I have a Camp Lite, 26RLS. In the galley, on the wall adjacent to the range is a switch labeled Water Heater along with a reset button. Does anyone know what this is for or how to use it? It doesn't seem to matter if it's on or off, I get hot water either way.
No owners manual?
Sounds like this is the switch you are referring to...
(https://i.imgur.com/0UTRiqIm.jpg)
On my 21RBS it simply turns the water heater on/off. The reset light will turn on and stay on if it overheats and needs to be reset from the outside. The water will stay hot/warm for quite awhile after it is turned off, so if you switch it off and it is still warm that's normal. You may want to try a cold start in the morning and see what happens. The reset light may flash for a moment when originally turned on.
Unless you have a second switch that overrides this switch, this switch should just turn it off/on.
If no luck also ask on aluminumcamperforum.com
I posted in the "older models"section. Since it's a propane only water heater I am wondering if a previous owner added an after market electric heating element (camco makes one). If they did I doubt they ran another switch inside. It's possible they left it on. Pull the exterior water heater cover off and take a look.
That switch on my camper turns on the water heater with propane, there is also a switch on the heater itself to run on electric.
Yes same for us, this switch turns on the propane portion of the water heater from inside, there is a switch that is on the actual water heater from the outside that you need to turn on/off for electric, but be sure the tank has water in it if you use the electric or the element can burn out fast. You can use both and i believe it will increase the heating speed of the hot water if you use alot of water, i only use electric in campgrounds, propane if boondocking. why not use the electric that you are already paying for when you hook up.
Because it uses very little propane and the recovery time is much less on propane vs electric.