Electric WH ?

[The Colonel]

I was adding LEDs to give a more positive indication of switch position and noticed that with shore power off, there is still 12VDC on the electric side. We have routinely left the electric switch in the on position when moving from one site to another. Does this have any adverse effect on system? Wonder why they would have V on electric side with shore power off.


DBLee and Southern Belle on the road

[OTRA15]

Are you referring to the switch to turn on the electric element of the water heater?

Not sure why you would leave this switch On when moving the trailer, as there is a chance that the electric element in the water heater might burn out if the water level is low.

Could you please clarify?

Thanks,

Peter

PS -- Not sure why you would see 12 volts on the 120 volt supply side of the switch.

[The Colonel]

Yes the electric switch which is mounted with the Lp switch in my bathroom. Again, with this switch in the on position and NO shore power, there is still 12V to WH


DBLee and Southern Belle on the road

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by dblee1950

Yes the electric switch which is mounted with the Lp switch in my bathroom. Again, with this switch in the on position and NO shore power, there is still 12V to WH


DBLee and Southern Belle on the road

"Still 12v to WH" -- to the supply side of the electric switch, or someplace else? If at the switch, not sure why. Is there perhaps some hidden function in the 12 volt control system for the water heater which needs to sense 120 volts (or not) at the electric switch? Novice here on such matters.

[The Colonel]

The switch has two posts. One has 12V supply, the other goes to WH, I assume. So if the switch is left on there is 12V going to WH. Seems strange, but may not hurt anything?


DBLee and Southern Belle on the road

[OTRA15]

Sure you have the correct switch? On shore power do you have 120 volts to the supply side of the same switch? Or is the switch a 12 volt switch which activates a 120 volt relay, perhaps at the water heater, which would also keep 120 volts away from the bath switch (which might require GFI protection in that case?)?

We turn off all switches like this when towing FWIW. Seems safer especially with such a small fast recovery water heater, especially on shore power with both propane and electric heating running in tandem.

Good luck!

[The Colonel]

Yes, i'm sure about the switch. the lp switch when turned on starts the gas side, as it should. I found a schematic that does show both switches using 12vdc, so ? is does leaving the elec switch on with no shore power hurt anything? I'll get with dealer tomrorrow.

[TG Twinkie]

The switch has 12 volts on because it gets that from the house battery. If the switch is left on it will also energize the relay which provides 120 volts AC to the water heater element.
IMHO you should turn this and all other switches off when traveling. By leaving the electric WH switch on and the water heater is calling for heat you are subjecting the shore power plug to arcing because there will be a heavy load present when you plug in.

[The Colonel]

Makes sense. We'll change our protocol.


DBLee and Southern Belle on the road

[OTRA15]

Thanks TG Twinkie for the confirmation of the relay and the possible damage from leaving the switch on.