Switch for Hot Water Electric Heating Element
The Wildcat has an electrical heating element in the hot water heater. I like having the heating element but it was a pain to use because the on/off switch is outside behind the water heater access door. When I park the camper at home I have it plugged into 120 AC but I don't want to heat the water. In the winter months I sometimes run a 1500 watt electric heater in the camper. The hot water heating element pulls about 1500 watts. Now turn on the microwave and you are going to pop a circuit breaker someplace because this exceeds the 30 amp maximum for a standard RV outlet.
I wanted easier control over the on/off switch. Going outside and removing the hot water access door was a pain.
I noticed the 120 AC wire going to the hot water heater is easily accessible under the kitchen sink. I cut the wire, added a junction box per the electrical code, and extended the wires to a switch that I installed in the cabinet adjacent to the propane control switch for the hot water heater. I leave the external on/off switch in the "on" position and control the element from the inside switch. The switch has a neon light so I always know when I have the switch on.
While I was under the sink I installed an extra 120 AC outlet. There is a perfect place for a Dust Buster vacuum under there and I plugged the transformer into the outlet.
My new switch adjacent to the
propane control switch.
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Wider angle view, showing how it
looks in the cabinetry.
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Mounting of the Dust Buster.
This all works very well.
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