HydroHot indicator light question

[Ed Dubois]

We recently acquired a 2001 Patriot with a HydroHot system. On the panel on the galley wall there are 2 switches each with a built in indicator light. When we turn on the Diesel switch the light comes on but when the Electric switch is activated the light in that switch doesn't show. Both systems produce hot water. Can anyone suggest why one light doesn't illuminate?

[Joe Rhea]

The bulb is properly burned out would be my guess

[LaMonte Monnell]

These switches have a tendency to burn out.

[George Harwell]

Joe is correct. I have had several switches that still operated normally with the bulb burned out. I replaced the switches until I figured out you could buy a new bulb at radio shack. If you are handy with tools you can fix it.

[Ed Dubois]

Thank you all for your replies - I appreciate your assistance.

George, do you by any chance have a part number or description for the replacement bulbs you used? Living in a small town means I usually have to buy parts online. Also I'm wondering how the switch comes apart. It's not obvious to me and I'm a bit apprehensive about wrecking the switch as it's a discontinued part.

A general question, does anyone know of a source for these older model switches? Used would be fine. I'd even be happy to get my hands on a dead one to take apart before trying any surgery on the working one.  I don't think I'd win any popularity contests here if I did something that disabled the system.

Ed

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

BCS had them when I needed one back in 2010
Steve

[Ed Dubois]

You must have got one of the last ones Steve. BCS no longer has them. The replacements are different switches that mean the whole panel has to be replaced and some creative wiring is required because the newer switches don't have the same number of pins. So the game continues...

Ed

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Ed,
If you wanted to continue using the same switches you could wire an LED indicator in parallel with the switch so it would come on when the switch is on. https://www.amazon.com/WAMCO-WL-19211451-PANEL-MOUNT-INDICATOR/dp/B00HPLGUVK/ref=sr_1_81?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1471745741&sr=1-81&keywords=panel+mount+led  Similar ones are available at Autozone and other auto parts stores.
Steve

[Ed Dubois]

Thanks for the idea Steve. That may be the solution.

Ed

[Loren Harris]

We recently acquired a 2001 Patriot with a HydroHot system. On the panel on the galley wall there are 2 switches each with a built in indicator light. When we turn on the Diesel switch the light comes on but when the Electric switch is activated the light in that switch doesn't show. Both systems produce hot water. Can anyone suggest why one light doesn't illuminate?

I have the same year Patriot and have a switch assembly extra. I thought it was a bad switch but to find out the control board had a burned out diode.

[Darrell Terry]

Ed,
 My diesel light burned out as well. I opened the switch to see if I could replace light inside.
Springs and parts went everywhere and I could not get it back together.
 As stated earlier you will need to replace both switches and the faceplate.
I ordered the parts through Roger Bertke at http://www.rvhydronicheaterrepair.com/
They were not expensive and he included a wiring diagram on how to wire the new switches to existing wires.
It was a simple replacement although the faceplate now says " AquaHot" instead of HydroHot.

Darrell Terry

[Ed Dubois]

Loren, I sent you an email about your switch.

Darrell, thanks for that information. You confirmed what I am apprehensive of: opening a switch and ending up with a handful of "spare parts". I know about the new switches and have that wiring diagram and the switches but our wiring doesn't match the factory setups. With a friend who has a much deeper understanding of things electrical we went through the process and tried the new switch setup but couldn't get that to work. This is why I'm hoping to find an old switch setup to replace mine.

If all else fails when we're next travelling where there are HydroHot specialists available we'll have to take that route.

[Dennis Belfils]

 Ed, not sure if this will pertain to your situation.
 We have a triple switch located near the kitchen sink. One for Diesel heat, one for Electric & one for Pre-heat. The diesel light worked, but the other two did not. On the assumption that the other two lamps were burned out, started looking for new switches, to no avail. BCS did not have them, but did have a new ones a with panel. Got the wiring from Hydro-Hot by E-Mail & installed new pane & switches. Still no electric/pre-heat lights. Turns out the Diesel lamp gets it's + & - from the main Hydro Hot control board & the other two are supplied from the switch operation & a Chassis ground. Confirmed we have an open ground. Now the search continues to find the other end of the Chassis ground. A temporary ground has given us lights, but would like to find the ground point & make sure other grounds are not effect due to a loose connection.

[Ed Dubois]

Dennis - good thought. We did try that and it made no difference. That said in the past we've run into 'little problems' that were related to bad grounds (like the time our engine wouldn't start and the mobile tech found a bad ground... that was a spendy lesson learned ).

Thanks,

Ed

[Doug Neal]

Radio Shack has the sub miniature bulbs that fit inside the existing switch available in two life spans. I went that route two times, but is a delicate procedure. I finally got two 1/4" led's from them and put them above each switch. No more bulb replacement necessary.