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Old 01-04-2015, 09:36 PM   #1
mobile42
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Install Remote Water Heater Switch

Well, I finally installed my remote 120vac remote light switch with Pilot Light for my water heater and located it in the hallway above my control panel and high enough from little curious hands (Grandkids) which included fishing, adding and splicing additional Romex 12-3 and 12-2 wires using a Molex Fast Junction Splice Kits. It took a couple of days to complete the install. Now I don't have to deal with the rocker switch outside at the water heater. The illuminated red light now tells me I have power when the switch is on and a reminder that I better have water in the tank. The double light switch below the digital thermostat is another install I completed while I was in a fishing (wiring) mood regarding the overhead lights in the living room and hallway.

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Old 01-04-2015, 10:18 PM   #2
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Exterior Step Light

A simple install LED step light using some left over 14-2 extension wire and 3M Scotchlok Electrical Pigtail Connector connected to the control panel light switch indicating "Backlight".

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Old 01-05-2015, 06:53 AM   #3
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Looks good, nice job.

I do not know why it still amazes me but whether we had a rocker switch for the hot water or not, I have always had a switch inside for the water heater, would have thought that all trailers did but I guess not.
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Old 01-05-2015, 08:14 AM   #4
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Looks good. I too have had factory switches on the control panels of both my last 2010 and current 2013 Keystone fifth wheels.
Can't imagine why your didn't have these.
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Old 01-05-2015, 08:42 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by therink View Post
Looks good. I too have had factory switches on the control panels of both my last 2010 and current 2013 Keystone fifth wheels.
Can't imagine why your didn't have these.

Thank you! My control panel does have the DSI switch also for the propane 12v side but it is the 120vac I always wanted.
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Old 01-05-2015, 09:48 AM   #6
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Thank you! My control panel does have the DSI switch also for the propane 12v side but it is the 120vac I always wanted.
Both of mine had the 120v element switch at control panels, so two switches, one for DSI and one for 120.
it surprises me that the cougar doesn't come with both.
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Old 01-05-2015, 10:46 AM   #7
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Same here, propane and electric on the panel. Strange that all models don't have it. The good news is you have it now...
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Old 01-05-2015, 11:12 AM   #8
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Hypothetical possibility: None of my trailers from 93 to current have had the electric switch inside. All of the hot water heaters have been 6 gallon or 10 gallon Suburban models. I wonder if the trailers that do have the indoor switch are either "different" Suburban models (12 gal, or ???) or if they might be Atwood water heaters?
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Old 01-05-2015, 01:16 PM   #9
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I am beginning to think it depends on "trim" levels. I've done outbacks with both switches. My Copper Canyon only has the outside one.
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Old 01-05-2015, 01:35 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
Hypothetical possibility: None of my trailers from 93 to current have had the electric switch inside. All of the hot water heaters have been 6 gallon or 10 gallon Suburban models. I wonder if the trailers that do have the indoor switch are either "different" Suburban models (12 gal, or ???) or if they might be Atwood water heaters?
Yes, makes me wonder too: confused: All of my past RVs have been the Suburban models. I read all the different post regarding the convenience these water heaters come with (even other RV forums). It would just be more simpler if the RV manufacturers would be more uniform with any RV model starting at the lower end.
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Old 01-05-2015, 03:39 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
Hypothetical possibility: None of my trailers from 93 to current have had the electric switch inside. All of the hot water heaters have been 6 gallon or 10 gallon Suburban models. I wonder if the trailers that do have the indoor switch are either "different" Suburban models (12 gal, or ???) or if they might be Atwood water heaters?

I had a 95 Terry with a 10 gallon that had a 120v switch inside , it also had a wall switch when you walked in next to the door, both were nice....
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Old 01-05-2015, 05:39 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by bg71361 View Post
I had a 95 Terry with a 10 gallon that had a 120v switch inside , it also had a wall switch when you walked in next to the door, both were nice....
Was it a Suburban, Atwood or another brand?
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Old 01-05-2015, 06:30 PM   #13
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Was it a Suburban, Atwood or another brand?
It was a Suburban 10 gallon.
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Old 01-06-2015, 07:43 AM   #14
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My Alpine has the outside switch. My previous Denali had the inside switch. My wife now want's the inside switch installed in the Alpine after reading this post. Now the work begins.

How did you connect the wires to actual heater. Did you splice into the wires from the heater and leave the outside switch connected? Running the wires and placement of an inside switch I can do. The actual connection to the heater is where I'm a little confused. Thanks

P.S. It's a 12 Gal Suburban
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Old 01-06-2015, 08:11 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by sandy43 View Post
My Alpine has the outside switch. My previous Denali had the inside switch. My wife now want's the inside switch installed in the Alpine after reading this post. Now the work begins.

