Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

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Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

October 06, 2023, 05:36:55 pm

Can anyone recommend what to use as a replacment. Currently water heater has an illegal mod to "make it electric". I just want to replace it and leave the headache behind...Atwood is outta business but Domestic took over? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #1 – October 06, 2023, 08:27:23 pm

My son found an Atwood replacement tank on Ebay. It fit right in without any modification. The job wasn't too bad I think it took us about 4 hours.

Jon

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #2 – October 07, 2023, 01:49:31 am

Hi WildWanderWoman; I'm not sure what you mean by 'an illegal mod' to make it electric. It is a common addition of an electric heating element to a propane water heater. The difficulty comes in providing electricity for it. You can add a 20 Amp plug just for the water heater if the shorepower pedestal can provide it, or wire it in with the rest of the 30A normal loads and run the risk of using more power and tripping the breaker. Your choice, but not illegal.
Atwood was bought by Dometic, not exactly 'out of business' when some other company buys you. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dometic-group-signs-purchase-agreement-with-atwood-mobile-products-llc-274453381.html RonB

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #3 – October 07, 2023, 05:38:58 am

WILDWANDERWOMAN-

You haven't told us what the problem is with the water heater, or what model it is. Knowing those two facts would help us give better advice.

That said, if your 2002 has an Atwood 6-gallon unit and the tank has failed such that it cannot be repaired, you have only one choice of replacement units that should fit in the same space as the Atwood:

Suburban SAW6D model number 5320A Advantage Direct Fit Water Heater

All of the other available water heaters are of different shape and/or plumbing than the Atwood 6-gallon unit that's no longer made.

If you want a gas-electric unit, the model name and number is:

Suburban SAW6DE model number 5321A

Note that you likely will have to buy a new exterior door and a new interior electric switch.

Also, note that the Suburban uses an anode rod to protect the steel tank from rusting. Your current Atwood heater has an aluminum tank and does not require an anode rod. Should you replace with the SAW6D/SAW6DE, you will have to check and replace the anode rod now and then. This is standard practice for Suburban water heaters.

Please confirm all the above for yourself. I did not have to make this change with either of my coaches, nor have I helped anyone else with this change enough to know if there are issues with it.

It would be better to help you repair the heater you have, if we could.

Mark H.

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #4 – October 07, 2023, 07:47:33 am

Thank you!

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #5 – October 07, 2023, 08:29:56 am

Quote from: RonB - October 07, 2023, 01:49:31 am

Hi WildWanderWoman; I'm not sure what you mean by 'an illegal mod' to make it electric. It is a common addition of an electric heating element to a propane water heater. The difficulty comes in providing electricity for it. You can add a 20 Amp plug just for the water heater if the shorepower pedestal can provide it, or wire it in with the rest of the 30A normal loads and run the risk of using more power and tripping the breaker. Your choice, but not illegal.
Atwood was bought by Dometic, not exactly 'out of business' when some other company buys you. Dometic Group Signs Purchase Agreement with Atwood Mobile Products LLC RonB

Ron
I pulled up my NRVIA report and is states "hotshot is installed(welded) in drainplug"should be removed for safety issues. I probably explained it incorrectly since I am new to the RV world.

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #6 – October 07, 2023, 10:31:10 am

Hi WildWanderWoman; I'm intrigued by that NRVIA report. It is highly unlikely that anybody would even try to weld something into a threaded 'screw in' drain port. It is more likely a 'blob' of sealant that looks like a weld to someone who didn't know any better.   Secondly there is no safety issue with putting a 'Hott Shot' or other heater in that place. The routing of the 110VAC wiring or extra thermostat could have an issue.
   It seems to me the person doing that report confused the drain port with the safety 'TPR' valve higher up in the tank.   Atwood 91604 Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve - 1/2" NPT   That valve releases the water in the tank if it gets into the boiling range, to prevent an explosion of the tank. Residential tanks are 3/4" or larger, RV tanks use the 1/2" NPT fitting.
As Mark stated changing to a new style tank is a bad idea. I'd want to keep the aluminum tank and it's current configuration along with the matching paint color painted external access door. The integrity of this whole NRVIA report is now called into question. Unless the water heater doesn't work, I'd leave it alone, save some money (for other repairs you might actually need) and 'rest easy' knowing that it is quite likely very safe to use as it is.    RonB

