Water heaters

[windtrader]

The link provides support that electric on-demand units are inadequate. Maybe I'm the odd one out but taking a shower at a quart a minute won't cut it. 

[Lin]

There are cheap 6 gallon electric water heaters that run on around 12 amps.  I think you could find a 10 gallon that would take 15 or 16 amps.

[TomC]

My 10 gal electric water heaters each have a 1500 watt element (12 amps). From dead cold, it takes 45 minutes to heat. The insulation is good enough where I will have hot water all day from running in the morning. Good Luck, TomC

[scanzel]

We all like to help others when a question is asked but at times why beat the post to death. If a person has their mind made up let them go with it and if it fails or doesn't work it is a learning lesson for them. In this case let him go with his choice.

[Zephod]

We all like to help others when a question is asked but at times why beat the post to death. If a person has their mind made up let them go with it and if it fails or doesn't work it is a learning lesson for them. In this case let him go with his choice.

I think the problem is that everybody has their vision of an ideal and don't fully understand the situation the other person is building around.

Honestly, if I'd followed the ideals others had come out with, my motorhome would have cost about $150,000 to convert yet still be only a $4000 bus when it's time to sell it.

Fact.... 30A power supplies are very common. 50A and 100A are not.
Fact.... An electric shower using 30A of a 30A supply is going to blow the fuse when the fridge cuts in.
Fact... on a cold day I'm likely to want to use a fan heater as well as the shower and fridge. That's another 5A

Conclusion 30A -5A (fan heater) -7A (Fridge on startup) = 18A. Thus 15A is the maximum electric shower permitted.

There is and never will be any onboard generator nor any major batteries.


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[j.m.jackson]

One option is to make some solar water panels and run them up on the roof. Lots of real estate up there. Coils of soft copper tubing, black paint, a circulation pump, and a 10 or 20 gallon electric heater that you don't have to plug in if you don't want to to use as a holding tank for the hot water.

[somewhereinusa]

Fact.... An electric shower using 30A of a 30A supply is going to blow the fuse when the fridge cuts in.

I did find this

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/hvac/water-heaters/tankless/at-900-03-tankless-electric-instant-water-heater-3kw-110v?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=Cj0KEQjwg47KBRDk7LSu4LTD8eEBEiQAO4O6r66vtrD7_OJV_Hq48aQsGS9fRTlWpEXZfrQbb1C1IPMaAleY8P8HAQ

(on first search) that seems to may meet your requirements although I think 3000 watts is a bit much on a 20 amp circuit. The quick search I did seems to indicate that you should limit that to about 2400 watts.

Fact... on a cold day I'm likely to want to use a fan heater as well as the shower and fridge. That's another 5A

Most small electric space heaters are rated at 1500 watts (about 12.5 amps) on high because they are designed to be plugged into a standard house 15A receptacle.

[Zephod]

Fact.... An electric shower using 30A of a 30A supply is going to blow the fuse when the fridge cuts in.

I did find this

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/hvac/water-heaters/tankless/at-900-03-tankless-electric-instant-water-heater-3kw-110v?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=Cj0KEQjwg47KBRDk7LSu4LTD8eEBEiQAO4O6r66vtrD7_OJV_Hq48aQsGS9fRTlWpEXZfrQbb1C1IPMaAleY8P8HAQ

(on first search) that seems to may meet your requirements although I think 3000 watts is a bit much on a 20 amp circuit. The quick search I did seems to indicate that you should limit that to about 2400 watts.

Fact... on a cold day I'm likely to want to use a fan heater as well as the shower and fridge. That's another 5A

Most small electric space heaters are rated at 1500 watts (about 12.5 amps) on high because they are designed to be plugged into a standard house 15A receptacle.

Ahh. I have an automatic ceramic fan heater that runs well at 500W and which also has a 1000w setting that I just never use.

I've been looking at some 15A instant water heaters. The idea is to mount under the handbasin, tee it off to both the handbasin and the shower. Trouble is those I've seen are old adverts for stuff no longer sold.


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[TomC]

This is the advantage of a regular tank type water heater. You build up the heat in the water heater-say when you're sleeping. Then in the morning, turn off the water heater, turn on the coffee maker, space heater, etc so not to blow the 30 amp breaker. If you have a point of use instant water heater, you'll have to turn off everything while you take a shower. You don't have to keep the tank type water heater on all the time (I don't). Once heated, a tank water heater will stay warm all day. Granted it takes more space, but the simplicity of a tanked water heater is second to none. Good Luck, TomC

[Lin]

Not to re-mention another fact: a 6-10 gallon tank heater uses 12 amps, which is less than the instant heater you are talking about.  I agree that one has to make budgetary compromises in their build, but this plan seems to offer very little savings and a large reduction in function. If you are truly in love with the idea of instantaneous hot water, you may have to look at propane, which I understand is not something you want (though could also be used to upgrade your cooking facilities).  Of course, there are many on this board that, like yourself, prefer the all-electric coach concept.

[luvrbus]

All he is wanting is a point of use water heater they are reasonably price 100 or so bucks,if you are looking at a fast recovery propane is the way to go 

[Utahclaimjumper]

  When you get done cutting corners,,home brew,,makeshift installs,, you will be making SURE its only worth 4K at sell time.>>>Dan

[Zephod]

  When you get done cutting corners,,home brew,,makeshift installs,, you will be making SURE its only worth 4K at sell time.>>>Dan

I'm building for me for my specific purposes. The next owner can do what the hell they like. I'm not building it for them.


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[Zephod]

All he is wanting is a point of use water heater they are reasonably price 100 or so bucks,if you are looking at a fast recovery propane is the way to go 

I decided against gas for a number of reasons although when dry camping, I do have a little Coleman single burner butane cooker that can be used to heat water for my shower.



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[Zephod]

Not to re-mention another fact: a 6-10 gallon tank heater uses 12 amps, which is less than the instant heater you are talking about.  I agree that one has to make budgetary compromises in their build, but this plan seems to offer very little savings and a large reduction in function. If you are truly in love with the idea of instantaneous hot water, you may have to look at propane, which I understand is not something you want (though could also be used to upgrade your cooking facilities).  Of course, there are many on this board that, like yourself, prefer the all-electric coach concept.

I did consider a water tank heater but decided against it as I'm running out of space under the floor to put things. I took a very leaky 15 gallon water heater out of the original build.


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