Suburban Water heater breaker keeps tripping

[HemiCab]

The breaker would trip after it seemed the water would get hot.

Running on gas and electricity the breaker did not trip. But turn off the gas switch and use hot water, the breaker would trip after approximately 4 minutes. After the water was hot and just left it alone...used just cold water the breaker did not trip, it would cycle on/off to maintain temp.

Any clues? Bad element? Thermostat?

Thanks HC

[Herk7769]

Some things to check:

Since the gas and 120VAC systems are completely separate, they have different "ON" temperature settings as well (even if they tried to make them the same variations would make a few degrees inevitable).

If the Gas system keeps the water temp above the VAC temp "on" setting then the VAC system would NEVER come on with both systems running. If there was a short in the VAC system you would never know.

Shut off the gas system and the VAC system would get it's "ON" command when the water cooled enough to need heat. Pop goes the breaker.

The good news is the computer that runs things is not the short. I would look at the hot wire from the computer to the element for rat teeth marks or a shorted element internally. Elements are pretty cheap.

[HemiCab]

Herk I will look for a bare wire. As long as the just electrical element was used just to maintain the temp the breaker never threw. Only when we used hot water...maybe a gallon, would the breaker throw after 3 or 4 minutes.

[LadyWindrider]

If your camper has 30 amp service, you are running the Air Conditioning, and much other stuff, you may be overloading the 30 amp. Also, your electric element may be on the way out, and shorting out in the water once it starts to get hot. Replacing the element is fairly cheap, might try that.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by HemiCab

Herk I will look for a bare wire. As long as the just electrical element was used just to maintain the temp the breaker never threw. Only when we used hot water...maybe a gallon, would the breaker throw after 3 or 4 minutes.

I assumed the breaker was the breaker for the water heater and not the main 30 amp. Is that right?

If it was the water heater breaker; the trouble is in the water heater. (most likely a bad wire or element)

If it was the main circuit breaker it is load related.
Reduce the load and try again like Windrider said.

[KyDan]

You can buy elements and the special socket to unscrew the element
at Home Depot or Lowes.
If it was mine, the first thing I'd do is drain it and unscrew the element
and visually inspect it.
It will be obvious if it's bad.

I know some guys are gonna say check it with a meter but yours is working
sort of so I'm not sure what a meter would tell you.

My 2¢ is that it's time for a visual inspection of the element.

Good luck!
(If you buy the element at HD or Lowes be sure you get one for
120 VAC and not 240 VAC.)

[HemiCab]

Thanks everyone!

It is the WH breaker that is tripping.

I will be buying a new element and get it installed in the next couple of weeks and let you know. It is in storage so I am not able to check for bare wire spots at the moment but at less than $20 having a spare is not a bad idea.

Now if I could only build that "spare" parts garage next week I could let my wife park in the regular garage again!

[HemiCab]

Well the new element is in and the breaker keeps tripping, any ideas? I have looked for bare wires but found none.

We have kept resetting the breaker to the point we have hot water at normal temp. Just as soon as we turn in the hot water faucet and get hot water, breaker trips.

HC

[TURBS]

Bad breaker?
try switch with another of the same size.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by HemiCab

Well the new element is in and the breaker keeps tripping, any ideas? I have looked for bare wires but found none.

We have kept resetting the breaker to the point we have hot water at normal temp. Just as soon as we turn in the hot water faucet and get hot water, breaker trips.

HC

Resetting breakers that continue to pop is VERY dangerous.
Highly NOT recommended. Something is causing the breakers to pop.
There are plenty of photos of RV fires. Lets not add to the archive.

[HemiCab]

Thanks Turbo, if it is the breaker where can you get a new one?

We are camping so for emergency use the gas will keep us going during use and keep the electric to maintain.

HC

[OldCoot]

Take the defective breaker to HD or Lowes or a hardware store and get a duplicate.

[Herk7769]

Try removing all power from the power center.
(Battery too just for safety)
Remove the face cover on the power center.
Swap the wires from the circuit for the water heater with another one of the same amperage.

If the problem moves to the new breaker; the circuit is the problem.
If it works fine, the change the original breaker.

[HemiCab]

Could this be my problem?

I got a new breaker before looking.

HC

[TURBS]

Wow! That's interesting!

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by HemiCab

Could this be my problem?

I got a new breaker before looking.

HC

Wild guess. Check the wire... It looks bad
Loose hold down screw caused a high resistance connection that got hot enough to burn the wires.

See my point about resetting a popping breaker without finding out why?

[HemiCab]

Herk, Point taken!

Next time I will dig deeper.

I am not sure if I should try to ever use the old breaker again....probably put it in the garbage.

Thanks for all the help.

This trip has been full of adventure, flat, water, breaker, satelite. More about all that when I get back to the house.

HC

[Hambonethecop]

Just a little added information if anyone searchs for this type of weater heater problem 2012 Flagstaff H2O not working on electric, gas was fine kicked the 15amp breaker in "box" took it to dealer for repair dealer found either suburban wired it backwards or wired wrong by Forest River during build I'd never figured taht out great dealer support