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10-10-2019, 11:30 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 145
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Using Circuit Breaker to turn Suburban Water Heater on Electric
The Suburban water heater in my Salem Hemisphere has the switch for the electric element located on the base of the heater. This is very inconvenient when trying to manage loads so as not to overload the 30 amp service and trip the main breaker or the breaker on the park's pedestal. The electrical panel has a breaker labelled Water Heater. Is there any down side to using this breaker to turn the water heater on and off? If you do this, have you noticed anything else on the circuit?
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10-10-2019, 11:35 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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You can do that as some do but I don't like using a circuit breaker as a switch.
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2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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10-10-2019, 11:45 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Dandridge,TN
Posts: 614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A32Deuce
You can do that as some do but I don't like using a circuit breaker as a switch.
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No down side worked for Westinghouse and for years test up to 2,000 on and off no fails. Many large building turn off and on power daily every day with breakers.
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10-10-2019, 11:49 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 4,549
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Some owners add a standard single-pole switch between the breaker and the water heater. It's easier to reach, particularly if you can mount it at a more convenient level.
You can also add one with a pilot light to make it obvious that it's on, but make sure the rating of the switch matches or exceeds that of the circuit breaker. (It's a heating element.)
__________________
TV: 2021 Ford F-150 4WD XLT Crew w/ 3.5L EB & HDPP, payload: 2,416#.
RV: 2020 Rockwood Mini-Lite 2507S, Propride 3P hitch w/ 1400# spring bars
Camping nights: 2021, 52; 2022, 99; 2023, 88; 2024, TBD (Est: 80+)
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10-10-2019, 11:49 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Gibsonville, NC
Posts: 571
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Well since my fancy dancy In-Command doesn't do it (although there is a function for it which is so frustrating), I shut my off via the breaker. That way I don't have to mess with the water heater cover and stuff.
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2019 Cedar Creek Silverback 37MBH
TV: 2017 Ford F350 CC DRW King Ranch
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10-10-2019, 11:53 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,472
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I don't like to use a CB as a switch either. I've been told if it's marked "SWD" (usually used in lighting circuits) it's rated to be a switch.
__________________
You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality – Ayn Rand
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10-10-2019, 12:00 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 145
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Thanks to all for the quick replies!!!
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10-10-2019, 12:10 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 74
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The switch on my heater has been stuck for some time. I use the switch on the control panel when in season, but when winterizing, I unplug the heater from the socket behind the panel.
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MicroLite 19fbs _ Ringwood NJ
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10-10-2019, 12:23 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,738
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jd4010
Well since my fancy dancy In-Command doesn't do it (although there is a function for it which is so frustrating), I shut my off via the breaker. That way I don't have to mess with the water heater cover and stuff.
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There was just a recent thread on this. It may have been in the dynamax subsection but don't quote me on that. They were maybe fixing this electric heating element part with the in-command systems.
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2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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10-10-2019, 12:23 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,631
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Frankly, I don't see any difference in either opening the service panel and flipping the breaker off/on or opening the WH door and flipping that switch off/on.
I'm not a fan of using a CB as a regular switch. In my travels I have noticed how flimsy & weak the pedestal CB's are in some CG's after being flipped on and off every couple of days.
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'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
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10-10-2019, 12:35 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 331
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I went to the factory for some repairs. When we picked it up the hot water heater didn't work. They turned off the breaker to protect it in case it was dry.
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10-10-2019, 12:42 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Canada
Posts: 516
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Water Heater switch
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trailer traveler
The Suburban water heater in my Salem Hemisphere has the switch for the electric element located on the base of the heater. This is very inconvenient when trying to manage loads so as not to overload the 30 amp service and trip the main breaker or the breaker on the park's pedestal. The electrical panel has a breaker labelled Water Heater. Is there any down side to using this breaker to turn the water heater on and off? If you do this, have you noticed anything else on the circuit?
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I have a wall switch for my water tank in the control panel that has both the lpg and electric switch. I shut the breaker off only when winterizing.
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10-10-2019, 12:51 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 39
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I run my AC and everything on 30 amps and never had an issue.
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10-10-2019, 01:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Georgia
Posts: 581
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Both are kinda inconvenient to me. And I dont want to forget and leave it ON.
For this reason, I only use the convenient wall mounted GAS switch only and find it very suitable for us. We only heat water once per day dor an hour or so showers.... water in tank remains hot for other occasional uses for 20+ hours.
The propane is very efficient IMO.
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10-10-2019, 01:07 PM
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#15
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Many breakers are rated for switch duty. (SWD)
Even those that aren't do OK (think pedestal breaker that gets thrown hundreds of times) and we don't think twice about using it that way.
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2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
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10-10-2019, 01:24 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cedar Creek Lake, TX
Posts: 3,477
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I rigged up a 12 guage extension cord to run the water heater on the 20 amp outlet that is on most pedestals. That way I don't worry about overloading the 30 amp circuit.
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Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Keystone Loredo 290SRL
2019 Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins crew cab
Andersen hitch
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10-10-2019, 01:27 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Athens
Posts: 685
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I’ve used the breaker as a switch for years. DH is a master electrician so if he says it’s good that works for me.
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Phil, Heather & Olaf the Boxer
Ontario Canada
Lexington 283GTS
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10-10-2019, 01:36 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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Well, in our previous camper that had an electric/gas WH I used to turn off BOTH switches when we left and turned them both back on when we got to the campground.
Never burned out an element.
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2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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10-10-2019, 01:47 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Gibsonville, NC
Posts: 571
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmtire
There was just a recent thread on this. It may have been in the dynamax subsection but don't quote me on that. They were maybe fixing this electric heating element part with the in-command systems.
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I remember that thread. Someone had attended a Rally (I think in the Indiana area) and they brought this to the engineers who worked up a solution. I would love if FR would publish this "fix" or something as it's annoying to see the option in the IC yet it does nothing. I'm a technologist by trade and not much irritates me more than software/hardware that doesn't function as it was meant to do. Either make it work or don't have the feature there to tease me.
__________________
2019 Cedar Creek Silverback 37MBH
TV: 2017 Ford F350 CC DRW King Ranch
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10-10-2019, 01:58 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Posts: 9,230
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cfo111
No down side worked for Westinghouse and for years test up to 2,000 on and off no fails. Many large building turn off and on power daily every day with breakers.
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Yes, but were they the circuit breakers they use in an RV? I think not!
__________________
2012 SunSeeker 3100SS Toad-1962 Futura Average 100 + days camping
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