I had another set of problems again this year . 369 days after the last set of problems last year so I ripped it out and through it to the curb.
after a long search on what to replace it with I decided to go with what I had in the M C I . I ordered a new pro heat x45 12 volt unit from a local supplier and 1 marine 11 gallon 120 volt all aluminum water heater with a heat exchange loop in it for domestic hot water and a 6 gallon w/h from the same supplier to use as a 6 gallon buffer coolant
tank with the same loop for engine pre heat OR to use the 550 hp engine to heat everything when driving .
now this was a ton of work to install it and set it up ( 2 solid weeks ) but after using the set up for 2 long weekends it is amazing !!!
now my wife and I can both have a shower one after another on the 11 gallon electric w/h with out the need of the boiler or the crap shoot of trying to get the old aqua hot to light and run ?
the new electric 120 volt hot water takes about 1 hour to heat from cold to 140 degrees hot not like the old aqua hot that would take 3 hrs to heat the 16 gallons of coolant to then heat the water ???
as for heating the coach .the pro heat boiler takes about the same 10 -12 minutes and then cycles off and after about 12 - 15 minutes of heat run time the boiler fires up again but this time because the coolant is warm it only fires for 4-5 minutes and cycles off again and so on
I installed the boiler hot line through the water heater first so it has priority then if the 3 heat zones need heat the coolant goes through the cozy heaters .
now I have 3 separate units that can be replaced one at a time if ever needed not like the all in one aqua hot system
all in I spent about $4 k not the $9 k that the replacement aqua hot or the same cost for a oasis ne boiler would have cost plus 1/2 of the install time
pro heat x 45 boiler $2300 ( made in CANADA )
kuuma 11 gallon 120 volt water heater $ 490
kuuma 6 gallon 120 volt water heater $ 460 used as a buffer tank
parts and supplies about $ 800
as for replacement pro heat parts
burner nozzle needs to be cleaned once a year not replaced
ignition coil $100 not $ 500 like aqua hot
all the parts are cheaper
plus in the 10 years I had the old pro heat I did zero maintenance to it and it never failed to light !!! not like that piece of crap aqua hot unit
rant over
but very happy with the results 8)
dave
I've heard enough horror stories with the aqua hots that I'll never touch one with a ten foot pole.
Dave how are you liking your coach these days? You've had enough years in it. Still happy? No issues? Honestly happier than the bus? Genuinely curious.
Scott
The coach is amazing ! no problems at all other then me redoing a lot of things to the way I want them . Still can't get use to all the power it's like driving my truck .
Do I miss the M C I ? no . I guess moving into the more modern engine and transmission is making me soft as the maintenance is way less and so far I have had no hick ups or break downs .
But I see that Bus warrior is moving up to a newer bus and I do miss the build of the coach .
The redo of the aqua hot was a ton of work and did keep me real busy both brain power and working my but off in a small space but the out come was way worth it . My wife said why bother changing it ? it sounds like to much work ?
Because we travel south in the cold of winter I did not trust it even though I tried to keep it going with all the dumb @$# maintenance .
Now we will have heat any time I turn on the switch
Did you get your heating system ( propane furnace ) working ? and hows the family bus life going ?
dave
here are some pics of the install
dave
Looks good and tidy.
JC
thanks JC
this is the best water heating and heat system I have had on any coach or rv I have had over the years .
I guess it just takes a bus nut to get it right
dave
Pictures, a parts list and instructions!
Where's my credit card?
Job done. Thanks!
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Usually, brand new systems work great. Let us know 10 years down the road. Well, those of us that are still around. Hopefully it'll still work as great as new. Many here swear Webastos are great, but from the issue posts, they have their problems long term also.
Hey, my Eiberspacher works great, but I haven't used it yet. ;D
He bought a Proheat, not a Webasto...
On purpose.
Ask around, everyone knows how to work on a Webasto, not so many know how to work on a Proheat... cuz they don't have to...
Tons of Proheat X45 installed in coaches as original equipment for a long time now.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Dave, what kind of Cozy Heaters do you have?
JC
That rascal takes a lot of real estate in the bay. You did a nice install. Looks very professional. Hope you have dependable service. ;)
David
I have 4 of these 2 fan exchanges and 4 x 1 fan heat exchanges through out the coach in the upstairs and in the basement
https://www.parts.rvhydronicheaterrepair.com/Heat-Exchanger-Cozy-III-EXE-103-0EX-EXE-103-0EX.htm
the new system with the 3 separate units takes up less space then the old unit
we were camping for the last 3 days and I still can't believe how well the system works .
you guys probable do not want to hear this but this morning the outside temp. was 41 deg out at 7:00 am burrrrr and I used the boiler again .
wow! was it fast bringing up the inside temp.
yes time will tell how the system holds up but the pro heat boiler's are in a ton of over the road trucks and buses and have worked for many years . as I said earlier the pro heat I had in my M C I worked flawlessly for me for years
thanks for all the good replies
dave
proheat unit
http://www.proheat.com/offHighway/x45OffHighway/index.html
dave
I have posted this before, but worth repeating. I considered a hydronic heat system, but $15k for the setup of the system and the complexity and high maintenance said no.
