luvlabs
Frederick, MD
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My 5th wheel has a 10 gallon Suburban gas/electric water heater that always pops the breaker when on electric. I've checked the wiring for shorts and have found none between the panel and the connection to the heating element. I've replaced the breaker (seemed to work for awhile) and am wondering if there is a short in the heating element itself. Anyone ever have a problem like this?
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heavyputer
Ontario, Canada
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If your electric heating element was turned on at any time with no water in the tank the element is burned out. This sometimes shows up as a dead short. The only remedy is to install a new heating element. They are cheap and readily available. JMHO
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cybervanner
Richmond, VA
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Be careful and pay particular attention to the wiring while replacing the element too. The case of your water heater could be energized with power if the breaker is on! When a heating element burns out like "Heavyputer" stated, the element may burn in two. Part of the element may have melted and fallen down onto the interior casing of the WH, energizing it with electricity! This is probably where your short is occurring, and thus tripping the breaker. Make sure you get all of the pieces parts of the burnt element out of the WH. It may be a bit tricky trying to fish it out of the tiny hole the element is installed through, but the stuff could possibly wash downstream and clog up your plumbing fixtures !
A heating element is basically a controlled short, and that's how it produces heat from electricity. The resistance of a heating element goes up as it warms up, self-regulating the temperature and current flow. If the element is just simply burned out, it would not flow any current at all (an open circuit), and wouldn't trip the breaker, or function. I would look into this issue with particular care, since water and electricity don't mix. The tripped breaker is protecting you from a dangerous situation!
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hilcodil
Dillon, Co
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Replace the element. This can happen when they go bad
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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I have replaced bad elements on full size (30-40 gallon) house type water heaters
Since RV units use the same type of element, it is logical to assume they might go bad as well.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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luvlabs
Frederick, MD
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Thanks all, I guess I'm going to be pulling a water heater as soon as I can locate a replacement element.
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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You have to pull the heater to replace the element ? W/o looking, I thought it could be done w/o pulling it.
You could disconnect the wire from the element, and series your amp meter in between to verify over amping before changing it.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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You should not need to pull the heater.. JUST the element It should be possible to remove it from the outside without otherwise disturbing the tank
Replacement is also straight forward (Reverse of removal)
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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like they said, kill all power, unplug from shore power, remove heating element
by definition a WH heating element can't get a short 'in it' it shorts OUT to ground, by touching metal its NOT suppose to touch, either by sagging or by burning into
yours is probability sagging and touching the tank/ground when it heats up
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cabanaman
middleburg florida
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I had to crawl in behind my heater but I got the element out.You'll need an element socket.It's standard size the same as the one in your house.I even replaced mine with one from home depot for about 6 bucks.Don't pay RV prices if you don't have to.I bet it's your problem,I turned mine on without water in it and zapped it.
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