Restore reliable hot water to your RV or camper with this direct-fit screw-in heating element from Camco. Built from magnesium oxide and nickel-plated, corrosion-resistant copper tubing, part 02143 (vendor part 42-0090) threads directly into the 8-inch port on your hot water tank and delivers 1500 watts of consistent heating at 120 volts -- no soldering, no specialized tools beyond an element wrench.
A failed water heater element is one of the most common reasons RV and camper hot water tanks stop heating. This Camco screw-in element is a straightforward, cost-effective repair that most owners can complete in under an hour. It fits the standard 8-inch element port found on many 9-inch residential-style hot water tanks, whether in an RV, camper, or stick-and-brick home.
The element ships with a rubber gasket that compresses against the tank port to form a water-tight seal -- no thread tape or sealant compound required. Installation requires a Phillips head screwdriver and a screw-in element wrench (Camco part 09883, sold separately at rvupgradestore.com SKU 80-8705).
Nickel-plated copper tubing filled with magnesium oxide insulation resists mineral scale and corrosion for long service life in RV water conditions.
The included rubber gasket seats against the element port and compresses to a leak-free seal without thread compound or tape.
1-1/4" thread diameter and 6-1/4" element length match the port dimensions of many residential-grade 9-inch water heater tanks.
Delivers full 1500 watts on a standard 120V shore power connection -- the same rating as most OEM elements in this tank class.
You will need:
Always shut off power to the water heater at the breaker before beginning work. Drain the tank completely before removing the old element to avoid scalding water release. Thread the new element in by hand first, then tighten with the element wrench to the torque specified on the instruction sheet. Refill the tank completely before restoring power -- heating an empty or partially filled tank will burn out the element immediately.