Unknown Switch

blacksmith · 03-23-2017, 04:11 PM

Im new to this whole RV thing and bought a 2000 Solaris T1950. Everything seems to work and couldnt be more pleased with it. However, there is a switch next to the power control system that has an orange light and I cant for the life of me figure out what its for. When I flip the switch the light comes on.. but thats all I can see that it does... Any suggestions?

**JohnB** · 03-23-2017, 05:58 PM

That "might" be an add on the prior owner did to turn on the electric heating element in the hot water heater. Heads up, do not turn it on until you have water in the heater as the element will burn out in minutes with no water in it.

The pre 2003 Atwood water heaters use to have a switch on the back of the heater that was a bear to get to to turn it on. The prior owner may have made a fix to get that switch out in the open. If your T1950 has the water heater under the bed in the back right corner and it has that electric element option, then yes it would be a pain to crawl in and get to. I have a T1950 but a 2004 model. In the 04's and up there is a remote switch for the water heater

Can you post a picture? That will help us if it is orignal or a prior owner addition.

Hope this helps

John

PS Congrats on your new camper and welcome to the club.

jim44646 · 03-25-2017, 06:01 PM

On my 2001 that switch controls the electronic propane ignition for the hot water heater. Stand by the water heater and have someone flip the switch. If you hear a clicking or snapping noise that's the ignitor trying to lite the propane.

sep · 03-26-2017, 06:58 AM

Welcome! Post a picture just so we can be sure. I have a 2000 but a different model. The switch you describe on mine is up by the stove and fridge and it is the igniter for the hot water heater. Mine takes awhile to get the propane flowing all the way back to that far corner where the heater sits so you have to flip it on and off a few times and I too have someone by the heater letting me know when it kicks on.

Steve P

**Sunline Fan** · 03-27-2017, 10:58 AM

I assume you're referring to the black switch here:

blacksmith · 03-27-2017, 06:18 PM

I cant figure out how to post a photo from my phone but the HW ignition switch is above the sink and works fine. The tank levels are also behind the sink so its not that.. here is what i posted to the Sunline Facebook group...

Another Question.. T-1950

I have a switch w/light to the right of the power center below the wardrobe. I THINK this switch has something to do with the hotwater heater but Im not so sure how. The remote start for the HWH is behind the sink.. it works and the gas fires just fine... when I turn the unknown switch on the light comes on but I hear, see or smell nothing else happening. If I flip the 15A breaker marked Water Heater, the light goes out. The Model # tag on the HWH says its a G6A-8E, which Attwood says is a gas only electric start 6 Gallon water heater... I am at a loss as to what this switch is for....

Ive checked the water heater and I cant find an element. According to the drawings it should be centered on the back of the unit and visible from under the bed.... noting but Styrofoam.....

**JohnB** · 03-27-2017, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacksmith

I have a switch w/light to the right of the power center below the wardrobe. I THINK this switch has something to do with the hotwater heater but Im not so sure how. The remote start for the HWH is behind the sink.. it works and the gas fires just fine... when I turn the unknown switch on the light comes on but I hear, see or smell nothing else happening. If I flip the 15A breaker marked Water Heater, the light goes out. The Model # tag on the HWH says its a G6A-8E, which Attwood says is a gas only electric start 6 Gallon water heater... I am at a loss as to what this switch is for....

This is good info. We now know what the infamous switch is not...

But... We also know some new things.

The lighted switch appears to be a 120 v AC lighted switch and not a DC lighted switch as it went off with the 15 amp breaker. Good info.

So what could this thing be? I have a hunch and it would be great if we can see this, so I might be off base a little, but take a look.

1. This statement "15A breaker marked Water Heater, the light goes out."
The marking "water heater" was that a hand written set of words or did it look like it came from the factory and is the same type and text font as all the other circuit breaker? I don't think Sunline would of installed a breaker for a future electric element with only a gas only HW heater. But we might learn something here on this one.

2. I'm going out on a limb here, so bear with me. You said the back of the HW heater was all Styrofoam and no indication of a an electric element on the bottom back of the heater. More good info. BUT... assuming a prior owner created a electric element conversion could still be. It has been known that some people will buy a "hot rod" electric element and screw it in the drain plug hole of an Atwood HW heater.

I did a search on the web for picture of such a conversion and found these 2 on an Atwood heater. Go open up your HW heater door outside and look and see if one of these hot rod elements are screw in the drain plug hole.

Here is the kit

And here is a perfect pic of someone having it installed and labled no less.

See if yours has this hot rod in that location or a normal plastic drain plug with no wires.

Hope this helps

John

**JohnB** · 03-27-2017, 09:10 PM

I myself have not posted pic's from my phone yet. I "think" others have but this may help

To post pics on the forum you need either a web picture hosting site, Flicker, PhotoBucket etc and link them into a post or you can upload them to the forum server.

These 2 posts can help

This one tells how to upload to our server
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f1...html#post86041

This is an older one about linking in pics from a web server
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f6...club-7650.html

Let us know if you still cannot get pic's to post. They really help during times of troubleshooting and are interesting in general.

Maybe someone who has done a phone pic upload and help answer how they do it and what type of phone they have.

Hope this helps

John

blacksmith · 03-28-2017, 04:45 PM

OK.. I finally tore into it and whats happened is that originally this trailer had a factory installed HWH with electric start LP and 110V heat capability. A previous owner wired a remote power switch in parallel with the factory installed switch under the bed. Some time after 2008 they removed that system and installed an electric start LP only system. Currently the offending switch just supplies 110V to the metal junction box under the bed. I've made sure the wires are capped off and taped and I've turned off the breaker in the panel.. So if I ever replace the water heater or decide to add a drain line heater its already wired up.. Mystery solved. Thanks for all the assistance.

**JohnB** · 03-28-2017, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacksmith

Some time after 2008 they removed that system and installed an electric start LP only system.

Currently the offending switch just supplies 110V to the metal junction box under the bed.

Now that is funny.... I never would of guessed they back converted to gas only.

Obviously the label in the power panel was a factory label to the HW heater...

Thanks for reporting back. This one was a real good mystery!

John