How to turn on electric water heater?

Hi, When I turn on our water heater with the switch by the sink, the gas heats the water. How do I turn on the water heater using electricity? Thanks for your help. This is our 1st 5er, still need to learn.

First...Welcome to the group! Glad you're here.

Take off the outside cover and as you face it, there is a small rocker switch on the lower left corner behind the gas valve. Kind of hard to see unless you bend over and are looking for it. Of course, be sure the tank is full of water. But if it isn't, the heater element is $10 and can be found at ACE hardware....ask me how I know.

John

First, welcome, and congratulations. Second, it helps some to let us know what kind of 5er you have. Now, with that said, we'll assume it's a Wildcat. It is very likely that there is a switch on the outside where the water heater is. Remove the cover for the heater area, and look for a small rocker switch. Most of the newer RV's are like this I believe. My older TT actually had that switch inside the trailer, which I prefer.

Again, welcome, and let us know if you find it, or have any other questions!

to the forum from the U.K.
in my Cat (30lsbs) there is also a large 3 position switch next to the micro wave that states Water Heater/ Fire. I also have to put this switch into the right position for water heater to work. Plus switch on heater. DON'T for get to turn it off at the end of your trip, other wise you will be heating water if you plug into shore power at home,
Sean

Howdy. I normally use the breaker on the panel under the fridge, we have a 28RK so everything is in the back, because the little rocker switch on the HW tank is rusted in the ON position. I flip that breaker OFF when we leave the WC. Now days it's either parked in the driveway, winterized, or parked down on the Kenai ready for use. I turn it OFF because the well isn't under my control and there've been times when we got back and discovered that it'd been turned OFF. Plus lately I've taken to just turning off the water supply since you never know when a hose will rupture or a fitting will fail. And then when I park it in the driveway and plug it in it pops the 20A breaker I plug it into.

Anyhow, as soon as I find a Round-Tu-It I plan on putting a ordinary light switch just under/inside the cabinet holding the kitchen sink. That's where the outlet is that provides the power to the heater. That'll save me flipping the breaker.

I didn't see anyone mention this, but my switch at the HW tank had a miniature hitch pin through it that prevented turning the unit on until it was removed.

Also check to make sure that the HW tank heater breaker is in the ON position on the breaker panel.

Some of us have installed a switch for the electric element right next to the switch for the gas element. The url in our signature below has pics.

Perhaps a little off-topic but I turn on both the electric water heater and the propane at the same time.

My reasoning is that the propane is faster at heating the water when it is depleted but will go back to pilot light only when the water is hot. The electric heater will carry on keeping things warm.

Kim wrote:Perhaps a little off-topic but I turn on both the electric water heater and the propane at the same time.

My reasoning is that the propane is faster at heating the water when it is depleted but will go back to pilot light only when the water is hot. The electric heater will carry on keeping things warm.

A BIG MEGADITTO!

Installing a switch inside is a must do mod.
http://www.modmyrv.com/category/electrical

I did this and it works great. Way better than pulling off the cover each time outside, or using the breaker in the box by the floor.