Electric not working on water heater

[gostros]

I have an Alpine 3900re (2015) with a Suburban SW12DEL water heater. It works on propane but has stopped working on elec. It has a 12V switch in the rv for the gas and elec feature. The interior switch has been tested is working, has 12V on both sides. The switch on the tank itself is also working, checked with multi meter (just no power getting to it). The obvious checks have also been done, breaker, resets on tank, element ohmed fine. There is no 110 getting to the switch on the tank. I am assuming there is some sort of relay somewhere between the interior 12V switch and the 110 that feeds the tank (just don't know where it is located??) Have removed panels under kitchen cabinets and found a circuit board for the gas start feature with the igniter wire.
Thanks for any help in this matter

[flybouy]

Have you tried the reset switches on the water heater? There is a black rubber cover with the embosses "reset" on it. It's accessible from the outside with the access cover removed.

[gostros]

yes I have, I waited until the heater was cooled and checked the reset on both the gas and elec side (even removed the rubber boot covering them to inspect the bus bar. (As stated, no 110 even getting there.

[flybouy]

When you :checked the breaker" did you check for voltage? If the breaker has voltage coming out and the wire to it is secure then check where the wire going into the water heater. It could be a loose/missing wire nut.

[JRTJH]

The 12 VDC switch on the inside panel operates a 120 VAC relay behind the water heater. There may be a faulty connection at either the 12 VDC or the 120 VAC connections inside the electrical box located on the rear of the water heater.

[travelin texans]

Did you remove the black cover over the resets outside or just the rubber plugs? Mine the cover had the wires to the thermostats pinched & shorted out against the tank. I had to trim the black cover about a 1/4", fold down the metal trim, add some wire with a new spade connector & replace the 120 volt thermostat.
The odd thing about this was my buddy parked next door with the same brand of RV & we both found this issue the same day when we had no hot water for showers that same morning, both requiring the same fix.

[ChuckS]

Id remove the interior switch for the 120 VAC water heater function and look at the color code of wire from 12VDC switched side and see if you cant pick it up near a junction box most likely located inside the basement behind the rear access panel

you will be able to see backside water heater and there should be a junction box there with relay for 120VAC water heater element line

[gostros]

Yes i checked the 120 vac breaker and it has power. I removed the black cover and the wires were fine (I see the cover issue though, will trim mine before re-installing because it is close). Traced the wires from the 12 VDC switch inside the rv to the junction box on the heater, unfortunately looks like the only way to get at it is to pull the heater out about 6". ugh

[ChuckS]

Sounds like you are making progress. Throw a pic or two up of before and after of the junction box repair when you have time

The relay you are troubleshooting is a NO...normally open 120VAC relay that is pulled in when 12VDC is applied to it from the switch inside your RV

Either you don’t have 12 VDC to that relay or no 120 VAC to it from the power distribution panel ... I’d suspect a bad connection at the relay itself

[chuckster57]

If memory serves, you can test for voltage to the relay at the control board-yellow wire.

[gostros]

Thanks everyone for your help, the junction box is mounted on the water heater. The only way to get to it was to pull out the heater a few inches. The relay was indeed fried. Will replace relay and associated wires, move junction box to a more accessible area behind the heater that a can access from under cabinet in kitchen. (that a where the gas circuit board is located).

[skids]

Good find and good idea about moving it to a more accessible location.

[gostros]

Just an update, the new relay has arrived and been installed. Moved the junction box to the back of the water heater compartment. Very accessible now from inside the rv kitchen cabinets. Also why I was moving electrical around I installed a couple 120 volt / amp monitors for each leg of the 50 amp service.

[ChuckS]

Sweet job on relocating the water heater relay.. Keystone Alpine division should take note on how it should have been done from factory.... Meters are nice... did you tie right into service leads coming into each 50 amp breaker in the panel and who makes the meters? Nice and easy to see whats going on and how much current each leg is drawing

[gostros]

I got (2) of them from Amazon. Yes, removed each wire from the 50 amp breaker and slipped the ring over them, then reattached to breaker. The closest power source to the meters was the fan/light switch on the main console, so I used that.

[2Wheels]

I had the same problem on my new Hideout. Turns out at the factory they didn't connect the electrical element to the neutral bus....

[Oldwest66]

I have a 2017 keystone Laredo. ? On the toggle switches for hot water which way is on?? Have both gas and electric switch and nothing indicates which position is on or off. Thanks

[Mic]

how did you get your key to defy gravity and hang to the right????





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[Ozzy52]

Originally Posted by gostros

Just an update, the new relay has arrived and been installed. Moved the junction box to the back of the water heater compartment. Very accessible now from inside the rv kitchen cabinets. Also why I was moving electrical around I installed a couple 120 volt / amp monitors for each leg of the 50 amp service.

I have the same problem with my water heater. I have a new relay, but can you tell me what color wire go on what posts. Wires were burned off so can't tell where they were connected.
Also what guage are the wires. Someone else diagnosed my problem so I haven't seen the old relay.