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #7 – October 08, 2023, 12:15:28 am

I have a hot shott in my 6 gallon water heater, it’s been in there for over 4 years and no problems.
It is not, I repeat, not welded into the heater. Just standard pipe dope. It comes with a lead long enough to reach a receptacle in the kitchen area. That’s how mine is setup. You have to peel a little of the tank insulation back to attach the thermostat control.
The really nice part is you can run it in conjunction with your propane and heat water very quickly.
Cost me $95 and I heartily recommend it.
IMHO.

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #8 – October 08, 2023, 11:53:16 am

Hott Rod electric water heaters have been around for a long time.
Hott Rod XP :: Diamond Group
An issue with aftermarket Hot Rods is that they can be plugged into non-GFI circuits. If the heater's insulation breaks down, it could develop a "hot skin", a condition where the aluminum shell of the motorhome becomes electrified and possibly deadly.

To protect from potential electrocution, 120-VAC power for the Hott Rod should be supplied through a ground fault interrupter (GFI) protected circuit, the same as the refrigerator.

Larry

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #9 – October 08, 2023, 03:41:40 pm

If plugging the water heater into a separate, external AC outlet (e.g., campground power pedestal), you could use this inline GFCI for protection.

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Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #10 – October 08, 2023, 10:55:13 pm

That isn't the problem. All of the internal plugs, except for the microwave, run from the GFCI circuit breaker in the power distribution panel. This includes the refrigerator external (almost) socket, only half of which is used by the refrigerator. Other floor plans have outdoor sockets that are protected by the same GFCI breaker. It still doesn't give you more electrical power than 30 Amps.
The original poster; WildWanderWoman, was concerned about safety by a 'so called' NRVIA inspector who doesn't understand how all of this stuff works. It isn't unsafe. The heating element can't be 'welded' in. If it isn't plugged in there is no other problem with using it just the way it is. The water heater can be safely used the way it was installed by Lazy Daze and doesn't need to be replaced.
Personally I'd like the opportunity to educate this so called 'inspector' on their duty to 'get it right' when they make spurious incorrect statements like this. RonB

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #11 – October 09, 2023, 10:33:34 am

"That isn't the problem. All of the internal plugs, except for the microwave, run from the GFCI circuit breaker in the power distribution panel."

Sorry, my post was unclear. I meant that if you were plugging the water heater into a campground power pedestal using a separate cord--in other words, not using the motorhome's internal outlets, which of course are protected--an inline GFCI is a good thing to have. I've edited the post to clarify.

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #12 – October 09, 2023, 12:41:13 pm

Thank You Andy; I missed that point. A really necessary add-on item if you are running the electric water heater element from a separate cable going to the shore power pedestal. It would also be necessary for any other small electrical accessories. Box heaters, cooking equipment, external battery chargers and other items that weren't 'double isolated'. RonB

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #13 – October 09, 2023, 07:20:39 pm

I always carry one, although I seldom need it. But better safe than sorry.

Re: Replacing LD 2002 MB Water Heater....

Reply #14 – October 09, 2023, 07:51:41 pm

Quote from: Andy Baird - October 09, 2023, 07:20:39 pm

I always carry one, although I seldom need it. But better safe than sorry.

For any 120-VAC outside usage, learning to use the refrigerator's extra outlet or the optional Factory exterior receptacles is a good practice, both supplies are GFII-protected. Many RV parks' 20-amp breakers are not GFIC-protected
I had a cousin electrocuted using a weed wacker when the power switch shorted. He would have lived if was plugged into a GFIC receptacle. Some lessons are tough.

Larry

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