We've got to make lots of assumptions here.
GS seems to use Suburban Mfg (subsidiary of Airxcel),
http://www.rvcomfort.com/suburban/pr...ater/specs.php. The model number is not of great importance, other than an "E" designates gas/electric.
All Suburban units use 1440 watt electric elements. The literature speaks of using the electric option when plugged into campsite electric, so the elements are rated for 120 volts ac. (12 volts would be like 160 amps!)
Word is (not from their website though) that the electric must never be turned on with no water in the hot water tank. This condition can occur after winterization, with tank on bypass. Of course, to prevent vaporizing your heater element, there is a Suburban-supplied switch behind the external heater door. The switch has a pin thru the handle to prevent accidently energizing the element. Too bad that apparently our coach manufacturer continues to NOT mark the internal switch as to it's function, and continues to provide the easy circuit that turns on the indicator lamp, regardless of the state of the all important external switch.
Wouldn't it be nice to:
1) have the switch identified?
2) have the switch indicate that electric power really is applied to the heater element?