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01-04-2015, 09:36 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 121
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Install Remote Water Heater Switch
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2011 Keystone Cougar 327RES, Winegard RoadTrip MiniMax Automatic Stationary Satellite
2014 Dodge Ram MegaCab 2500 4x4, SWB, 6.7 CTD, Timbrens
2012 Dodge Citadel Hemi
4000 Watt Champion Generator
2007 Keystone Sprinter 264BHS TT
2005 Flagstaff Forest River TT
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01-04-2015, 10:18 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 121
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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".
__________________
2011 Keystone Cougar 327RES, Winegard RoadTrip MiniMax Automatic Stationary Satellite
2014 Dodge Ram MegaCab 2500 4x4, SWB, 6.7 CTD, Timbrens
2012 Dodge Citadel Hemi
4000 Watt Champion Generator
2007 Keystone Sprinter 264BHS TT
2005 Flagstaff Forest River TT
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01-05-2015, 06:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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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.
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
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01-05-2015, 08:14 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,605
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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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01-05-2015, 08:42 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by therink
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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Thank you! My control panel does have the DSI switch also for the propane 12v side but it is the 120vac I always wanted.
__________________
2011 Keystone Cougar 327RES, Winegard RoadTrip MiniMax Automatic Stationary Satellite
2014 Dodge Ram MegaCab 2500 4x4, SWB, 6.7 CTD, Timbrens
2012 Dodge Citadel Hemi
4000 Watt Champion Generator
2007 Keystone Sprinter 264BHS TT
2005 Flagstaff Forest River TT
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01-05-2015, 09:48 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,605
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mobile42
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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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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01-05-2015, 10:46 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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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...
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
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01-05-2015, 11:12 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,846
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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?
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-05-2015, 01:16 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,237
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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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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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01-05-2015, 01:35 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
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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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.
__________________
2011 Keystone Cougar 327RES, Winegard RoadTrip MiniMax Automatic Stationary Satellite
2014 Dodge Ram MegaCab 2500 4x4, SWB, 6.7 CTD, Timbrens
2012 Dodge Citadel Hemi
4000 Watt Champion Generator
2007 Keystone Sprinter 264BHS TT
2005 Flagstaff Forest River TT
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01-05-2015, 03:39 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
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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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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01-05-2015, 05:39 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,846
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bg71361
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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Was it a Suburban, Atwood or another brand?
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-05-2015, 06:30 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
Was it a Suburban, Atwood or another brand?
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It was a Suburban 10 gallon.
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01-06-2015, 07:43 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South Texas
Posts: 343
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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
__________________
Sandy & Ann
2019 Alpine 3401RS
2011 Ford F350 Diesel
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01-06-2015, 08:11 AM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,846
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sandy43
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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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.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-06-2015, 08:19 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 777
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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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--Lynette
2019 F-350 diesel 4x4 CC LB DRW, not the mom taxi anymore...
2021 Alliance Paradigm 340RL
2016 F-350 diesel 4x4 CC LB SRW, mom taxi - sold
2014 Cougar XLite 28RDB - sold
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01-06-2015, 01:32 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sandy43
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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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
__________________
2011 Keystone Cougar 327RES, Winegard RoadTrip MiniMax Automatic Stationary Satellite
2014 Dodge Ram MegaCab 2500 4x4, SWB, 6.7 CTD, Timbrens
2012 Dodge Citadel Hemi
4000 Watt Champion Generator
2007 Keystone Sprinter 264BHS TT
2005 Flagstaff Forest River TT
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01-07-2015, 11:41 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vampress_me
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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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.
__________________
2011 Keystone Cougar 327RES, Winegard RoadTrip MiniMax Automatic Stationary Satellite
2014 Dodge Ram MegaCab 2500 4x4, SWB, 6.7 CTD, Timbrens
2012 Dodge Citadel Hemi
4000 Watt Champion Generator
2007 Keystone Sprinter 264BHS TT
2005 Flagstaff Forest River TT
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01-12-2015, 02:34 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Panhandle, FL
Posts: 44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vampress_me
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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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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01-12-2015, 03:43 PM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vampress_me
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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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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2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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