SW6DE Hot Water Heater Operation

RottieMom · 07-09-2014, 10:31 AM

Sorry for asking so many dumb questions, I'll get past being a newbie in the near future. In the meantime...

Can someone help me out with the steps to follow for using the Suburban SW6DE (Direct Spark & Elec) hot water heater? I'd like to understand what steps to follow if using propane only, or electric only, or both propane and electricity.

I've read the operation manual, but am still a bit confused about steps and sequence. I know the first thing I'm supposed to do is once I'm hooked up to water (either city connection or fresh water tank & pump), I need to open the hot water faucets and fill the Hot Water heater tank.

Thanks for any instructions you can provide.

07-09-2014, 12:15 PM

Do you have the manual? Here is one if you need it.

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...9&d=1353188863

RottieMom · 07-09-2014, 12:16 PM

Yep, I have the manual and find it a bit confusing. Was hoping someone could provide simple step-by-step instructions depending on whether you're using propane, electricity or both.

Redtail Cruiser · 07-09-2014, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmboyd

Sorry for asking so many dumb questions, I'll get past being a newbie in the near future. In the meantime...

Can someone help me out with the steps to follow for using the Suburban SW6DE (Direct Spark & Elec) hot water heater? I'd like to understand what steps to follow if using propane only, or electric only, or both propane and electricity.

I've read the operation manual, but am still a bit confused about steps and sequence. I know the first thing I'm supposed to do is once I'm hooked up to water (either city connection or fresh water tank & pump), I need to open the hot water faucets and fill the Hot Water heater tank.

Thanks for any instructions you can provide.

Hi Cindy,

After you have purged all of the air out and the hot water tank is ready, turn on your propane tank. Then turn on the hot water for propane operation by flipping the switch on the panel on the front of the sink. There is an indicator light next to the switch which should come on. When the air is purged out of the propane tube,the water heater will ignite and then the indicator light will go out.

To operate on 120 volt power. When the trailer is plugged in, open the access door to the water heater compartment. In the lower lefthand corner of that compartment is a small black rocker switch. To operate the hot water heater on 120 volt turn that switch on. You can run them both at the same time or seperately.

Hope this helps...

RottieMom · 07-09-2014, 01:38 PM

Yes! Thank you Tim. I knew it couldn't be that complicated.

**Bill** · 07-09-2014, 02:20 PM

There are a couple of tutorials in the Technical Library (TM Info You Won't Find Anywhere Else) that may help, too. One has to do with the water heater itself, the other with general operation of the propane systems.

Bill

davlin · 07-09-2014, 03:55 PM

Cindy,

It's very important to remember that when you've finished using the 120vac (electric) mode of the water heater you need to turn the black toggle switch back to "OFF." If you forget to do this, it's quite possible at some future date to have the electric heating element in the water heater on with no water in the tank. This will burn out the element.

It would be nice if there was a light on the control panel that indicated that the electric element was on, but alas, there is not.

Dave

RottieMom · 07-09-2014, 05:59 PM

Great, thx all. The advice is much appreciated!

flipflop · 12-05-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redtail Cruiser

Hi Cindy,

After you have purged all of the air out and the hot water tank is ready, turn on your propane tank. Then turn on the hot water for propane operation by flipping the switch on the panel on the front of the sink. There is an indicator light next to the switch which should come on. When the air is purged out of the propane tube,the water heater will ignite and then the indicator light will go out.

To operate on 120 volt power. When the trailer is plugged in, open the access door to the water heater compartment. In the lower lefthand corner of that compartment is a small black rocker switch. To operate the hot water heater on 120 volt turn that switch on. You can run them both at the same time or seperately.

Hope this helps...

Another thing is under the outside cover there are two manual reset buttons behind a rubber grommet. Here's the Suburban owner's manual http://www.rpod-owners.com/uploads/3...03-17-2015.pdf

On Page 5 it talks about the reset buttons. On Page 7 is diagrams of the buttons. Mine is like Figure 13, two reset buttons side-by-side.

I had to reset them both this trip to get the water heater going with AC and LP.

ThePair · 05-19-2017, 11:47 AM

Ok, I have installed the relay switch that I previously posted about, and it works exactly as described. It will engage only when 120V is present (i.e. TM plugged into shore power) and will remain engaged until either A. shore power is unplugged, or B. you manually press "off". Once disengaged by either method, it will not engage again until both A. shore power is present AND B. you manually press the ON switch.

It is, in a nutshell, a perfect switch for this application. I may not bother with the outside switch any more, as this simply won't activate the WH until I tell it to, which is when I'm standing at the kitchen sink and making sure the hot water is flowing from the faucet.

I installed it on the front "control panel" where the coax cable was -- I never use that, so I repurposed that space.