I use 2-10gal electric water heaters straight from HD. My heat is an Atwood 35,000btu propane forced air furnace with 4 outlets. Additional heat can be had from heating strips on the 3-roof top A/C's. Since starting to use the bus in 1994 what is the maintenance I've done to the heating/water heating system? Drain the water heaters when I remember, replace the furnace once-that's it!
I like the system so much, I repeated it in my truck conversion. How much did the system cost? 2-water heaters were $900, new furnace $650, various brought the whole system up to about $2,000 total. Just a bit less than the $15k and very little maintenance. Good Luck, TomC
Tom
what size propane tanks do you have ?
I looked into going with a rinnal io60c propane boiler and at 95% efficient it would make a great boiler but all I have for propane is 2 x 20 lb tanks on a drawer and did not want to do the change to a on board tank . I only use propane for the bbq and the 2 burner cook top so it takes me a year on a tank .
https://www.rinnai.us/product/boiler/i060cn
Maybe if I did not travel in the sub zero temperatures propane would be ok , if I had a big enough tank
My sister has a new c class rv and she went to Florida last year and they have a 45 k propane furnace and just made it to Florida on a tank and they needed to find a propane station to fill the tank before returning to home in Ontario Canada in the cold of winter
With the boiler being diesel and at the price I paid for it and the fact it works so well I am so glad I did the change over
dave
The problem I have with propane is it can be hard and inconvenient to find in unfamiliar territory. It is ok on the freeway where all the Flying Js have it, but on the 2 lanes in the small towns, we have had difficulties finding it. We use a lot of it in the winter with the generator, the furnace, the cook stove, and the water heater on it. 30 gal built in tank.
The ideal coach is still diesel/electric in my view.
Diesel fuel is on every street corner, and is getting cheaper. (For now anyway).
JC
I have a 20 gal frame mounted propane tank. Only my stove and furnace are propane. So I only fill the tank once a year-no big deal. Good Luck, TomC
We carry 4 - 30 lb cylinders. When we boon-dock we are all propane. We stay off the forced air heater & run the radiant heater. Fire a tiny 800 watt aux genny up every few days to keep the batteries good. Would like to do solar, nothing fancy - to side step genny. We've never found it difficult to get propane. All the tanks are portable so we run with the toad if need be. We are spoiled in AK with virturally no need for A/C otherwise the 6.5 Onan runs & we go more electric (water heater, heat, cooking etc.) To get our $$ worth on fuel cost.
ya
diesel is easy to find
not so much for propane
dave
I have a system similar to your new one, and after 20+ years I have figured out how to fix the Webasto, which was the only weak link.
I was doing the yearly change of the burner nozzle and fuel filter but I think the problem might have been the igniter had a intermittent spark ?
I just got tired of the " will it fire this time " crap and did not trust it when it is cold
all is good now
dave
Do you still have the old AquaHot or parts of it? I would be interisted in the old unit.
Thanks, Herb
yes I still have it but I did remove some parts from it
I removed the pumps and the fuse strip and the tempering valve
what are you looking for ?
dave
The silver control box that is mounted to the side of the burner unit or the whole burner unit.
Herb
Package units like Aqua/Hot and the Oasis made by Pro/Heat both give you problems if you lack on the maintaince I have the Pro/Heat Oasis it gives the same problem's as the Webasto only difference is the Pro/Heat is a lot cheaper to repair because of the low pressure fuel system
Herb
come and get it
dave
Hi Dave,
I am working in Alberta right now but i will be driving my bus home to Nova Scotia around the end of Oct. It would be no problem to stop in and pick it up on the way if that will work for you. If you let me know how much you want for it I could email you the money . Would it be possible to send me or post some pics of the burner unit and control box so i can tell if it is like my setup.
Thanks Herb
Dave my email is" hrbvns@ gmail.com "
My phone number is seven eight oh 228 47one8. That is a cell and u could text if u want.
Herb
Herb
I sent you a PM
dave
I had two Proheat X45 for years and just before I sold them I cleaned them up connected them and they started right up and fired and produced nice hot water. I still have a brand new Preheat X45, 12volt with some extra parts etc. If someone is interested let me know.