| Author |
Message |
JOHN (205.188.200.136)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 4:50 pm: | |
OUR 6 GALLON ELECTRIC HOT WATER HEATER HAS FAILED AND WE ARE THINKING OF PUTTING A ELECTRIC HOUSE UNIT IN ANY PROS OR CONS? |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces) (12.146.33.176)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 8:54 pm: | |
Hi John,
If you want to boondock, its a PITA as it will use a lot of power. Any serious heating and cooling should be avoided on batteries.
Check on the specs on the water heater and then calculate how much of your battery it would take to heat one tank of water.
One kwh is 3413 btu. A btu is one pound of water heated one degree farenheit while at room temperature. It changes slightly at other temperatures.
A gallon weighs 8.3+ pounds. 6 gallons X 8.3 = 49.8 pounds. If you heat your water 100 degrees, it will take around 5000 btu, or about 1 1/2 kwh.
How many kwh can you safely discharge your batteries before you need to recharge them?
For a ten gallon heater, multiply by 1 2/3.
There is a lot more energy stored in your propane tanks than there is in an equal weight of batteries.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 |
David Pinson (63.87.205.53)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 9:28 pm: | |
Hey John....Home Depot has 10 and 20 gal GE hot water heaters that only use 120AC....the 20 gallon is the one we use in our eagle....once it is heated thoroughly, you can turn the juice off and because of the insulation... the water will stay hot for a long long time........
David Pinson 75 Eagle 05/10 |
Scott Whitney (24.205.239.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - 10:50 pm: | |
It is all a matter of how you intend to use you bus. From campground power pole to power pole, an electric would be fine. But if you intend to boondock much a gas heater would probably be better. You can always run the genset when booning, but most people prefer the quiet as much as possible.
Personally, I like the propane units. Very efficient and they heat and recover quickly. Silent and no stinky fumes.
Scott |
Lin (65.184.0.189)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 1:25 am: | |
We use a propane on-demand water heater. You do sacrifice some water pressure, but it is light weight since there is no tank, and you have endless hot water. |
FAST FRED (63.215.225.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 5:36 am: | |
If you have a water cooled Gen Set you might consider a marine hot water heater.
The marine units have two features that are nice , a re setable safty switch ,(should you turn on the 120 with no water in the unit,)and a heating loop that can be used from a gen set coolant line.
AS all these units are insulated , and the insulation is easy to up grade if you have room, the HOT water lasts longer as it starts at a scalding 180F.
If you boondock and need heavy batt recharging or air cond , the heat in the HW heater is "free", from the gen set use.
AS all , usefullness depends on contemplated use.
FAST FRED |
Don KS/TX (63.15.244.170)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 5:48 am: | |
A lot of good guidance up there. For our use we have a 20 gal electric 120v home type unit, and have grown to love it. A short generator run will give you a lot of hot water, and heck you have to run the genset once in a while anyway. As stated, you have hours and hours of hot water stored in that insulated tank. We heat from the inverter while driving, have plenty of hot water for the night and next morning showers. My future plans were to jacket the tank with a copper tube, and heat water by diesel fired boiler transfer of heat. |
DaveD (206.47.98.152)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 10:19 am: | |
Lin,
What brand and model of demand heater do you use? I've looked at the specs for a Bosh 125B, but I'm sure its suitable for an RV.
DaveD |
DaveD (206.47.98.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 10:22 pm: | |
Re: Bosh 125B. I'm NOT sure if it's suitable.
DaveD |
Ross (207.88.96.48)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 11:26 am: | |
The only demand unit I've found to really be suitable in an RV...That is designed with an RV in mind...Is the Precision Temp. I just ordered one. They are a bit pricey at almost $1000 with the cold weather kit, but I'm hoping it will be worth it.
Ross |
DaveD (216.18.113.69)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 2:38 pm: | |
Thanks for the info.
DaveD |