MPG 184 water heater and cable tv question

[Barefootdiver2000]

Hi, just purchased a 2011 MPG 184. Everything on it works except I cannot get the Suburban SW6DE water heater to work. I have water in the tank, but there are 3 different switches and I can't seem to figure out which ones need to be flipped to work on gas or electric. We boondock a lot so really want the gas working. I have a switch on the water heater, one next to the water pump switch by the door, and one that looks like a light switch between the bathroom door and TV.
What needs to be on for gas? And what needs to be on for electric?

Also, by the cable TV plug inside on the wall by the TV there is a little red button. What is that for?

 

[cookie]

The red button marked heater that is on the holding tank monitor is for the propane heat part of the water heater. It also needs 12 volts DC to operate. Make sure you have propane in your tanks and they are turned on.

The red light switch marked water heater is for the 120 volt operation of the water heater. You must be plugged into shore power or generator. With 120 volt disconnected check all connections at the water heater. There is a small junction box attached to the side of the water heater. Check the connections inside. I've seen more than one with problems there.
Also I suggest replacing the water heater element. It may be burned out. They are not expensive.

And finally the little red button near the TV coax is for the signal booster. It must be on for over air signals and off for cable. You will have to program your TV for signal type and do a channel scan.

Peace
Dave

 

[Barefootdiver2000]

The red button marked heater that is on the holding tank monitor is for the propane heat part of the water heater. It also needs 12 volts DC to operate. Make sure you have propane in your tanks and they are turned on.

The red light switch marked water heater is for the 120 volt operation of the water heater. You must be plugged into shore power or generator. With 120 volt disconnected check all connections at the water heater. There is a small junction box attached to the side of the water heater. Check the connections inside. I've seen more than one with problems there.
Also I suggest replacing the water heater element. It may be burned out. They are not expensive.

And finally the little red button near the TV coax is for the signal booster. It must be on for over air signals and off for cable. You will have to program your TV for signal type and do a channel scan.

Peace
Dave

Thank you. Am I correct in assuming the switch outside on the water heater should be on in both situations?

 

[danemayer]

Outside switch is in the 120V AC circuit and must be ON for 120V operation. Most people leave it ON.

 

[Barefootdiver2000]

Thank you. So in trying this, neither electric or gas works. So since the gas doesn't even fire up, I have to assume that it is not a problem with the heating element but something else. Not sure how to check the wires with a multi-meter as everything I've tried touching doesn't show any curent passing thru and I don't hear anything clicking when I try the gas.

 

[danemayer]

To troubleshoot, use our Water Heater Troubleshooting Guide. It could be as simple as the ECO sensors tripping and needing to be reset. The 120V AC and 12V DC/Propane operations on Suburban units are independent. However, if something caused an overtemp condition, I think both ECOs will open, disabling both operations.

When checking voltages, the common lead on your voltmeter should be connected to a known good ground.

 

[Barefootdiver2000]

Thank you. I did take apart some of the water heater today and cleaned things up a bit. Didn't seem too dirty and all connections looked and measured good with the multimeter. I did unplug the circuit board that is under the bed and that all looked good, but after I put the connections back together, all of a sudden I could hear it clicking and it lit using propane. I did not have any continuity on the heating element so I believe that is bad on the electric side and will replace.
I did find a great video on youtube that was really helpful:

 

[Barefootdiver2000]

Put in a new heating element and that was the issue. Water heater working fine.

 

[Barefootdiver2000]

Have another question. When putting in the electric heating element and all switches are OFF but hooked up to dhore power, when I touch the white wire going to the heating element to the metal inside the water heater area, it sparks a little. When I put a multimeter on it, it reads .58 volts. Should it? Maybe that's why it burned out?

 

[Dahillbilly]

that small amount of stray voltage shouldn't cause any issues with the heating element

 

[Uncle Walt W]

Hi, just purchased a 2011 MPG 184. Everything on it works except I cannot get the Suburban SW6DE water heater to work. I have water in the tank, but there are 3 different switches and I can't seem to figure out which ones need to be flipped to work on gas or electric. We boondock a lot so really want the gas working. I have a switch on the water heater, one next to the water pump switch by the door, and one that looks like a light switch between the bathroom door and TV.
What needs to be on for gas? And what needs to be on for electric?

Also, by the cable TV plug inside on the wall by the TV there is a little red button. What is that for?
View attachment 66289View attachment 66290View attachment 66291

Not many of us Mpg owners, wondering how things are going with your unit ?
September 23 2022 I've had my 181 one month, let's chat !

 

[Barefootdiver2000]

Not many of us Mpg owners, wondering how things are going with your unit ?
September 23 2022 I've had my 181 one month, let's chat !

Hi Walt, been awhile since I've been on the site. Things going good with the camper, but I do have a soft spot by the front door. I went to the camper today and found some water on the floor by the front door. It has been winterized so I'm not sure where the water came from. There is no evidence of water coming from the ceiling. Could it be somehow from the door?

 

[Dahillbilly]

could be & spray down our RV to find leaky window seals. Just found water leak last week (water on floor) & now it's too cold out to test with hose, will have to wait till spring here in northern WI. Good luck with your leak

 

[Barefootdiver2000]

Found out I had a bad leak in the door. Pouring in near the hinges. Floor completely rotted out by the door. Then found that I had a leak in the rear storage area. Not sure exactly where it was coming in from, but appears to be about where the diamond plate is. Whole rear storage area was rotted and back of camper was separating from the back end! Tore everything out and think I have it all fixed up. Took a lot of work, especially trying to squeeze into the storage area and remove all the poor OSB they put in from the factory.