Suburban water heater sw6de blows fuse

Akozdrey · 04-09-2022, 07:30 AM

Hello I have a 2021 Keystone hideout 176bh. My issue is that that every time I turn on the water heater (12 volt/gas only)it will run for about 15 minutes and we get hot water but then it will blow the fuse that is wired in behind the switch. The only thing I have done on this trailer is to add a second battery so I figured maybe I hadn't secured the ground wire well when I when I was working on that, however I went through and cleaned everything up and make sure it was all secure and I still have the same issue. I have seen another post where the wh blows the fuse immediately, but mine does lso seemingly after the water has come to temp. Any ideas? Thanks!

jasin1 · 04-09-2022, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akozdrey

Hello I have a 2021 Keystone hideout 176bh. My issue is that that every time I turn on the water heater (12 volt/gas only)it will run for about 15 minutes and we get hot water but then it will blow the fuse that is wired in behind the switch. The only thing I have done on this trailer is to add a second battery so I figured maybe I hadn't secured the ground wire well when I when I was working on that, however I went through and cleaned everything up and make sure it was all secure and I still have the same issue. I have seen another post where the wh blows the fuse immediately, but mine does lso seemingly after the water has come to temp. Any ideas? Thanks!

If there are any 12 volt wires around the water heater jacket maybe they are shorting when the metal heats up and expands.

jasin1 · 04-09-2022, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

If there are any 12 volt wires around the water heater jacket maybe they are shorting when the metal heats up and expands.

Could also be a bad gas valve but probably not because of how new it is

wiredgeorge · 04-09-2022, 09:39 AM

A little confused regarding a fuse behind a switch. There is a rocker switch inside the camper that you actuate and it allows the pilot to turn on and it goes out once the pilot is lit. I believe you have a switch on the outside on the water heater that you must flip to the on position to use the electric 110V AC heating element. I believe I have the same water heater and know of no fuse behind a switch. There is likely a 12V fuse on the power panel... is that the one you refer to?

Akozdrey · 04-09-2022, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

If there are any 12 volt wires around the water heater jacket maybe they are shorting when the metal heats up and expands.

Ah, that's an interesting idea. Thanks, I'll look into it.

Akozdrey · 04-09-2022, 09:55 AM

Hi, the switch I'm referring to is the switch inside the trailer. I pulled the switch panel out and found the blown in line fuse behind it. There is no 110, or any switch on the unit itself outside. I am adding a picture of what fuse I'm talking about.

Akozdrey · 04-09-2022, 09:58 AM

Sorry put my respons below as a new reply. Here's a picture of the switch. It's inside behind the switch plate that houses the switch for the wh, water pump, and shows the levels for the tanks, etc.

jasin1 · 04-09-2022, 10:02 AM

Does it coincide with the water pump coming on? Maybe more the one thing is wired on that fuse

**chuckster57** · 04-09-2022, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akozdrey

Sorry put my respons below as a new reply. Here's a picture of the switch. It's inside behind the switch plate that houses the switch for the wh, water pump, and shows the levels for the tanks, etc.

Cant say Ive ever seen an inline fuse at the switch. It almost looks aftermarket not factory installed. You have a short somewhere.

jasin1 · 04-09-2022, 10:18 AM

Has it always done this or is it a new problem…almost looks like the switch is for the electric/gas with reset light in the middle with the electric side not connected. It looks like the fuse is running from the gas wh switch side to the reset light…maybe that jumper is for in between the electric switch side and the 12 volt side and they put it on the wrong terminal…just a guess

Edit: I see it’s a wall monitor for batteries and tank levels as well as water heater and I guess water pump..sounds like a short somewhere like Chuck said

Akozdrey · 04-09-2022, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

Does it coincide with the water pump coming on? Maybe more the one thing is wired on that fuse

No, I was on city water and the pump was off. Also, was not always calling for water when it happened.

**sourdough** · 04-09-2022, 11:35 AM

You said it was a sw6de Suburban but said in the first post it was "12 volt/gas only"?? The sw6de is a DSI (gas)/120vac. water heater.

https://suburbanrvparts.com/suburban...lectric-5239a/

It is probably wired on the electric side like any other Suburban for the 120vac.

http://techsupport.pdxrvwholesale.co...ice-Manual.pdf

The link above is to the sw6de manual. Page 10 has the wiring diagrams. Not looking at what's going on, what part of the water heater doesn't work? The gas side or the electric? That inline fuse behind that switch cover is an anomaly to me. Let's just figure which side of this we're chasing - 12vdc or 120vdc as I figure the LP will work if the rest is made functional.

**flybouy** · 04-09-2022, 11:39 AM

For it to blow the fuse can only mean it's drawing more amps then the fuse is rated for. The fact that it always happens after the unit comes up to temp would point me to the wh board. Sounds to me like something is shorting out when it gets hot. Check the thermostate (reset) on the tank and all wireing between.

jasin1 · 04-09-2022, 11:50 AM

Around the 3 minute mark of this video it describes what I think is your wall monitor and switch( same year same trailer)..it looks from what I can tell that the 12 volt power source feeds one switch then piggybacks off to the other switch with a separate fuse…trekwood shows the tank monitor (2018model)keystone wall module with exact fuse configuration. I think something is right on the edge of amp draw and when your WH kicks on it blows the fuse…might take a little while. https://www.google.com/search?..edit...PytMP1JWjyAg12

**chuckster57** · 04-09-2022, 11:53 AM

If it blows on relight, Im starting to think its the board.

wiredgeorge · 04-09-2022, 02:26 PM

As I said, I have the same water heater. The switch is for lighting the pilot light. It stays solid red till it goes out when the pilot light is lit. I have a different monitor with the tank idiot lights, water pump rocker and water heater rocker. I have replaced mine and there is no fuse behind it. Take a picture of the front of your monitor panel that you pulled out.

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