How did you connect the wires to actual heater. Did you splice into the wires from the heater and leave the outside switch connected? Running the wires and placement of an inside switch I can do. The actual connection to the heater is where I'm a little confused. Thanks

P.S. It's a 12 Gal Suburban
If you want to do it with a simple splice, without running wires through the wall, you can splice a switch into the romex at the circuit breaker panel and mount the switch on the wall adjacent to the breaker panel. That way, it's inside, but not routed through the wall, which can lead to issues trying to fish the romex. Also that way there would be no need to splice behind the water heater.
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Old 01-06-2015, 08:19 AM   #16
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So I'm confused after reading everyone's responses. Ours has two switches for the elec part of the water heater. One switch inside the camper on the wall next to the gas switch for the w.h., and one switch outside next to the w.h. itself. On walk-though we were told to turn on the outside switch and then turn on the inside switch. Does anyone else have to do this? I have often wondered if I have to turn on and off the outside switch since we also have the inside one. It is a 6gal suburban.
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Old 01-06-2015, 01:32 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sandy43 View Post
My Alpine has the outside switch. My previous Denali had the inside switch. My wife now want's the inside switch installed in the Alpine after reading this post. Now the work begins.

How did you connect the wires to actual heater. Did you splice into the wires from the heater and leave the outside switch connected? Running the wires and placement of an inside switch I can do. The actual connection to the heater is where I'm a little confused. Thanks

P.S. It's a 12 Gal Suburban
Yes, a simple splice is what I intended to do as mentioned by "JRTJH" but I decided a Light Switch with the Pilot Light would work better for me and I also didn't want to put a junction box behind the wall the separates my storage bay so I use the same factory installed Molex Junction Splice Kit that was located close to the water heater and ran Romex 12-2 to the switch from that point. From that switch I ran another 12-2 (sorry my original OP I mentioned 12-3 but the was a typo) to the wire source coming from the Circuit Box using a new Molex Junction Splice Kit. Running the Romex through an existing wire raceway from the bottom of the stud was easy, plenty of room and it enabled me to place my switch where I wanted it. I hope the link below regarding the wiring is helpful. I left the existing outside rocker switch at the water heater intact and left it in the on position. Good Luck Sandy43!

http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-w...ht-switch.html

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Old 01-07-2015, 11:41 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by vampress_me View Post
So I'm confused after reading everyone's responses. Ours has two switches for the elec part of the water heater. One switch inside the camper on the wall next to the gas switch for the w.h., and one switch outside next to the w.h. itself. On walk-though we were told to turn on the outside switch and then turn on the inside switch. Does anyone else have to do this? I have often wondered if I have to turn on and off the outside switch since we also have the inside one. It is a 6gal suburban.
I'm thinking the inside switch next to your DSI gas switch is the on and off part of the electric 120v including the switch outside (at the w.h.) that must be in the on position anyway in order to have is work like it should.
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Old 01-12-2015, 02:34 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by vampress_me View Post
So I'm confused after reading everyone's responses. Ours has two switches for the elec part of the water heater. One switch inside the camper on the wall next to the gas switch for the w.h., and one switch outside next to the w.h. itself. On walk-though we were told to turn on the outside switch and then turn on the inside switch. Does anyone else have to do this? I have often wondered if I have to turn on and off the outside switch since we also have the inside one. It is a 6gal suburban.
Have the same setup. So here's what I was told during my PDI...fill the tank, turn on outside switch. Then turn on inside switch which control the LP side. By having both systems going the water heats faster. After the water is at temp the propane side will turn off until it needs to come back on. I turn off the gas switch after the water gets hot and just use the electric side to maintain temp. If I need to heat it up fast ill use the propane with the electric.
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Old 01-12-2015, 03:43 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by vampress_me View Post
So I'm confused after reading everyone's responses. Ours has two switches for the elec part of the water heater. One switch inside the camper on the wall next to the gas switch for the w.h., and one switch outside next to the w.h. itself. On walk-though we were told to turn on the outside switch and then turn on the inside switch. Does anyone else have to do this? I have often wondered if I have to turn on and off the outside switch since we also have the inside one. It is a 6gal suburban.
No, you do not have go back outside and turn the small rocker switch on and off. Just leave it ON and then you can control the electrical side with your interior switch without having to go in and out. Think of the outside rocker switch as the Master Switch.

Ours has only one outside switch so I have to go outside to control the electric side- I have no control over it from inside as there is no interior switch.

The reason for the OP's mod was to eliminate the need of having to go outside to turn the WH electrical component ON or OFF.
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