Troubleshooting an Atwood Water Heater with Dual Switch that Caused a Fire in the WH Junction Box

Question:

I bought a used a 2018 Tracer 255RB with an Atwood dual switch water heater. When I turned on the water heater I switched both the electrical and flame switch on thinking the electrical was for the gas igniter and ran it with both switches on. After looking at you tube videos it looks like the water heater will run on both electric or gas depending on which switch is on Correct? Can running the water heater with both switches on cause the wiring to melt in the water heater junction box? I found the wires melted in mine. Cant find clear operation instructions.

asked by: Kurt B

Expert Reply:

To be honest, I don't think it is an issue with your switch. More than likely it is a wiring issue. But, it could depend on what your water heater model is. Some models have 2 separate heating elements (gas and electric) and the switch controls which heating element is used. Other models the electric switch is the ignition and the gas is the fuel for the water heater to heat up, kind of like you mentioned thinking it worked.

More than likely this is a wiring issue. Sometimes wiring vibrates loose and can lead to an electrical fire. Looking into this, I found a number of instances where people mentioned the relay being at fault. I would recommend inspecting all of your wiring. I would also recommend looking up the owners manual for your specific model to ensure you are operating everything correctly.

If you end up determining that the damage is more than initially thought and need to replace the whole water heater, I recommend going with a tankless option like the Fogatti RV Tankless Water Heater # LSB64FR. The RV industry as a whole is moving more towards tankless water heaters and they are far more efficient.

expert reply by: Scott S