Clicking noise from water heater

[jloco]

Hi Folks,
I have a 2016 jay flight 38FDDS with a 10 gallon Atwood water heater.. When being used on electric, I sometimes hear it clicking. On the back of it there's a plastic box attached to the tank by 2 little bolts. Under the box is where the electric heating element goes into the tank. I can't remove the box unless I disconnect the water lines.Before I do that, Is there a relay under there? Has anyone else had the 'click' 'click' 'click' issues and know what's causing it?
TIA..
JLOCO

[muckinfuss]

here you go...................

Atwood Water Heater Troubleshooting

[jloco]

Originally Posted by muckinfuss

here you go...................

Atwood Water Heater Troubleshooting

Thanks.. I've seen this The parts lists are kinda vague.. I did a google search where I found someone who had the same problem but the resolution wasn't posted. I guess I'll have to tear it down when I get some time.. I'm running on propane in the meantime.

[muckinfuss]

I looked at the diagrams before sending on to you but since I don't know the exact model number of your heater, I'm not really a set of eyes on your problem. What I did notice, was only one, for an electric only unit, showed a relay. Not what you have from your description. I'm thinking since none of the gas model lists have a separate relay (relays click), that it's on the board and that's the clicking noise you hear. Not much help I know.

[jloco]

Thanks for looking. It’s definitely coming from the back of the unit, not the board located in the front.
I’ll figure it out once I tear into it. I was just wondering if someone here had seen this issue.

[Topperace]

I heard the same thing last time we were out and thought it was the water heater as well... but didn't have time to investigate further...could not pin it down. Glad this was posted as maybe someone will have experienced this and knows the "fix"...like you said though sounds like a "chattering relay"...as I only run my water heater, electric mode to save on propane.

[Route 66 Traveler]

I believe inside the plastic box is the 12 volt relay that puts 120 volts to the heating element when you turn on the heater at the control panel in the RV. You should only hear it click once when it turns on, and again when it turns off. Before you take it apart make sure you have no power connected to the RV. Also take photos of how it is wired to use as a reference when you put it back together.

[jloco]

UPDATE:

It appears to have been one of the
t’stat/E.C.O. connections on the front of the tank.

I tightened the connections and made sure that foam type adhesive pad was holding the stats firmly to the tank. Haven’t heard the relay going crazy since..

[Topperace]

Awesome, I’ll try the same with mine this weekend and see if that works.

[Wind Bandit]

similar issues here, I've had a chattery relay, and then the chatterying quit and now I don't have elec heat but I do have propane heat. my assumption is my relay died. I did replace the circuit board and that didn't fix it, the relay is now on order. Not looking forward to disassembly of my belly to access the relay.

GC10a-4e heater
2020 Northpoint 377

also, oddly enough, this WH quit working just after the jaycommand firmware update but I have a bit of trouble thinking these are related and I assume its coincidence.

thoughts?

[Topperace]

"...Not looking forward to disassembly of my belly to access the relay.
"

You should be able to get to the WH back via the basement compartment...
that is how I had to get to ours... took the entire left side blue wall material
out to access the entire compartment behind it...lot of water PEX hose to
navigate, but was the easiest way to get to the compartment at the back bottom of the WH where the relay is located...

[Wind Bandit]

Originally Posted by Topperace

"...Not looking forward to disassembly of my belly to access the relay.
"

You should be able to get to the WH back via the basement compartment...
that is how I had to get to ours... took the entire left side blue wall material
out to access the entire compartment behind it...lot of water PEX hose to
navigate, but was the easiest way to get to the compartment at the back bottom of the WH where the relay is located...

problem is, we full time and I have a very full belly!!

parts should get in on Tuesday and if the weather is good I'll give it a go Tuesday evening.

still perplexxed why the timing with the BMPRO was so perfect. hopefully the relay is the culprit and not some other gremlin.