aqwa hot is now gone

[sledhead]

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 

dave 
       

[Scott & Heather]

I've heard enough horror stories with the aqua hots that I'll never touch one with a ten foot pole.

[Scott & Heather]

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.

[sledhead]

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   

[sledhead]

here are some pics of the install

dave

[lostagain]

Looks good and tidy.

JC

[sledhead]

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 

[buswarrior]

Pictures, a parts list and instructions!

Where's my credit card?

Job done. Thanks!

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[chessie4905]

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.

[Jim Blackwood]

Hey, my Eiberspacher works great, but I haven't used it yet.

[buswarrior]

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

[lostagain]

Dave, what kind of Cozy Heaters do you have?

JC

[David Anderson]

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

[sledhead]

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   

[sledhead]

proheat unit

http://www.proheat.com/offHighway/x45OffHighway/index.html

dave