Surburban HWS

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 17:22

ThreadID: 105990 Views:1449 Replies:4 FollowUps:7

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G.T.

My Surburban HWS Model SWDEA will not work on 240v after a 3 hr trip on what I would describe as mainly a `choppy` road. It works OK on gas though.
I am wondering that I got an airlock in it when travelling and this has caused the element to `burn out` after I turned it on again. I discovered a `reset` gizmo with two buttons, but no difference after pushing either button.
Has anyone had the same problem? and what was the solution?
Thanks G.T.

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Reply By: 410 - Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 17:29

Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 17:29

Hi G.T
Could be just the little elec switch. Reasonably easy to replace, a bit hard if you're all fingers. Just a thought any way.
Richard

AnswerID: 525282

Follow Up By: Brian 01 - Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 17:34

Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 17:34

I guess you checked that the plug has not fallen out of the power point inside the van.

FollowupID: 807181

Follow Up By: G.T. - Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 18:13

Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 18:13

The on/off switch is wall mounted inside the van. Same as a interior 240v light switch. Thanks for the input though. Regards G.T.

FollowupID: 807184

Follow Up By: jacent - Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 18:19

Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 18:19

Did you have the switch removed from the back of the HWS and mounted on the wall? The white switch with the red light is to light the gas, black switch for electricity

FollowupID: 807186

Follow Up By: Brian 01 - Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 19:04

Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 19:04

The suburban unit comes with a flexible cord and plugtop for plugging into a power point to power the electric element, I respectfully suggest that you have a look in a cupboard adjacent to the unit to see if there is in fact a power point there.
It would be most unusual for it to be done any other way.
The switch that you are seeing may be controlling that power point.

FollowupID: 807189

Follow Up By: G.T. - Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 09:46

Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 09:46

Jacent--- No, both the gas switch as well as the 240v switch are wall mounted inside the van when the van was built. Regards G.T.

FollowupID: 807254

Reply By: 410 - Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 18:58

Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 at 18:58

Hi G.T
Generally the on off switch is located inside the unit by accessing from the outside ?

Richard

AnswerID: 525288

Reply By: Grinner - Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 09:57

Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 09:57

I had a similar problem over Xmas, the HWS service was heating fine on gas, but would only get luke warm on electricity.
I tried the 2 reset buttons a number of times, but didn't seem to work. In the end, I ended up prizing off the rubber covers that go over the reset buttons, gave the buttons another press, heard a click and then could hear the HWS start bubbling away heating on electric.
I assume the rubber on the buttons was somehow restricting the movement.

Jason

AnswerID: 525314

Follow Up By: G.T. - Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 10:21

Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 10:21

I will keep this in mind if I have any further problems. Regards G.T.

FollowupID: 807258

Reply By: G.T. - Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 10:15

Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 at 10:15

Brian 01. Yes you are right! I found a power point in the cupboard with a plug in it, the cupboard is over the H.W.S. The plug was not fully pushed in and the switch was not turned on. My guess that the switch was turned off by something loose in the cupboard when we were travelling, also even if the switch was on, the loose plug in the power point may have caused the same problem. We have been travelling for 6 months now and did not realise that there was a power point there. The wife commandeered the cupboard ( and the one above it ) when we got the van so I was none the wiser that the plug existed! We now have electric hot water, many thanks for your input. Regards G.T.

AnswerID: 525315