Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-21-2017, 10:35 PM   #1
4 Rivet Member
 
2013 30' Flying Cloud
Kingwood , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 341
Blog Entries: 1
Heater on/off switches in bathroom

I've done some searching on this forum, but haven't found any threads on my question. Has anyone put a lockbox over the heater on/off switches in the bathroom? I'm thinking about a lockbox used over thermostats in public places to keep people from changing them. I need some protection from accidental switch movement.
DoubleR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 04:35 AM   #2
Retired.
 
Currently Looking...
. , At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleR View Post
I've done some searching on this forum, but haven't found any threads on my question. Has anyone put a lockbox over the heater on/off switches in the bathroom? I'm thinking about a lockbox used over thermostats in public places to keep people from changing them. I need some protection from accidental switch movement.
Do you really allow the public to use the bathroom in your Airstream?
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
overlander63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 05:28 AM   #3
Rivet Master
 
bobmiller1's Avatar

 
2005 34' Classic S/O
2006 39' Land Yacht 396 XL
north blenheim , New York
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,847
Lol !!!
bobmiller1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 05:44 AM   #4
4 Rivet Member
 
Byron Center , Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 275
I have kids, so I get it (or I can suggest a marriage counselor). :-) Blue painters tape aligned vertically along the axis of the switch has been a good solution for similar situations with accidental movement. Easily removed, cheap, no screw holes, you can write obnoxious messages on it with a sharpie... There’s another thread somewhere where an owner replaced switches with lighted ones and another added little cabinet door bumpers to give some ‘braille’ touch to them to help sort them out in the dark. If a lock is an absolute, I’d suggest the aforementioned thermostat cover if you can find a smaller/shallower model.
YippieKiYa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 05:47 AM   #5
4 Rivet Member
 
Byron Center , Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 275
If you’re handy, and depending on location of your heater, you could disconnect the bathroom switches and wire-up a small switch panel at the water heater, too. Harder for you to get to and visually confirm, but it removes the risk. Only you will know if that’s worth it or not.
YippieKiYa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 06:38 AM   #6
4 Rivet Member
 
2013 30' Flying Cloud
Kingwood , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 341
Blog Entries: 1
Reply to responses

Overlander, I barely allow us to use the bathroom, much less the public. Ha ha

All others, thanks for your input. The tape might be a good temporary idea, but I think that the lock box is the long term solution. I may try 3M tape rather than screws or rivets.
DoubleR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 09:58 AM   #7
Rivet Master
 
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario , Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
Of course, the basic problem is;
While 'Normal' people would have the heater switches on a Service Panel, Airstream marches to their own drummer.
And we have to live with results.��

I have no solution around it; which will become academic anyway.
I'm selling the Airstream.
My wife has called RVING at the end of the year, and we both have health problems. DRAT!��
MelGoddard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 11:21 AM   #8
New Member
 
2017 28' Flying Cloud
Carmel , Indiana
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 2
No one else has ever used my bathroom
lfarren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 12:31 PM   #9
4 Rivet Member
 
1973 31' Sovereign
1978 Argosy 30
1985 31' Excella
Sacramento , California
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 323
If it was necessary to lock off or on the heater switch... you can bypass it out at the heater... and put a bypass switch out their... over by the module... otherwise.. why not lock the whole door compartment that the switch is in...

Yep lot of people selling their airstreams... seems like the pendlum is swinging the other way.. and time for the younger retiree's filling in... It is a shame that ya get old.. and can't enjoy the fruits of your labor longer..
GM Airstream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 01:12 PM   #10
The Aluminum Tent 3
 
pcskier's Avatar
 
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Park City , Utah
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,157
I saw a pic recently, maybe on Facebook Group. They put one of those clear plastic outdoor electrical outlet covers over the switches, so you had to open the cover to turn on the water heater. It looked fine and was a nice mod. Kind of like this. http://www.homedepot.com/p/2-Gang-We...20CB/204208057.

I think they had to modify the base a little to fit over the switches, then just installed it with a couple strips of command strips to it could be removed later.

