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Old 08-03-2012, 05:45 PM   #1
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Electric water heater not working

What is the first step in determining if your electric water heater is working? I turned mine on and after about 30 minutes the water was still cold. I need to know the starting point in checking out the problem.
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Old 08-03-2012, 05:59 PM   #2
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The first step is to determine if it works OK with propane.

The 120 AC part is very easy to troubleshoot; PROVIDED it works OK using the propane/DC circuits.
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Old 08-03-2012, 06:00 PM   #3
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Try it on propane, and see if the water gets warm. Better yet, open the outside door, and raise the lever ion the pop-off valve and make you have water in the tank. Just because the faucets run, doesn't mean the tank is full. Next, try it on propane, and see if it works, If not, bypass valves wrong. Did you turn on the electrical switch outside on the unit? (bottom left corner). Do a search on here for water heater, lot of info, one of the most asked questions. Info has been repeated many times, but I gave you a start.

And 30 minutes on electric may not be long enough for hot water, but should notice temp difference between hot and cold.
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Old 08-03-2012, 06:46 PM   #4
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Yes it works just fine on propane. There are two switches inside the trailer, one for electric and the other for propane. There are no switches outside. Is there one under the cover to the water heater?
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Old 08-03-2012, 06:49 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jgrayjr View Post
Yes it works just fine on propane. There are two switches inside the trailer, one for electric and the other for propane. There are no switches outside. Is there one under the cover to the water heater?
Not if there is one inside.

Here is the AC wiring diagram. It is pretty generic.

Press the high temp reset buttons (under the rubber covers) and if that does not work you will need to replace the heating element.
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Old 08-03-2012, 06:57 PM   #6
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My water heater is a Dometic and doesn't look like what the picture you posted.
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Old 08-03-2012, 07:13 PM   #7
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My water heater is a Dometic and doesn't look like what the picture you posted.
Its not a Suburban or Atwood?

Mind telling us what trailer you have? The only water heater made by Dometic is found on foreign trailers called the Truma.
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Old 08-03-2012, 07:37 PM   #8
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My water heater is a Dometic and doesn't look like what the picture you posted.
They all have the rubber covered high limit buttons as far as I know.
Without a picture of YOURS I have no idea what you have.
I just posted a picture of mine.
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Old 08-03-2012, 07:56 PM   #9
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Quote:
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Its not a Suburban or Atwood?

Mind telling us what trailer you have? The only water heater made by Dometic is found on foreign trailers called the Truma.
to the OP, it always helps us help you if you post the year, make and model RV that you have.
most of us have ours in our signature.
all i could find is that you have a 5th wheel.
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Old 08-03-2012, 08:16 PM   #10
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I guess I ought to look at what I got before I post it here. It is a 10-E Atwood in a 2010 Nomad 5th wheel.
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Old 08-03-2012, 08:21 PM   #11
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I guess I ought to look at what I got before I post it here. It is a 10-E Atwood in a 2010 Nomad 5th wheel.
Just for kicks, remove the outer access plate and check for small toggle swith, some have it some don't.
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Old 08-03-2012, 08:23 PM   #12
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http://www.atwoodmobile.com/images/waterheater.pdf

Getting more info. Standby

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/atwoodwaterheater.pdf

See page 14 for troubleshooting this very unusual water heater.
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Old 08-03-2012, 08:55 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by herk7769 View Post
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/images/waterheater.pdf

Getting more info. Standby

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/atwoodwaterheater.pdf

See page 14 for troubleshooting this very unusual water heater.
I went to the atwoodwater heater pdf file you listed an on Page 15 is a picture of the water heater I have. There are no reset buttons that I can see. If there is can you tell where they might be? Thanks
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Old 08-03-2012, 09:00 PM   #14
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I went to the atwoodwater heater pdf file you listed an on Page 15 is a picture of the water heater I have. There are no reset buttons that I can see. If there is can you tell where they might be? Thanks
Again. Page 14 shows it located on the high limit thermostat just like the Suburban.
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Old 08-03-2012, 09:18 PM   #15
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Again. Page 14 shows it located on the high limit thermostat just like the Suburban.
As a former gas service tech the gas portion is simple but the electric side is not and I am trying to understand what you guys are trying to tell me but so far it isn't sinking in too well. Let me take some time and work with it and do some testing and if I still can't get it to work I will holler at you again. Thanks
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Old 08-04-2012, 05:30 PM   #16
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Not if there is one inside.

Here is the AC wiring diagram. It is pretty generic.

Press the high temp reset buttons (under the rubber covers) and if that does not work you will need to replace the heating element.
Finally got my head screwed on right. Turned the switch on for electric, tested the voltage at the heating element. There is power to the heating element. Turned off the switch, checked the continuity across the heating element. No continuity which would indicate a bad element. Looks like it is going to be quite a deal to replace the element. Thanks again for all of your info.....
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