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FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 8:37 am: | |
Have never dealt with these folks but the Trawler folks seem to think the equippment is OK.
They offer diesel fired hot water heaters for domestic consumption or heat.
http://itrheat.com/newproducts1.html
Spent the past week in Destin at a "destination " campground $ 95 a day in season, $ cheaper in mid winter.
I was reading an early plumbing book , 1900 era that had some interesting concepts.
The main one was that a sq ft of window was the same as 10sq ft of wall , to figure heating requirements.
Sure shows why its hard to heat a coach below Zero!
FAST FRED |
Doug wootring
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 8:58 am: | |
too bad it doesn't have a heat exchanger too |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 9:19 am: | |
same thing about cooling...the more windows you leave in...the harder it is to heat and cool... |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 11:31 am: | |
Doug,
I received ITR's literature some time ago and they have heat exchangers both fan models and static, manifolds, radiators, towel warmers, etc. Looks like they cater to the big boat market. It probably has prices to match.
Fred, I've spent over a year looking at the pros and cons of electric, propane, and diesel heat. I have to agree that a propane furnace is the choice. For all the reasons you have mentioned in the past. I've had similar experiences. But I really didn't want to mess with cylinders. The decision was clinched when got a slightly used ASME 50 gallon tank from my LPG supplier. It is a perfect fit for the A/C condenser and fan bay, and
already has the ventilation and door closure requirements of the code. Plus it has both vapor and liquid valves, the latter comes in handy at times.
Thanks for the ideas.
Chuck |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 11:41 am: | |
Chuck,
I originally felt the way you do, I advocated the Quatro Heater, (propane) because it was, at the time, about double the thermal efficiency of the RV heaters. But space issues and the single source for engine warming, hot water, space heating and the volume of ducting FAU's would require, switched me over to a ProHeat.
Part of the influence to my decision was the fact that careful placement of a heating source can sometimes be as significant as the source itself, both in enery usage and flexibility.
This is offered not to differ with you, just to present some alternative thoughts in case others have other priorities or usage patterns that may dictate a different way. |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 12:29 pm: | |
Marc,
I appreciate input from everyone, regardless of their views on the issue in discussion, because simply it gives me more to think about. I value the "big picture" of other's experience and knowledge. And the sum of knowledge and experience on this board and others, is unique and priceless.
As Dean Martin used to say, keep them cards and letters comming in folks.
Chuck |
Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 2:26 pm: | |
Man, if you combined that ITR unit with this:
http://www.scanmarineusa.com/W125.htm
...you'd have diesel cooking, heating and hot water.
Anybody know how much that ITR critter is? Or the Wallas for that matter? |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 2:39 pm: | |
Fred...thank you for the post. Always neat to learn how to do something new or better. That diesel powered instant hot water heater sounds very...cool. Thanks. |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 11:08 pm: | |
I went to the link and there must be a typo because I don't consider a continuous supply of 52 deg. F water "hot".
Are they talking about a 52 deg temp rise or 152 deg, absolute? |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 05, 2005 - 11:09 pm: | |
Oooops, read it again and it does say 52 deg rise, sorry! |
t gojenola
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 2:59 am: | |
And that seems to be the basic drawback with all of the "instant" hot water heaters designed for use in conversion coaches. I have looked at a lot of them. Some, such as this particular one have an output temp limiter which mixes in cold water so you don't accidently scald yourself. However, the problem with the given temperature rise, is that it will add that many degrees to the water as it passes through, no matter the temperature of the water at input, and it will do so by monitoring input and output temperatures and modulating the flow. So, if it's midsummer and your fresh water tank is at 70 degrees, you will get an output of 70 plus the heat rise. If its winter and your water is at 36 you will get 36 plus the heat rise - in this case 88 degrees - and probably an inadequate flow.
The larger and more expensive units designed for home use are different in that they modulate the burn rate to achieve a set output temperature. And since they are normally supplied with a constant input temperature throughout the year, are much bigger and more complex, they function with an adequate flow rate.
If there's one on the market for use in conversions that will modulate the burn rate instead of the flow, I might consider getting one, otherwise not.
tg |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 5:43 am: | |
The "heat rise" is a matter of flow requirements.
For a washing machine that fills at 3gpm a too small unit could be a hassle .
But for a shower simply lowering the volume would take care of an undersized problem, or unusually cold feed water.
For showers the two solutions to varing water temps are ,
A 1 1/2 FW return that the telephone shower head is placed in while scrubbing ,
OR for fixed units a tub diverter that wouls let the heated water return to the FW tank.
Turning the shower off & on is NOT an option as the water takes a few seconds to stabilize the temp.
FAST FRED |
joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 11:32 pm: | |
FAST FRED must have remembered the comment that I made a couple of weeks ago regarding finding diesel heaters. I looked at the website and it looks to me that it might be the same company that builds the Proheat. Both of these are located in Vancouver,as is also the Dickenson Co. I am leaning more towards propane, the more I am learning about some of the problems the complex diesel heaters have given some of the fellas. In fact, today on the way home I saw a bus at the R.V. park that I did not recognize from a distance, so i made a U turn to have a look. It was an Eagle 70's vintage converted by Custom Coach,and in conversation with the park manager it was there to get the diesel fired furnace fixed. had a quick look at the underneath, but little rust visible. Marc I have not seen anything regarding the Quatro Heater, would appreciate a link or reference. I am still looking at the SuperHot 50 K Btu propane residential boiler to use with wet baseboards. JOE |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 07, 2005 - 11:24 am: | |
Joe, I can't give you a link to the Quatro, but it's parent company was Coleman.
I was interested in the Quatro because I spoke to the engineering department and the engineer said is was perfectly fine for Conversion use and it had the benefit of, at 85%, being twice as efficient as the Surburban at the time. I bought one, still have it. Use it for a portable shop heater with it's own cart and propane bottle. Great self-contained unit, but with a 120V squirrel cage fan.
I've got two ProHeats for the reasons previously stated. |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 7:05 pm: | |
Fred....help me out here. I really need a reality check. $95 bucks a day for parking a rot rod 4106? Wow! Disney World?
I know prices have gone up, but that is very very high indeed. Since I parked my Crown at the place of employment (home care)...
..usually the space is for $FREE$. Maybe I can get a job as a campground host or something. Such prices are beyond my $abilities$ Thanks. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 5:33 am: | |
"Destination Parks" that are in high value tourist areas are NOT for the house trailer set.
Destin is a new, (its FL everything is new) community of million dollar homes that get rented for thousands a week.
The best RV sites are on the sand beach facing the Gulf.
At peak holliday weekend tourist time , they ain't cheap.
Destin is in the upscale heart of the 'Redneck Riveria" and very desirable.
The place has 2 pools and all the rest of whats required at a luxury place, Actual 240V @ 50A.
For the less financially willing , there is a great State of FL campground for about $15 a nite , but your in Da Woods , near the water , not ON the waterfront!
FAST FRED |
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