What Are These Two Switches in My RV's Kitchen?

by Anonymous

Here are what these two mysterious switches Do in your RV

Here are what these two mysterious switches Do in your RV

I recently purchased a 2007 24' Prowler Classic. There are two switches in the kitchen area that I'm not sure what they're for. One has a lighting bolt and the other is a gas flame. Could you answer my question?

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ANSWER: Hi the two switches in the kitchen of your RV are for your RV's Hot Water Heater which can be operated either by propane or 120 volt electric. When you are not connected to electric and need hot water you would turn on the switch with the flame on it to run the hot water heater on Propane. If you were hooked up to shore power (120 Volts) and you needed hot water you would turn on the switch with the electric volt on it.

Although the switch pictured at the top of this page may not look identical to the one in your RV, this is what they are for.

It should also be noted that not all RV Water Heaters can be operated on electric, some can only be operated on propane only. But, there are some after-market Hot Water Heater Conversion Kits available that can be installed on most RV Water Heaters that will allow them to also use 120 volts to heat the water for your RV.

Now the question crops up which method heats the water faster Propane or Electric? In most cases the propane will heat the water faster than the electric will. Here's a little secret, if you are hooked up to shore power but forgot
to turn on your water heater and you have an I Need Hot Water Now Emergency, you can safely use both the Propane and Electric at the same time to speed up the water heating process.

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When you're hooked up to Shore Power at an RV park I would recommend that you keep the electric on for the water heater, it will then function just like your home water heater and you will have hot water when you need it. But, keep in mind that most RV Water Heaters only hold 6 to 10 gallons of water, so if you are planning on taking a long luxurious shower it ain't gonna happen unless you plan to finish up your shower by getting shocked awake from the freezing water coning out of your shower head.

If you are looking for an endless supply of hot water in your RV, you may want to look into getting a Propane Tankless Water Heatericon installed. These tankless water heaters will let you take longer showers, but don't forget you only have so much water capacity in your gray water holding tank, so when your shower stops draining and the water starts rising to your ankles it's time to end the shower and dump the tank. :)

I hope this helps.

Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by clicking on the "Click Here To Post Comments" link located near the bottom of this page.

Happy RVing

RVing Al

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Comments for What Are These Two Switches in My RV's Kitchen?

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Hot water switches
by: Anonymous

What way does the switch need to be flipped to be off?

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White switch inside marked water heater
by: Vicki

I purchased a 2000 prowler Ls 26H travel trailer. The red switch on the wall beside kitchen sink (no gas or electric symbols ) just a switch that when is in the on position lights up red and stays lite up. There is a white switch beside kitchen sink bottom of counter beside cabinet doors it's white with water heater marked on it that's all. I turned the white one on no hot water then I turned the red one on also and I got hot water a few days later no hot water. I repeated this still no hot water. Help

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unmarked switch
by: Anonymous

Same issue with Doug. Unmarked 3 way switch next to my propane & electric switches and I do not know what it does.

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Red light
by: Anonymous

The red light means the hot water heater is not lite. Give it time & hit the switch again & it should lite takes some time for propane to get through the lines.

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Water switch
by: Anonymous

At wood water heater what does I and O mean

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Atwood Water Heater Red Light On
by: Mel

I have a 2004 Fleetwood Trumph 5th wheel. The above top pic is exactly the same one made by Atwood. The center red light came on & regardless changing from electric to propane the red light comes back on. Is there a manual to download troubleshooting (possible causes) for this Atwood hot water heater back in 2004?

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What’s the Switch in my bedroom
by: Anonymous

I have a switch in my 1992 alpenlite fifth wheel right above my bed and I have no clue what it does? Can anyone possibly tell me what it is?

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Propane
by: Anonymous

What’s wrong when you change the propane tank and your not getting full pressure

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Gas electric panel inside by stove in kitchen
by: Anonymous

I wanted to know what it means when the red light in between the gas and electric panel by stove area comes on what does it mean?

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What are those switches?
by: Angie B

Thank you! I've been trying to figure this one out since we got our used Sprinter RV - with no appliance manuals.

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Help
by: Anonymous

Where is the switch to turn on my water heater in my 2006 Fleetwood class a motorhome?

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Light switch
by: Anonymous

There are two switches above my water heater switch in my 2004 wilderness trailer one of them turns the light to the ceiling on we cannot figure out what the other one is connected to

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Switches
by: Pat

I have a switch in my 2005 prowler 5th wheel labeled up down next to my hot water switches ,what is this switch for ??

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In labeled red switches
by: Matt

I was told they where for tank heaters in cold weather. Still not sure.

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mystery 2 unlabeled switches
by: Janey

I have the same question as Matt. As you enter our 2015 Wildcat 5th Wheel by Forrest River, there are 2 switches on cupboard below counter top. There is no info in the generic manual, no labels and we can not figure out what they do. They do light up red is switched "on". The generic manuals they provide do little to help new owners understand all of the functions for everything whether at full hook up or dry camping.

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Rv switchs
by: Liz

Does anyone know what the red light means on this switch?

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Atwood On-Demand Hot Water Heater
by: steamyb

I swapped out a 6 gallon Atwood that the previous owner had cut the electric instead of fixing it.
After 8 months, I still can not get the temp adjusted. I either scalding or freeze. I am replacing it with the gas/electric water heater.

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Unmarked switch
by: Doug

I just purchased a 1994 27ft StarCraft lumastar travel trailer. By the sink is a switch. It says "on" in the up position, "off" in center position, and "off" in down position. Its a 3 position switch. I image its for the hot water tank. Why the 2 on position s. I can't find anything about this in the manual. Can someone help me ?

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Hot water heater
by: Anonymous

So just to know I am hearing this correctly...you need the electric bolt switch on no matter what you use for the hot water heater?

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What are these two switches for ?
by: Anonymous

Water heaters are one use for these two switches but some rv's have duel fuel fridges...
Fridges/coolers running on propane / mains and sometimes even battery power as well while driving.
Hope this helps.

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Question on hot water switches
by: Sherry

What do the I and O stand for on the switches?

Note from RVing Al: The simple answer is these symbols are not letters they are actually the binary numbers one and zero. The 1 is on and the 0 is off.

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Two switches
by: Matt

I have the same question but the two switches do not have a flame or a volt symbol. The are located to the left as you come in the door under the counter top.

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