HW heater power on switches - What does your camper have?

**JohnB** · 10-15-2007, 06:13 PM

Fellow Campers

I have a question about the HW heaters in the Solaris models and how you turn them on.

I am looking at possibly purchasing a different TT. It is a 2004 model Solaris T310SR. It was made in October of 2003 per the Sunline manufacture label on the front left of the camper.

In both the 2003 and the 2004 literature, the Solaris was stated to come with what they called:

Gas/electric hot water heater with interior push-button auto ignition

See here in the 2002 copy write. 2003 Sunline web site page

And in my 2004 T2499, made in May of 2004, it has both electric and gas HW heating.

The tank/battery indicator looks like this with 3 switches. With a water pump, ele HW and propane HW switch.

And this is the wiring diagram of it showing one switch fires the electric relay, the other than gas control board. http://www.kibenterprises.com/manuals/m23-2hwl.pdf

This 2004 T310SR has The tank/battery indicator looks like this with 2 switches. With a water pump, and a single HW heater switch.

And this is the wiring diagram of it showing one switch fires the other than gas setup OR what ever one hooks to it. It says Heater Ignition but that toggle switch could be used for ele or gas controls
http://www.kibenterprises.com/manuals/m23vwl.pdf

Both Sunline pictures show the warning about making sure the element is covered in water which again leads me to believe the T310SR has the Attwood electric/gas DSI ignition HW heater.

So the question is:

Does anyone have a gas/electric HW heater with only the 2 switches at the panel?

Technically, the tank level panel could turn on the gas or the electric and you have to go else where in the camper to turn on the other mode. Anyone have this and if so where is the other switch?

Thanks

John

PS: Hutch, don't know if this is the right spot to post as this is technical. However our technical forum does not have a general technical area. Mod's, repairs and TV's. Maybe we need another General Technical forum that talks on anything other then, Repairs, Mod’s and TV’s. Move as you see fit.

Makers Mark · 10-15-2007, 08:14 PM

John,
My 2002 is different yet, it has the gas switch right next to the control panel. The electric is controlled by the breaker or there should be a switch at the heater. I am sure one the guru's have the exact answer for you.
MM

**PTHutch** · 10-15-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

Hutch, don't know if this is the right spot to post as this is technical.

John,

It's as good a spot as any.

Wrt the 2 switch panel, our 1999 Solaris T-2670 had the exact same 2 switch panel. The Water Heater was gas/electric. The way I believed it to work was the switch on the panel turned on the gas. We always ran the HW tank on gas using the pannel switch. To run it on electric there was a switch on the back of the HW tank. You accessed the back of the HW tank via an access hole in the bottom bunk, which was a PIA. That's why I never ran it on electric.

Hope this helps some.
Hutch

**JohnB** · 10-15-2007, 08:46 PM

Thanks folks. Any one with more info please keep it coming.

The good news is it continues to sound more like this unit does have ele and gas as others have this same 2 switch panel. And it sounds right that the one rocker switch would be for gas.

Now to the ele switch, well after having the 3 switch controller…. if I get this camper, and I have to go outside and flip the switch, I already have upgrade no 1 to work on....

All one would need is a small 12 volt switch to run on the control relay. The heavy power is thru the relay, not the little rocker switch.

Thanks guys.

John

rich2500 · 10-16-2007, 05:04 AM

what has been stated is correct john,the switch on the two button panel is gas operation for electric you have to switch it on the water heater but it should still be dsi for the gas operation.

eli · 10-16-2007, 07:04 PM

I have a 2003 T-1950 with exactly the same two switch panel you're asking about. The water heater switch on the panel turns on the gas operation (DSI) of the heater. The switch for turning on the electric operation is at the back of the water heater -- in my case under the bed and a long stretch to reach without climbing all the way into the bed storage compartment.

**JohnB** · 10-16-2007, 07:13 PM

Thanks Folks

Good news is, it is most likely DSI with electric just the switch is buried.

If the camper comes to her new home, that switch will be more friendly located I can guarantee this.

Thanks

John

Steve Collins · 10-16-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

I think I have the two switch panel, but I'm not sure if it's the same switches. I have a black switch mounted on the wall below the panel that I think is for the WH. That is one thing I haven't tried yet, so I don't know if that's what the switch is for. I'm guessing thats for gas only operation, but I haven't inspected the WH enough to see if I have a switch on the back of the unit. In a way I'm sort of new to the gas/elect. WH's because the last Sunline I (we) had with one was the 2653, so it's been a while. I only have one switch on my monitor panel, and it's for the pump:

Jon, your trailer is a '98, right? If so, it's the same on my '99. There is only one switch on the monitor panel, and it's the water pump.

The black unlabeled switch with a pilot light is the gas side of the WH. The light will come on briefly when you flip the switch on and then go out when the WH lights. *IF* the WH does not light for any reason, the light will come on and stay on until you turn the switch off.

When you get a chance to examine your WH, you should find a rocker switch on top of an electric box on the back side of the heater.

FWIW, I do not trust the rocker switch's ON/OFF marking (which is just a white portion of a black switch body). I haven't gotten around to running a pilot light on the electric side of the WH so I just make sure the circuit breaker is off at all times.

**PTHutch** · 10-16-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

If the camper comes to her new home, that switch will be more friendly located I can guarantee this.

Hey John,

How close are you to bring the new Sunline home?

Hutch

**JohnB** · 10-16-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

FWIW, I do not trust the rocker switch's ON/OFF marking (which is just a white portion of a black switch body). I haven't gotten around to running a pilot light on the electric side of the WH so I just make sure the circuit breaker is off at all times.

Steve, yes good point. IF I do this mod it will be an illuminted rocker switch.

Thanks

John

Steve Collins · 10-16-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

This might explain why the previous owner had that access panel off. I figured he had it off for winterizing, but it would make access to the WH a lot easier. It is a '98.

You are probably right, Jon. On the T-2453, there is an outside compartment door on the rear of the trailer which gives full outside access to the under bed storage area. The WH is to the left just inside the hatch so it's relatively easy to reach both the 110 vac switch for the WH and the two valves for the winterizing by-pass.

Steve Collins · 10-17-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

Well, it wasn't a lousy luan wall afterall. While it doesn't sound as good, it's now a lousy particle board wall. Either way, I still can't get to the WH through the outside cabinet:

10 minutes with a Roto-Zip, and you can open up a nice hole in that particle board, and not lose a bit of strength....