Troubleshooting Electric Failure on SW6DEL Water Heater: Common Causes & Fixes

[Chris2507]

My question, the electrical side of my water heater is not working. I have checked power to unit, thermostat, heating element. All is working but it still will not heat. Does the circuit board have any control over Electric side? Please help me resolve this issue. Gas side is working fine.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

My question, the electrical side of my water heater is not working. I have checked power to unit, thermostat, heating element. All is working but it still will not heat. Does the circuit board have any control over Electric side? Please help me resolve this issue. Gas side is working fine.

If you have measured the voltage across the heating element and it is about 120 VAC, then I'd say the heating element has failed. With power disconnected, measure the resistance across the heating element. If it shows a high value of resistance or open then the element is bad.

A common reason for failure is the element was energized when there was no water in the heater. It will fail almost within seconds. There is no time for "oops, I forgot".

Bob

 

[Aussieguy]

Is there a breaker for it or is it shared with the converter breaker like mine

Took me a while to work out mine is shared and I have my converter turned off on purpose

To check the heating element use multi meter set to read ohms
If it is melted …. Digital meter will read UL(default) or needle won’t move (older style)

 

[rxgac]

If suburban, Element is about $20 at any big box. You will need a 1 1/8 socket or they have a tool. Its usually 1200-1300w element. Maybe a 30minute job.

 

[bikendan]

My question, the electrical side of my water heater is not working. I have checked power to unit, thermostat, heating element. All is working but it still will not heat. Does the circuit board have any control over Electric side? Please help me resolve this issue. Gas side is working fine.

As was said, if you turned on the electric side, with no water in the WH, you probably fried the electric element.

 

[D W]

A good element for that water heater should measure at least 10 ohms of resistance.

 

[Aussieguy]

Didn’t want to confuse people with too much technical info

But 10 is the magic number for a approx 1400w 120v element

 

[Aussieguy]

Before I pulled the on/off switch out of the metal case to test it

I went inside and tested the 120v input wires to the whole water heater

That confirmed no power was going to the 120v going to the heater
And I turned my attention to the breaker box

Some heaters have 2 switches inside the rv …. others like mine the switch to turn on 120v …. is outside under the heater door

 

[Boomerweps]

My water heater plugs into a single AC socket installed nearby under my bed. I unplugged it one year to plug in a dehumidifier for winter. Forgot about it, used it on gas a few times, bought a replacement element, installed it, still didn’t work UNTIL I remembered the plug ;(

 

[Larry-NC]

If suburban, Element is about $20 at any big box. You will need a 1 1/8 socket or they have a tool. Its usually 1200-1300w element. Maybe a 30minute job.

Sure it isn't 1-1/16"? and either a 1440 watt or 1500 watt element is used in Suburban units.