slippity
Utah
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Joined: 07/15/2005
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Today I was spraying the rusted anode rod with lubricant to remove it and I noticed an On/Off switch on the heater, Suburban SW6DE, to my surprise its the electric heating element switch. Didn't even know it had this! It's kinda odd that the switch is outside though.
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1999 GMC Sierra 2500 6.0 V8 Extended Cab 4x4 4.10
2002 Forest River Salem Lite 25' w/slide
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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that's where mine is. be sure that you have water in the tank before you turn it on, it only takes about one second for it to burn out if there is no water in the tank. OH yea, one more little trick I will pass on to you. when taking out your anode rod, try to tighten it just a hair, then loosen it. for some reason, you can break the nut free if you tighten it before trying to loosen it. works every time.
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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We have the switch on the outside as well as another one inside. I just leave the outside one on and use the inside switch. Our inside switch lights up when on.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
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Jrebhun
Western Pa
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Joined: 03/29/2004
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Deen- just a precaution. I beleive the inside switch just controls the lighting of propane in the water heater and has nothing to do with the electric element. I always leave the outside electric switch off when not using the heater, just in case I drain the heater tank between camping trips. I also keep the small pin installed in the outside switch to remind me from turning the element on when the tank is empty.
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TubaPete
Comstock Park, MI
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Joined: 03/05/2005
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Jrebhun wrote:I also keep the small pin installed in the outside switch to remind me from turning the element on when the tank is empty.
I have always been curious about that little pin. I put it back each time I am closing up. Why? I don't really know if it is needed or not, so I put it back. It's a real tight space and I need a needle nosed pliers to do it.
Tuba Pete
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Jrebhun
Western Pa
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Joined: 03/29/2004
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TubaPete- yeh, I keep using the pin too because I'm forgetful and I know I'll screwup sometime and fry the element. Use needlenose pliers too- pain in the butt.
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Dave H M
IL
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Joined: 08/11/2006
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not necessarily on the inside switch.
On my last two fifth wheels, they both had an inside switch for turning on the electric on the water heater plus the switch for turning on the gas.
However only the propane switch had a red indicator. It came on when you turned the switch on and as soon as the burner lit the red light went off. Probably if it stsyed on theat meant that something was wrong and the burner did not light. I donno, mine always worked.
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John3872
Iowa
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Joined: 08/18/2007
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When I bought mine my new 5er I asked the salesman if it was both gas and electric. He said nope just gas. Well, Last year when I was winterizing I found that it was both. Just a month ago I figured out that I have day/night shades. You've got to love those good surprises, I usually get the bad surprises.
2001 GMC 2500 6.0L
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