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[Beau388]

Assuming you have a 10 gallon Atwood tank type water heater - it has two separate heat modes and both can be used at the same time, here goes. The electric heating element is serviced on the back of the water usually a panel in the bedroom wall. On the back of the water heater there is a relay that is used to supply 120 volt power to the heating element. The wall switch (labeled 120 electric) sends a 12 volt signal to the heater's circuit board (which is powered by a 12 volt circuit from the power center) will supply power to close the power relay if the water temperature is below 120 degrees F. You will not hear a click when activating the panel switch as there is usually a delay before the relay closes plus it is a relatively quite relay when compared to the solenoid opening the gas valve when gas is switched on. Trouble shooting usually consist of making sure 120 volts is available to the relay on the back of the water heater and that the relay can be triggered by the circuit board. Of course the heater element could also be faulty (usually because the heater is turned on when the is no water in the tank).