New Caretaker of a 1973 GMC

[gary j zingle]

Hi my name is Gary Zingle.
>
I am the new caretaker of a 1973 GMC 26 foot motorhome (TZE063V100629, si=
de
bath, dinette behind passengers seat, bunk beds behind drivers site).
>
Having expended considerable effort (and having received considerable hel=
p
from the information available on this "E" mail site) in determining
condition prior to purchase, I hoped for few surprizes.
>
Up here in Northern Canada dealerships keep RV's winterized until purchas=
e.
This prevents the dealerships from having to winterize their total
inventory every year.
>
Therefore I recognized that there would be some risk that after purchase =
I
might discover some problems with the water system.
>
Although the water system proved to be "tight" (including the hot water
heater) No heat is added to the water by the water heater.
>
My past experience with RV water heaters is limited to the propane fired
units. This is my first experience with an electric unit.
>
The water heater is an:
>
Atwood
EH6
1500 watt
equiped with Energy cuttoff
Spec # R08040
>
I have electricity at the element, (and the unit is drawing electricity)
but even after 45 minutes no hot water is produced.
>
Is it worth trying to repair these water heaters or should I recognize th=
is
as the first of the "fix by replacing" that can be expected to be a part =
of
restoration of the old girl?
>
Are these water heaters still commonly used and if so who is a good sourc=
e
of either parts or a replacement heater in total?
>
Hopefully as time goes on, and my experience with GMC motorhomes increase=
s
I will be able to pay back the favor of all the help this "E" mail list h=
as
provided.
>
Thanks in advance for any assistance you might be able to provide regardi=
ng
the heater.
>
Gary Zingle
garyjz

 

[john dolan]

Welcome....

Glad to have another caretaker on board.

>I have electricity at the element, (and the unit is drawing electricity)
>but even after 45 minutes no hot water is produced.

When you say it is drawing current, it should be drawing a lot of
current, like 12 amps at 120 volts. I guess you discovered that the
electric heater only works when the generator is running or you are
plugged into shore power.

You could disconnect the element and measure the resistance across the
connectors. In order to draw 12 amps, you should get something like 10
ohms across the element connections.

- --
"I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to..." John said, from inside a
1974 Glacier.

 

[john dolan]

> You could disconnect the element and measure the resistance across the
> connectors. In order to draw 12 amps, you should get something like 10
> ohms across the element connections.

Hi Gary... what did you find?

SO tell us what did you find and what did you decide to do. If you get a
high resistance across the connectors, it is likely someone said, "...and
everything works on this coach, even the hot water heater as they flipped
the switch on an empty tank."

- --
"I do whatever my Rice Krispies tell me to..." John said, from inside a
1974 Glacier.