Water heaters

luvrbus · June 19, 2017, 02:14:27 PM

I have on demand hot water with the diesel fired heating system, I did install 2-10 gal marine electric water heaters(because of size) with heat exchangers for hot water from the engine too.
Only reason I installed the 2 water heaters was for storage and I didn't like the diesel fired system coming on when you needed hot water.
If it wasn't for cutting holes in the side of bus for venting and adding a tank Propane would have been my 1st choice because of the recovery time with Propane

Geoff · June 19, 2017, 06:25:17 PM

I think I have the only solution for Zephod (this thread was started by him, wasn't it?). There exists a 20 amp power cord for the bus. Zephod complains that his refer uses up too much power to run both his refer and his water heater. Simple solution-- unplug the refer for 30-40 minutes while his water gets hot enough for a shower. Nothing is going to spoil.

--Geoff

luvrbus · June 19, 2017, 07:01:25 PM

that will work,a kilowatt hour cost me $.14 cents that is a 1000 watts per hour how much would cost to heat 10 gals of water with a 1500 watt element water heater not much

Oonrahnjay · June 20, 2017, 04:22:22 AM

Quote from: windtrader on June 19, 2017, 02:08:09 PMMost water heater capacities in conversions seem to be in the 5-10 gallon range. ... it'll likely be gone in no time.

My water heater is 10 gallons but when the water in that heater has been heated by the "loop exchanger" off the engine coolant, the temperature is 190 degrees. There is a tempering valve on the water heater, when you draw water what you get is mixed water at about 105 degrees (adjustable). The 10 gallons of hot water in the tank goes to make 20-30-more??? There's no way to know exactly when all the hot water has been used up (did it get used or did it cool off???), but I can tell you, my experience has been like Jon's -- if I drive more than two hours, I have all the (free) hot water I can use for at least a day.

daddysgirl · June 20, 2017, 07:47:07 AM

If anyone has a schematic of the "loop" or anything else, using the engine coolant to heat water, I would REALLY love to see it. I installed 2 2 electrical lines and a hole large enough to run copper lines to the engine compartment when I tore out the rear and re-did the insulation etc. I built in the ability...just need a schematic

?

luvrbus · June 20, 2017, 07:59:34 AM

Quote from: daddysgirl on June 20, 2017, 07:47:07 AM
If anyone has a schematic of the "loop" or anything else, using the engine coolant to heat water, I would REALLY love to see it. I installed 2 2 electrical lines and a hole large enough to run copper lines to the engine compartment when I tore out the rear and re-did the insulation etc. I built in the ability...just need a schematic ?

The loop is usually made into the heater,I don't believe you can just add one to a standard water heater the loop has to be isolated from the tank water some way,all things are possible though.Jon's coach has a $800.00 heater,I got my 2 from a Country Coach Prevost for 100 bucks ea and they were almost new

daddysgirl · June 20, 2017, 08:51:55 AM

Thank you!
Reading your comments made me realize I might be thinking too complicated. I already have the vents for the water heater and the big Webasto. Although I am going to move the units, I can duct the Webasto to the same vent, and possibly whatever new hot water system I use. Point being...I already set up for Propane, it works safely and I might not need to get nutty with it? If I use the tankless, I'll find a different use for the Suburban opening, or vent them out of it.

buswarrior · June 20, 2017, 09:45:05 AM

one of those flat plate heat exchangers and a pump to circulate turns the everyday box store water heater into a fancy RV/marine engine heated tank.

Just one google place:

http://www.supplyhouse.com/Heat-Exchangers-821000

happy coaching!
buswarrior

luvrbus · June 20, 2017, 10:03:25 AM

That is true BW but by the time you get through with the piping,pump and valving you can buy a heater

chessie4905 · June 20, 2017, 10:16:13 AM

We had a marine style in the 4104 for years. It was trouble free and always had plenty of hot water. We used a spray wand in the shower that had an on off button to conserve water while soaping up.

kyle4501 · June 20, 2017, 05:31:38 PM

For what its worth,
My 30A travel trailer had a 3-way switch after the breaker -
-- common to the hot wire from breaker
-- one traveler to the AC
-- other traveler to the microwave

No overloading when only one high amp load can be used at a time.

PP · June 20, 2017, 05:47:26 PM

Daddy's Girl,
Have you already installed your water heater, because if you haven't the Atwood with an 'H' in the model number stands for 'H'eat exchanger. It's really nothing more than an aluminum pipe welded into the hot water part of the tank with an inlet and outlet fitting. I'm not ready to mess around with the engine coolant connections as I've developed a real dread of leaks, but it will warm the water to your engine for cold start assistance or heat up water in the water heater while you're going down the road. Like Oonrahnjay commented earlier, you'll get 190° water in your hot water tank, or even higher if you're doing much hill climbing and towing a big toad.
Will

Beesme · June 21, 2017, 11:34:09 AM

I installed on demand propane hot water last fall in our coach . No pilot ignites on demand and works awesome !

Zephod · June 21, 2017, 01:21:22 PM

Quote from: Beesme on June 21, 2017, 11:34:09 AM
I installed on demand propane hot water last fall in our coach . No pilot ignites on demand and works awesome !

Propane water heating ideas fail at the first hurdle since the heaters cannot be trusted to be installed under the floor. Otherwise, I would consider a propane water heater since a lot of places don't charge for water but do for electricity.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Iceni John · June 21, 2017, 01:56:36 PM

Quote from: PP on June 20, 2017, 05:47:26 PM
Daddy's Girl,
Have you already installed your water heater, because if you haven't the Atwood with an 'H' in the model number stands for 'H'eat exchanger. It's really nothing more than an aluminum pipe welded into the hot water part of the tank with an inlet and outlet fitting. I'm not ready to mess around with the engine coolant connections as I've developed a real dread of leaks, but it will warm the water to your engine for cold start assistance or heat up water in the water heater while you're going down the road. Like Oonrahnjay commented earlier, you'll get 190° water in your hot water tank, or even higher if you're doing much hill climbing and towing a big toad.
Will

So if your engine begins to get too hot climbing a hill, all you need is a good hot shower to cool the engine down? I'll try that next time I'm climbing the Grapevine or Cajon Pass - I think there are some straight sections of road there where I can quickly run back and take a quick shower. That's what cruise control is for, yes?

John