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Old 03-31-2023, 11:50 PM   #1
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confused about water heater

Our 2017 3250rl has a Suburban SW12DE water heater.
Acording to the spec sheet, this unit is both gas and electric. I saw a black on/off toggle switch when I opened the outside service cover.

The inside control panel display has a gas water heater on/off function, but nothing for turning on the electric heating element.

Is the electric heating element just not connected from the factory or is there some other control switch somewhere?
Thanks
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Old 04-01-2023, 12:39 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amauri View Post
Our 2017 3250rl has a Suburban SW12DE water heater.
Acording to the spec sheet, this unit is both gas and electric. I saw a black on/off toggle switch when I opened the outside service cover.

The inside control panel display has a gas water heater on/off function, but nothing for turning on the electric heating element.

Is the electric heating element just not connected from the factory or is there some other control switch somewhere?
Thanks

The SWDE models of Suburban water heaters only have the gas switch inside the RV, with the electric element switch located outside on the face of the water heater.....as yours does.


See this thread we keep in the FAQ section which explains the operation of.


https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ore-36197.html
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Old 04-01-2023, 06:04 AM   #3
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The electric switch is on the WH itself... I believe the reasoning is that you can also open the blow of valve to make sure there is water in the heater so you don't burn out the element.
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Old 04-01-2023, 07:45 AM   #4
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My switch is always ON and I use the circuit breaker in my panel to control the heater element. My tank stays full until the winter draining. Plugged in at home I don't need hot water so the breaker is off. If I camp with shore power, then I flip it on.

Circuit breakers aren't really supposed to be used as switches but I do the same with my convertor and refrigerator breakers.
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Old 04-01-2023, 07:57 AM   #5
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My circuit breaker is always ON. I use the black switch on the face of my water heater to turn my element ON and OFF because I stand 3 feet from it when I hook my water hose to the trailer when I arrive at a campsite and when I unhook my hose when I leave.
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Old 04-02-2023, 07:21 PM   #6
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Thank you all for the helpfull tips, and specially the
FAQ link that explained everything I needed to know.

What threw me off is that our previous trailer had both switches on the control panel. It must have been a newer type DLE heater.

We bought the Cardinal used, and l assumed it was gas only. After reading the FAQ, I realized that the heating element was bad (ohm meter test shows infinite).

CW had the OEM part in stock for less than $15 out the door.
DW is happy now.

Thanks again.
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Old 04-02-2023, 07:35 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amauri View Post
Thank you all for the helpfull tips, and specially the
FAQ link that explained everything I needed to know.

What threw me off is that our previous trailer had both switches on the control panel. It must have been a newer type DLE heater.

We bought the Cardinal used, and l assumed it was gas only. After reading the FAQ, I realized that the heating element was bad (ohm meter test shows infinite).

CW had the OEM part in stock for less than $15 out the door.
DW is happy now.

Thanks again.

It wasn't a newer type - it was made by the other manufacturer.
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Old 04-02-2023, 07:42 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amauri View Post
I realized that the heating element was bad (ohm meter test shows infinite).
.
Make certain that water heater is full of water BEFORE you turn on the electric element. Otherwise, you may burn out the electric element and end up back at the store.

Glad you got it fixed.
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Old 04-02-2023, 07:48 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Dan View Post
It wasn't a newer type - it was made by the other manufacturer.
Respectfully, that would be incorrect. It does not have to be made by the other manufacturer. Amauri currently has a Suburban SW12DE water heater which has only the outside switch for the electric element. Previously, it was very possible that Amauri had a Suburban SW12DEL, SW12DELC, SW6DEL, or SW6DELC water heater. The "L" in the model number indicates it comes with the 12v DC relay required for an inside electric water heater switch. The "C" in the model number indicates it comes with a plug-in cord for the electric element.
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Old 04-02-2023, 08:05 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NavyLCDR View Post
Respectfully, that would be incorrect. It does not have to be made by the other manufacturer. Amauri currently has a Suburban SW12DE water heater which has only the outside switch for the electric element. Previously, it was very possible that Amauri had a Suburban SW12DEL, SW12DELC, SW6DEL, or SW6DELC water heater. The "L" in the model number indicates it comes with the 12v DC relay required for an inside electric water heater switch. The "C" in the model number indicates it comes with a plug-in cord for the electric element.
OK, I should have said "it could have been made by the other manufacturer" then it wouldn't have been incorrect - but thanks for watching.
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Old 04-03-2023, 01:20 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amauri View Post
Thank you all for the helpfull tips, and specially the
FAQ link that explained everything I needed to know.

What threw me off is that our previous trailer had both switches on the control panel. It must have been a newer type DLE heater.

We bought the Cardinal used, and l assumed it was gas only. After reading the FAQ, I realized that the heating element was bad (ohm meter test shows infinite).

CW had the OEM part in stock for less than $15 out the door.
DW is happy now.

Thanks again.
Fantastic, glad you got it all worked out. Nothing like a happy DW.

As far as your previous RV having both switches inside the RV, you very well could have had the Suburban brand SWDEL model as NavyLCDR suggested......or you could have had another brand (Dometic/Atwood) that has both switches inside as Mr. Dan suggested.

The easy way to know if you had the Suburban brand or the Dometic/Atwood brand on the previous RV, is to remember the draining of it and if it had an anode rod. See pic below for a pic of an anode rod (which is not to be confused with the electric heating element).

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Suburban brand tank type water heaters use a porcelain lined steel tank, which utilizes an anode rod. Removal/replacement of this anode rod is how you drain the tank. Please see the videos about Suburban tanks that we also keep in the FAQ section as it also applies to your current RV with the SW12DE water heater you now have. Video #1 at the link below will explain the function/replacement of the anode rod.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...es-135977.html

Now, if your previous RV instead had the Dometic/Atwood brand water heater, then it had an aluminum tank, thus no need for an anode rod. The drain plug on this brand is usually just a plastic/nylon plug. See pic below:

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