Need advice from the pros

[No. 13]

My water heater stopped heating when using the electric heating element...gas works fine though. I checked the circuit breaker. I called Airstream this morning and was told to do what I already did and if no luck take it to a service center. I hate to make the drive if there is something else I can do. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[HowieE]

If you have a volt meter. Disconnect the wires going to the heating element and check it for continuity. If it is open replace it. If it is good switch to voltage and check the wires you disconnected while the heater is set to call for heating. If no voltage across the wires check for a fuse on the control board supplying the element. There may be a relay as a switch for the 110 voltage.

I think you can assume the high and low thermostats are OK if it works on gas.

[No. 13]

Thanks HowieE. I also received a lengthly PM with pretty much the same advice. I am not very handy when it comes to electrical stuff, but will attempt to check out what you mentioned on my next trip where I will have electric hook up.

[HowieE]

Go ahead and check the heater element with an ohm meter first as that is easy and the most likely.

[TG Twinkie]

Make absolutely sure you have the power off when disconnecting the wires and reading it out with an ohm meter. Make sure you set the ohm meter to the AC voltage scale before you attempt to check for power.

[68 TWind]

There is a relay operated by 12V that switches the 120v heating element on. Listen when you turn on the switch to turn the heater on in 120v mode. You should hear a click as the relay closes and allows current to flow through the electric element The relay is on the back of the water heater close to the bottom under a black cover. The yellow wire is the 12V wire that carries current to the relay. If you are hearing the relay click, carefully check that you have 120V coming in to the water heater (your breaker is on-right) If there is current there (put probes of volt meter on black and white wires and it should show 120V AC) check the element for continuity, it may be burned out if you accidentally turned on the power with a dry tank. Still an easy fix if you have access to the back of the water heater.