All jokes about the public aside, I myself have managed to turn on the electric switch of my water heater accidentally when it was empty (I was dry camping). Those switches really should be somewhere else, not right next to the light switch. It's mostly just me, but I can see this being an issue especially with children aboard. Just using a lighted switch (if there was one) doesn't solve the problem of accidental turn-ons...
pcskier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 01:16 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
2019 27' Globetrotter
Salem , Oregon
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 691
The lighted switch is probably the best. As it is you have to remember which is on or off and they are not labeled.
NoResults is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 02:24 PM   #12
4 Rivet Member
 
2013 30' Flying Cloud
Kingwood , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 341
Blog Entries: 1
Heater switches

Wife turned them off first and then grandkids did it the second and third time on our first trip. Wife asked if I had fixed them yet, so it will get fixed shortly. I was just asking if someone had a better idea. My logic is why re-invent the wheel.

Not sure how responders got confused about the public being allowed to use the bathroom in our TT. I was trying to describe the thermostat lock box that you see in public spaces like schools, churches, offices, and shopping. Hopefully those comments were in jest.
DoubleR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 02:40 PM   #13
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,674
Hi

Showing the neighbors the new AS ... where's the other twin ? ... hmm ....

One "positive" approach for the heaters would be to wire a manual switch in series with their 12V supply.

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 03:17 PM   #14
2 Rivet Member
 
kathfred's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
2001 19' Bambi
Fresno , California
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 51
When we get to our destination, I set something tall in front of the switches (my can of hairspray and a perfume bottle for example) so that my husband doesn't turn off the hot water heater accidentally. I like the idea of a clear cover of some sort, it would look nicer, in my opinion, than tape.
kathfred is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 03:38 PM   #15
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,674
Hi

There are a couple of different "heater switches" that show up in AS trailers:

1) The switches that turn the heater pads under the gray and black water tanks on and off.

2) The switches that turn the heater on the hot water on and off.

3) The switches that turn the furnace on and off.

4) The switches that turn the heater strips on the fridge on and off.

Just to be sure, which one are we talking about here?

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 03:57 PM   #16
Rivet Master
 
FishByFly's Avatar
 
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Fayetteville , Arkansas
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 601
We had a similar issue with switches accidentally turned on or left on. This is what we've done. Don't prevent them from being activated but you know it when it is. Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_2233.JPG
Views:	156
Size:	276.5 KB
ID:	295346
__________________
FishByFly
because I catch fish on a fly...

2017 25' Safari FBQ - “Fly Fish Inn
2023 F150 XLT
FishByFly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 04:10 PM   #17
2 Rivet Member
 
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Box Elder , SD
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 76
Yup, we're always hitting the heater switches while fumbling for the light switch.

Larry
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1973.jpg
Views:	128
Size:	131.9 KB
ID:	295348  
devilsbox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 04:11 PM   #18
4 Rivet Member
 
2013 30' Flying Cloud
Kingwood , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 341
Blog Entries: 1
Which Switches

Uncle Bob,

Hot water heater on/off switches in the bathroom for propane and electricity, in a 2014 25 FB Flying Cloud.
DoubleR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 05:02 PM   #19
Retired.
 
Currently Looking...
. , At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
Quote:
Originally Posted by devilsbox View Post
Yup, we're always hitting the heater switches while fumbling for the light switch.

Larry
https://www.oznium.com/scion-switch-led
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
overlander63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2017, 05:11 PM   #20
Rivet Master
 
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario , Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleR View Post
Uncle Bob,

Hot water heater on/off switches in the bathroom for propane and electricity, in a 2014 25 FB Flying Cloud.
Same in the 2016 FC.
MelGoddard is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How does the water heater switches work srpuywa General Repair Forum 18 11-18-2017 11:06 AM
What are these switches doing_Excella 1990 femuse 1990 - 1993 Excella 13 06-13-2015 01:13 PM
Inverter Switches Off After a Couple of Minutes Ljsydney Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 9 03-25-2014 09:28 AM
3-Way Roof Light Switches roadcam Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 8 09-06-2004 02:31 PM
switches nwclassic Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 3 10-23-2003 08:08 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.