2015 keystone cougar on first trip help

Imthek9 · 05-30-2015, 04:52 PM

Hi Everyone....

New here...I'll be around often now.

My wife and I just purchased a 2015 Cougar 31SQB.

We are on the maiden voyage as we speak -- plugged into electric at the camp site. Upon arriving - I was aware I would discover some issues but these issues seem to be different than others I've read in here. When we arrived I plugged in and turned the electric water heater on, the switch lights red, breakers are on, no hot water. So I turn propane on and that has gotten us through it the past few days. Then, tonight after being gone all day, with the propane and electric switch off, I turn on the hot water and its scolding hot. I have a feeling the "off" position on my panel for electric is actually on. Is this possible?

In addition to the above question in the main room I noticed the carpet is wet by the bed. I lifted cover to expose pump and it seems like a lot of condensation around the vacuum portion of the pump near a clear glass type window attached to the pump. Any advice I plan on taking it back in but I'm just a little confused especially on the water heater piece.

Thank you

2015 Keystone Cougar 31SQB
2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax LTZ

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GaryWT · 05-30-2015, 05:15 PM

I guess it is possible the switch was wired wrong but if it was I would have figured the element would have gone bad as it would have been on with no water in the tank. If the trailer was never plugged in without water in the tank then it is possible.

As for your water issue, are you using the pumps? Check that all hoses are tight.

Imthek9 · 05-30-2015, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the reply Gary. I was under the same impression - I will see what they say about it at the dealership. I have never had the luxury of going on our first trip and not bringing the RV back to dealership on way home. I always shake loose something.

2015 Keystone Cougar 31SQB
2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax LTZ

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**JRTJH** · 05-30-2015, 05:54 PM

The electric switch on the Suburban water heater (the switch outside, behind the gas mixing tube) is installed "upside down" in all water heaters. You push UP on it to turn it off and push the bottom of it to turn it on. That's just the opposite of most electrical switches. If that's the switch you're saying you "turned off" when the water was "scalding hot" you might want to get down real close and look at the markings on the switch.

As for most Suburban water heaters, the inside switch on the control panel only operates the gas portion of the water heater. There are some RV's that have Atwood water heaters, many of which have both gas AND electric switches on the control panel. If you have one of those models, then you have two electric switches that control the heating element.

Confused yet? Spend some time looking at your water heater and reviewing the owner's manual. It will all become crystal clear once you sit down and think the operation through using the book. Good Luck

ADDED: As far as the indicator lights being "red" they only glow when there's an ignition sequence in progress or if there is an ignition failure. If they are on, there's a problem. If things function as they are supposed to, the gas indicator will flicker until the propane is functioning, then it will go out. There should be no "red light" to indicate "normal operation".

Imthek9 · 05-30-2015, 05:57 PM

Hi JR - thanks for the reply. My other camper that this one replaced was setup that way. On this new camper there are no switches on the heater other than the reset. On my panel I have 2 separate rocker switches one for lp and one for electric on water heater.

-Stephen
Working Dog Handler
West Olive, Mi

2015 Keystone Cougar 31SQB
2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax LTZ

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GaryWT · 05-30-2015, 07:21 PM

On my previous trailer the outside switch was on the botton/base of the compartment so it was more of a left or right rather than up and down. The switch inside was actually a regular home type light switch that would light up and stay on the entire time the water heater was on. The current trailer has the one electric and one gas switch on the panel and both stay lite for the entire time they are on.

**sourdough** · 05-30-2015, 08:05 PM

Don't know your exact configuration but our trailer has one rocker panel switch inside for electric and one for gas. There may be another switch on the heater itself but I've either never seen it or noticed it; I just use the two inside. If it works when on LP and not when it's off, then it's hot when both switches are off I might think the electric switch/wiring is suspect. Instead of closing the circuit for "on" you open it and vice versa.

cb1000rider · 05-30-2015, 08:58 PM

This one threw me on the Carbon (2015) as I'm used to having a switch for gas and one for electric. If I understand it right, the "on" switch for electric is on the unit (accessed from the outside). The gas switch is in the RV.

Grbill · 05-31-2015, 05:16 AM

My 2015 26RBI has an electric switch on the water heater and an electric and gas switch in the trailer, switches in the trailer light up when turned on. Both electric switches must be on for electric element to work.

Imthek9 · 05-31-2015, 05:57 AM

So after a reading through these replies I went outside last night around 11 pm. Flashlight and all and started once again looking around for a switch. I noticed I have a silver regulation sticker in the lower left hand of my unit with a bunch of specs etc. it's riveted to the back wall of the lower left of heat....it's a 2015 brand new trailer so I felt bad doing this but I was frustrated...I took a screw driver and broke the rivets off this plate, BOOM rocker switch behind the metal plate that says on off.....seems to be working now. I'm so confused as to why this plate was put there over a button that is so important. Mind blowing. Thank you all for your help..I'll be back soon I'm sure.

-Stephen
Working Dog Handler
West Olive, Mi

2015 Keystone Cougar 31SQB
2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax LTZ

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therink · 05-31-2015, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

Don't know your exact configuration but our trailer has one rocker panel switch inside for electric and one for gas. There may be another switch on the heater itself but I've either never seen it or noticed it; I just use the two inside. If it works when on LP and not when it's off, then it's hot when both switches are off I might think the electric switch/wiring is suspect. Instead of closing the circuit for "on" you open it and vice versa.

I also have 2 switches for the 120v water heater element (same as above). There is so a 120v breaker on the main panel dedicated to the water heater element (3 switches total). I leave the rocker switch on the heater (outside of water heater) always in the on position and use the rocker switch on the inside wall panel to turn it on or off. The only time I turn the switch on the exterior side of the heater off is when I am draining or winterizing the water heater.
I think the off position on the outside switch on mine is also in the up position but it does have the words on/off printed on switch.

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