Install Remote Water Heater Switch

[tdawg]

I leave the rocker switch on and control the water heater with the breaker.

[mobile42]

I use to use my breaker as the on/off switch but not for prolonged repetitive manual breaking. My method of flipping the breaker to the off position is just my peace of mind because I know there is no "Juice" (when connected to Shore Power) running to the element when I have a empty WH tank (I drain my tank after every trip has ended and parked at my home). Generally a breaker can wear (especially a non-switch type) or when you have a continuous draw on a breaker or a heavy load on and off, on a breaker for an extended time (I'm talking years, assuming the breaker wasn't defective from the get go).
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[jsmith948]

On our Cougar, the HW breaker also controls the 120vac for the refrigerator. We hardly ever run our water heater on ac so it isn't an issue. Just thought I would mention that there may be more than just the water heater on the water heater breaker.

[tdawg]

I don't think I would want my water heater and refrigerator on the same breaker my Alpine has them on there own breakers.

[bdaniel]

I did the same thing. Here are some photos. I don't have a write up yet but this is a simple modification. In fact the 120V wire for the hot water heater runs down the wall behind the control panel. There was enough slack in the wire to cut it and install the switch. I did not have to add any 120V wire.

http://www.bobbystuff.com/RV/index.p...-heater-switch

Bobby

[mobile42]

Originally Posted by bdaniel

I did the same thing. Here are some photos. I don't have a write up yet but this is a simple modification. In fact the 120V wire for the hot water heater runs down the wall behind the control panel. There was enough slack in the wire to cut it and install the switch. I did not have to add any 120V wire.

http://www.bobbystuff.com/RV/index.p...-heater-switch

Bobby

Hey Bobby, now that's an excellent install! I like the miniature lamp in that switch plus the additional single outlet. My 120v supply didn't run behind the wall like yours did, it was running on the floor to the water heater.

[PARAPTOR]

Raptor with Suburban 12 gal P/E and only has a 120 V switch outside on the actual tank. We use the circuit breaker to çut power to the WT

[sandy43]

I finally hooked up a WH switch, similar to what you did on my Alpine. I went straight to the breaker to make my connection, which is the difference of what you did. I had a single switch with a red light and I had to take a neutral to the switch to make the light work.

Thanks for starting this post, great idea. Been wanting to do this for a good while, but didn't know where to start till I read all these post.

[mobile42]

Originally Posted by sandy43

I finally hooked up a WH switch, similar to what you did on my Alpine. I went straight to the breaker to make my connection, which is the difference of what you did. I had a single switch with a red light and I had to take a neutral to the switch to make the light work.

Thanks for starting this post, great idea. Been wanting to do this for a good while, but didn't know where to start till I read all these post.

Hi Sandy, thank you! Great to hear you did the install too. Yes, I needed the neutral also to make it all work right. My son, his 3 kids and I are planning to do some Ice Fishing this weekend up North here in New Mexico (hopefully road conditions aren't too bad) and will try out this new Mod.