| Author | Message | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 124 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.57.205 Rating: N/A |
Just realized that this came with many other parts for my conversion. It is brand new and uses engine coolant to heat the water and an electric 110 heating element. So, what's the best way to use this for my needs? I had planned on using my propane water heater to allow boondocking easily. Based on that, this is a 1500 watt unit for the 110 side. Would I be smarter to install this into my generator coolant lines and be able to heat my water electrically and mechanically while using my genset? My genset is a Kohler gas 4 cylinder water cooled 7.5kw unit. It may be an old marine unit since the exhaust manifold is liquid cooled. This also would help heat the water using waste heat. Or - Just tie this into my bus coolant system, or is there any point into tying it all together? Excitement and curiosity abounds! | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 114 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 74.244.14.221 Rating: N/A |
Glenn, I have used one of these when I lived aboard a 44 sailboat and the heat exchanger works VERY well. The only down side I have ever heard discussed would be a breach in the coolant loop that could contaminate your fresh water. In practice on boats I found the tank would rot out before the loop though I don't know if it would be the same in this kind of application. On a boat it's usually housed in the engine room and there is always some amount of salt water around in the bilge. In short though if you plumbed it into your gen coolant loop I doubt you would ever need to use the electric element when it's running. | ||
| Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member Username: Joe_camper Post Number: 84 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.239.202.82 Rating: N/A |
We have one. I got up early one morn. and did not want to wake Deb with the gen. and took a shower after sleeping for 6hrs and had more than enough hot water. Just the residual warmth left over from running the bus the night before. Can't beat propane for boon docking though. Do both it would make a great redundancy. Double hot water heaters and duel antifreeze loops, engine and generator both with a couple of valves to manually switch back and forth. | ||
| Jim & Linda Callaghan (Jimc)
Registered Member Username: Jimc Post Number: 45 Registered: 2-2004 Posted From: 75.211.35.190 Rating: N/A |
I have one also and it works great, after going down the road the water is 180 degrees and stays warm for 8-10 hours. When boondocking, the first thing I do in the morning is start the generator to recharge the battery and at the same time I turn on the water heater, by the time the coffee is done and I have a cup or two the water is hot. Jim | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 181 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.90.229.132 Rating: N/A |
after going down the road the water is 180 degrees and stays warm for 8-10 hours. This is GREAT , but does have a problem. 180F water is dangerous!!! Sailors have learned over the years of the problem , your guests may not. Solution is simple but e$pensive , anti scald valves at the sink and shower. The use of the noisemakers coolant is nice free co generation , leaving the electric for air cond or a big 3 stage DC charger. FF | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 343 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.75.253 Rating: N/A |
Actually, the solution is relatively cheap, a tempering valve in the outlet line of the water heater. Available at plumbing supply houses. This way all the hot water supplied is always the same temperature, regardless of the tank temp. G | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 125 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.57.205 Rating: N/A |
George, Please explain how a tempering valve works. Is it electric or does it automatically blend in cold water? I am going to install it into both powerplants using a 3 way valve so I can do maintenance or bypass entirely. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 344 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.75.253 Rating: N/A |
Glenn, A tempering valve works as in the second half of your question. They come with three ports, hot in, cold in, and mix out, and are strictly mechanical. Your outlet temperature is now set with the dial on the front of it, instead of the water heater thermostat. It has 3/4 female pipe threads, and only can be put in your domestic water outlet line after the water heater(s), and before any of your hot water outlets. One thing to watch out for, is warm water expanding from your water heater. If the COLD connection to the tempering valve is near the cold inlet to the water heater, the tempering valve will get warm or hot water in its cold line when it is trying to cool (temper) really hot water, due to hot water expanding out of the heater, and might not be able to control the temperature. So, connect the cold line as far away from the water heater, and as close to your expansion tank as you can easily, and enjoy! G | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 208 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.240.213.212 Rating: N/A |
Force 10 has a valve on their units that apparently does what George is talking about. Designed to keep the water that comes out of the tank at a temp that is not scalding. They include it now as a standard part of the water heater. At least for the past 5 years we haven't had any problems. The heat tube wraps around the tank and water is plenty hot upon "arrival". As Jim stated, it stays warm over a long period of time. Usually overnite for a good shower in the am. FWIW  RCB | ||
| William Sloan (Ole_timer)
Registered Member Username: Ole_timer Post Number: 13 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 68.188.169.31 Rating: N/A |
Hi Glenn I`ve had heat exchanger-ele in the 04 for 20 years ,with no problems.Water very hot. Just use single handle faucets on the sinks and shower.Hot water in the AM. I make instant coffee going down the road ,right out of the faucet. I also have it plumbed into the Wabasco. Good Luck Old Bill | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 573 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.107.57 Rating: N/A |
Re: "Would I be smarter to install this into my generator coolant lines and be able to heat my water electrically and mechanically while using my genset? " No. Use the genset to heat the water with 120vac. The genset coolant will likely never get hot enough to provide enough hot water through the water heater jacket coils anyway... The whole concept of that water jacket coil, is to get free hot water while you're tooting down the road. Why run the genset and use more fuel, to do what you can get for "free"? And as far as the tempering valves.....? I found that the pulsing of the water pump in our Winnebago would make the faucet type tempering valve totally useless. And usually, most campers turn off the water between soaping and rinsing, etc, using a wand type sprayer with an on/off control. I'd check around some more first, before spending hard cash for a tempering valve... | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 188 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.90.229.32 Rating: N/A |
"No. Use the genset to heat the water with 120vac. The genset coolant will likely never get hot enough to provide enough hot water through the water heater jacket coils anyway." This has never been my experience , noisemakers coolants get as highway engines , far faster. If a HW heater can be run from the noisemaker as well as 2 air cond , the noisemaker is probably oversized , being operated underloaded , and will have a poor service life. The cure for pulsing water is usually to service the system accumulator. FF |