A little help with unknown switches

[demyers]

I bought a used 2014 Cobblestone i17 and am uncertain what these switches do. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[tlmgcamp1]

The bottom set looks like controls for your water heater with gas or electric option. My guess on the top set would by your fresh water pump and a macerater pump for sewage.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Are the fresh/waste switches momentary? That might be a level check. Seems a stretch that a travel trailer would have a macerator system.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[SC_RVer]

I agree that if the fresh/waste are momentary that they could be for level checks but there's normally a separate one of gray and black, plus they say ON and OFF.

I think more likely they turn on tank heaters to prevent freezing.

 

[Boat Bum]

RE: the lower switches

These are indeed the hot water heater, the left is for electrical power and the right is for propane. If the light in the middle goes on it usually means it cannot ignite under propane power.

 

[tlmgcamp1]

Are the fresh/waste switches momentary? That might be a level check. Seems a stretch that a travel trailer would have a macerator system.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

I will change my guess on the top set to tank heaters.

 

[Kirk]

If the light in the middle goes on it usually means it cannot ignite under propane power.

The lower switches are Atwood and that is the water heater. Make sure that you have water in the water heater before you tested it. As he said, the left switch turns on the electric heater and the right the propane side. The red light will turn on each time that the heater is turned on, or if the heater is calling for heat. It will stay on until heat from the burning propane is detected and then turn off. If the propane fails to light after a minute or so, it will turn off the propane and the red light will stay on to alert you. If that happens, to turn off the light and reset the condition you just turn the switch off, then once the failure is resolved turn it on again.

 

[demyers]

Great responses thanks so much!!

 

[Kirk]

Let us know if you have any more questions.

 

[Tileman1]

You pressed both switches on and off without knowing what they did, didn't you? Well, that's what I did. Then someone here told me that one was for my porch light, and the other controlled whether the steps stayed out or came back in.

 

[Larry N.]

Then someone here told me that one was for my porch light, and the other controlled whether the steps stayed out or came back in.

But your switches weren't labeled FRESH and WASTE or Atwood, if they were actually for your steps and light...

 

[Tileman1]

But your switches weren't labeled FRESH and WASTE or Atwood, if they were actually for your steps and light...

You are correct. No words or letters. They could have been ejection switches. Someone in here knew what they did from where they were located. Or, perhaps had similar switches in his RV.

 

[demyers]

It's tough when you don't have the manual for the RV. I couldn't find one online either, at least one for this model.
That said, I'm very happy with this unit. It has a lot of useful features, nice esthetics, and is well built. I'm living in it short term after a move while I'm looking for a property. Very comfortable.

 

[Kirk]

That said, I'm very happy with this unit.

That's what is important. I think that you would find that the RV manual was of little value as that is true for most brands. I am not at all familiar with what you have.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

So was a function for the top two switches ever determined? Seems after living in it a while some function will be notably absent or present when the switches are operated.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[demyers]

So was a function for the top two switches ever determined? Seems after living in it a while some function will be notably absent or present when the switches are operated.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

Sounds like these are heaters for the water tanks, prevents them from freezing in cold weather.

 

[DutchmenSport]

I did read all the responses, but before I did that I formulated my own opinion.

The top ones are tank heaters, the bottom ones are the electric and gas switches for the water heater.

That was my first assumption, and sticking with that!

 

[Kirk]

Sounds like these are heaters for the water tanks, prevents them from freezing in cold weather.

Thats possible. Is your freshwater tank exposed to the outside temperatures? Most potable water tanks are inside of the RV where it is heated, probably most commonly, under the bed. I wouldn't assume that without some careful checking. You checked and they are not momentary switches that return to center when released? Do you have tankl level indications?

 

[tlmgcamp1]

Thats possible. Is your freshwater tank exposed to the outside temperatures? Most potable water tanks are inside of the RV where it is heated, probably most commonly, under the bed. I wouldn't assume that without some careful checking. You checked and they are not momentary switches that return to center when released? Do you have tankl level indications?

My TT water, gray and black tanks are fully exposed to weather between the frame structure under the floor

 

[demyers]

Thats possible. Is your freshwater tank exposed to the outside temperatures? Most potable water tanks are inside of the RV where it is heated, probably most commonly, under the bed. I wouldn't assume that without some careful checking. You checked and they are not momentary switches that return to center when released? Do you have tankl level indications?

Not momentary, they are on or off. The bottom switches are both off, but I have hot water. I assume these determine if the tank warmers are powered by electric or propane. Honestly it's confusing.