hot water switch

Has anyone added a hot water on/off switch for the electric hot water heater? I was thinking of putting a switch inside the trailer. I now go outside everytime I want to turn the electric hot water heater on. Am I missing something? I think it would be nice to have a switch on the inside. I have a 2009 29rlbs. Maybe there is a switch on the inside, if so, I don't know where it is. I was thinking of putting one on the inside panel in series with the on/off switch already on the hotwater heater. Maybe a wall type switch with a light. That should carry the current. Any ideas? Thanks! Duke

Scruffy added a switch - in the same area where the switch for the gas heater is located. The electric switchplate is larger (standard house size) than the gas switchplate (manufacturer's installation). The electric switchplate has room for the switch and for a red indicator light.

Before Scruffy put in the switch, the heater was ALWAYS turned on at the outside, and we would flip the breaker when we wanted to heat water, and try to remember to turn it off when we didn't need it anymore. We never keep the water heater on all the time.

Here's a photo of the water heater switch Mod:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ScruffyAndTater/WildcatMods#5305048449540916450

Tater

Hey! that is exactly what I was thinking of Great to see the layout. I hadn't thought of an extra outlet there but I like that idea. I wonder how he wired the switch and outlet.. I'll have to do some looking. I know 115v goes to the heater. Do you think he used the same lead to power the outlet?

Actually, you already have a switch inside; the circuit breaker. If you wanted to add another one, it would probably not be too hard. Just pull some wire from the water heater up to the panel where you want your switch. Both are in the same cabinet area.

I added one (see my photos in link on bottom), I got my idea from Bobby Daniel: http://www.bobbystuff.com/RV/00-07-Electric_water_heater_switch.php

I have a 2006 RLBS, do I have a switch outside too? I am new so please be gentle:) I think I was only told about using gas for the hot water. I really like the idea of the switch. Is there always water in the tank unless you drain it?

Thanks, Tom

Yep, you have a switch outside. Yes theres water in the tank unless you drain it.
But when you get to the campground , Just be double sure you have the water hooked up and on, and turn the hot water side of the faucet on without air coming out.
If the water is low / below the element and theres no water and you turn the switch on...... You'll be headed to the store to buy a new element. They burn quick with no water.

mga60tw you should have a electric switch on the outside in the lower left corner of the water heater. It should be black and you can turn it on/off and run your gas for fast hot water recovery when you take your showers. You have a drain plug in the center bottom of the water heater on the out side. When you drain the water tank take a look at your Anode rod and see if it needs to be replace. You can get a flush unit at CW to help clean out your hot water tank.

Shooter posted a link to my website which contains photos of my switch. Very easy to do. I use just the electrical element most of the time but use both the electric and gas when I want hot water quick. The switch makes it easy to turn off the hot water when I am also using a toaster oven or running the microwave while the AC is running. We only have 30 amps of electricity and sometimes you have to manage your use of those 30 amps. A hot water switch on the inside makes that easier.


Bobby

Random photo of the Bodie Island Lighthouse, Outer Banks, NC

Ok, where do you find one of these switches with the outlet?

Any hardware store should have them..... Lowe\'s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Minards........ You\'ll need the switch with the indicator light, a double outlet (if you want it), and an outlet cover or covers (if your store doesn\'t have the cover that Bobby has, get two like ours). Scruffy used the proper guage Romax for the wire. Here is a picture of the wiring under the sink: http://picasaweb.google.com/ScruffyAndTater/WildcatMods#5305048480746973202 It goes over the plumbing, then down to the floor, across the back of the drawer under the stove, behind the refrigerator, and then to the water heater. Scruffy says there is an outlet in there that the water heater is plugged into.... that\'s what you connect to. The switch controls the water heater outlet. The double outlet in the cabinet is always \"hot\" and can be used any time - the water heater switch controls the water heater only.

Tater

Thanks Tater, and would that be 12 guage?

I just asked - Scruffy says it's either 10 or 12.

Thank you

I would say it should be 12 gauge, yellow usually means 12 gauge.

My CAT doesnt have the outlet for the hot water heater to plug into, its hard wired straight in.

I guess I am one that does not like to reinvent the wheel, the simpler the better. I use my circuit breaker at the converter panel for turning the hot water heater on/off electrically. It is a whole more convenient when I park in a camp ground at night/evening. During the summer the 5Th wheel gets so hot inside and depending on the GC power supply, my air conditioner trips the 20 Amp breaker a lot. I have the optional 15K air-conditioner. So I always turn off the water heater or use gas to heat it until the 5Th wheel cools down inside. This year I have a fan that clips on the lamp stand that houses the converter. I plan on using it to blow air across the circuit breakers with the cover open to help cool them down. The 20 Amp breaker for the air-conditioner seems to get a wee bit warm until air conditioner cools down the 5Th wheel, depending on the CG power coming in.

mga60tw wrote:I have a 2006 RLBS, do I have a switch outside too? I am new so please be gentle:) I think I was only told about using gas for the hot water. I really like the idea of the switch. Is there always water in the tank unless you drain it?

Thanks, Tom

Tom,

The switch is hard to see, I have to bend over to see it cause of the little pipes in there. Some switches have a cotter pin that you have to remove to flip the switch.

Standard 14 gauge house wire is fine. That wire is good to 15 amps and is the standard wiring in homes. The hot water heater should be connected to a 15 amp breaker. Just confirm that. 12 gauge is used for 20 amp circuit breakers. There is no need to use 12 gauge but there is no problem with using it either if you want to use it or have some spare wire laying around the house. It is just a little stiffer to work with.

Bobby

I believe I have some 12 laying around, otherwise if I have to go make a purchase, I will probably just get 14. Thanks

Admin wrote:Yep, you have a switch outside. Yes theres water in the tank unless you drain it.
But when you get to the campground , Just be double sure you have the water hooked up and on, and turn the hot water side of the faucet on without air coming out.
If the water is low / below the element and theres no water and you turn the switch on...... You'll be headed to the store to buy a new element. They burn quick with no water.

Yes, I have done that twice. I guess I am getting a little slow with age. Don't go to an RV store for the element. Just take the burned out element to Lowes or Home Depot. It is 110volts and just match the wattage. A replacement might be just a bit shorter. And the cost is a few dollars.

Here is a picture of the switch



[img]http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/maintenance-repairs-trouble-shooting-service-warranty-f12/[/img]

Duke wrote:Hey! that is exactly what I was thinking of Great to see the layout. I hadn't thought of an extra outlet there but I like that idea. I wonder how he wired the switch and outlet.. I'll have to do some looking. I know 115v goes to the heater. Do you think he used the same lead to power the outlet?

I added an outlet around the corner. The one there is in the way of everything.

Ole Yella wrote:I guess I am one that does not like to reinvent the wheel, the simpler the better. I use my circuit breaker at the converter panel for turning the hot water heater on/off electrically. It is a whole more convenient when I park in a camp ground at night/evening. During the summer the 5Th wheel gets so hot inside and depending on the GC power supply, my air conditioner trips the 20 Amp breaker a lot. I have the optional 15K air-conditioner. So I always turn off the water heater or use gas to heat it until the 5Th wheel cools down inside. This year I have a fan that clips on the lamp stand that houses the converter. I plan on using it to blow air across the circuit breakers with the cover open to help cool them down. The 20 Amp breaker for the air-conditioner seems to get a wee bit warm until air conditioner cools down the 5Th wheel, depending on the CG power coming in.

I am the same way. Option AC. I do the electric dance with the other appliances. FR should have put a 50 AMP with the optional AC.