only 2 terminals and your view shows 3 terminals with wires attached. The switch should illuminate when ON.