Control panel, no power

notanlines · 10-24-2021, 03:39 AM

Last evening we came home to no hot water. 20 amp fuse for the water pump and control panel was blown. I replaced the fuse, water heater worked, we went to bed. This morning fuse is blown again. Never had problems with this situation previously. Any good ideas? Any most obvious I might be overlooking?
No water heater on propane either, no water pump, tank sensors aren't working, power control system panel not lighting up.

ChuckS · 10-24-2021, 04:26 AM

Interesting they tied all that together with the water heater...
What brand what heater? Suburban or Atwood?

If Suburban I would look at the remote 12 VDC relay for the water heater that sends 120VAC to water heater element

If the relay has overheated and melted that may be a start location...

It would not have anything to do with the LP side of water heater ... PER SAY BUT all the wires to water heater are connected in the junction box and it may have melted the 12 volt source wire to the water heater control board as well

Thats where I would start my looking.. junction box at water heater... if Suburban will be on backside of water heater usually up high on the side...

notanlines · 10-24-2021, 05:14 AM

Yes, it is a Suburban, SW16DL model. Thanks, Chuck.

**flybouy** · 10-24-2021, 06:33 AM

My question would be does the water pump have an in-line fuse? Can't help hut thjnk it's an issue with either the pump overloading the fuse, or the relay in the water heater shorted out when the heater calls gor hewt (when the coil is energised). If there was an issue upstream of either the fuse would blow immediately.

If you don't have an amp meter to check the pump then I'd put an in-line fuse on the pump that's less thsn 20 amps but meets the pump rated amp draw. Or, isolate the WH 12vdc circuit with a fuse of say 1 amp and see if it fails.

notanlines · 10-24-2021, 07:04 AM

I unplugged the water pump, no change, I checked the 10 amp fuse controlling the water pump, good condition. At this point I cannot located the control panel and wiring on the water heater. It is not on the top, rear, nor on the basement side. I'll have to work harder to access the other side and the bottom.

**sourdough** · 10-24-2021, 07:11 AM

Jim my heater is only 12 gal. but it is Suburban. I'm attaching a link to a 16 gal. heater. In the pic you can see a little box behind the front panel in the upper right corner. That's where mine is (per the SM). I thought mine was bad and was working with him to get it replaced. In my trailer it cannot be seen due to the furnace being in front of it. Don't know if that helps but maybe....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/31371619187...SABEgK0AvD_BwE

Edit: to get to mine you have to pull the water heater from the outside.

notanlines · 10-24-2021, 08:00 AM

Danny you are absolutely correct. The control box is behind a steel beam which is behind the entire water manifold system. I’m not about to pull that water heater out of there. I think I’m going to have the repair guy in the park come take a look at it. Yes I’m giving up easy.

**JRTJH** · 10-24-2021, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

... Yes I’m giving up easy.

Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor..... There's no shame in calling in someone else to do "the dirty work".... That's one of the main reasons I drive down to the Ford dealer to have my oil changed... I'm not about to try to drain 15 quarts of oil into my 12 quart oil bucket and use "redy-sorb" to soak up the other 3 quarts in the garage, when there's someone else that can do it faster, cleaner and with less effort than I want to exert.....

**sourdough** · 10-24-2021, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

Danny you are absolutely correct. The control box is behind a steel beam which is behind the entire water manifold system. I’m not about to pull that water heater out of there. I think I’m going to have the repair guy in the park come take a look at it. Yes I’m giving up easy.

Jim I did the same thing. If it is the relay at least it's cheap....if you can get one. If it is the problem and you can't get one PM me....I have a spare in my box.

notanlines · 10-25-2021, 08:44 AM

Many thanks to all and the suggestions and offers. We have a happy ending. The repairman with a little help from me, ran it down to the exterior step light which was also wired into the same fuse. It is all buttoned up, secure, and everything works. Well, the next owner will have to install their own step light.

notanlines · 10-25-2021, 04:06 PM

One step further, neither Brenda nor I can ever remember turning on the light in that the switch in inside the control cabinet. I looked behind the step assembly and found where the pigtail was joined with 3M connectors, one bare end was laying against the adjacent steel frame. I’m still not repairing the darned thing.

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