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Topic: Gas Electric Water Heater (Read 6 times) previous topic - next topic
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Gas Electric Water Heater
Yahoo Message Number: 19255
When we ordered our LD, in August, we were disappointed that we could not order a gas/electric water heater even as an option.  Most other motor homes we looked at had this option or the dealer would install one for us.  One dealer wanted our business so much he said he'd swap out the existing unit with a gas/electric at no extra charge.  Our previous unit, a 5th wheel had this setup and we greatly appreciated it.  It was nice to know that we weren't throwing away our valuable and limited propane on water heating but could use the free electric we were already paying for in our campground fee.

Has anyone installed one of the aftermarket electric heaters, like the one that replaces the drain plug with an electrode?  Did you hard wire it to the coach electrical system and if so would the coaches system handle the extra current draw?  I was thinking of possibly running an extension cord just for this heater to the usually available 20 amp plug at the campground electrical box.  I guess this would make available 50 amps with the coaches 30 amp plug also in use.
 We really want to use  electric for water heating where possible and conserve propane since its much more difficult to refill the tank in a motor home (permanent mount) than it was in our trailer where I could just detach it and take it down to the nearest rent-all or propane dealer.
Re: Gas Electric Water Heater
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19256
Dan & Julie,
 I understand your desire for a gas/electric water heater, I've wished I had one every time I have an electric plugin.  There was some discussion about the 'hot rod' heater plug replacement earlier, and the general feeling was negative.

Once you find a place to get propane, it is not much of a problem, and I have been very surprised how long the LD propane lasts.  It does not seem to ever go down when you are just using just the hot water heater and the stove.  (The furnace is more problematic.)

Try the propane only solution before you worry about electric alternatives would be my advice.

Barry 26.5 RB 2001 Texas  (where it is 75 degrees
Re: Gas Electric Water Heater
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19257
Using those aftermarket devices voids the water heater warranty and there are warnings about using them from both Suburban and Atwood.
Both take the position that they are potentially dangerous and bypass some of the safety features they built into the water heater. You can check their websites for more info about them, most of the same info is in their manuals. If you don't care about the water heater warranty or the safety issues that a Hott Rod or Lightning Rod can cause then it is really your choice to make whether or not to use one. Many people use them in their RVs and love them. Just be forwarned that they have been known to have their own thermostat fail and overheat the water causing scolding accidents and/or the Watts valve to release the pressure and some very hot water along with it.

If you turn the water heater on in the morning about 5-10 minutes before you need to use hot water you'll have plenty of hot water to take showers, etc. You can shut it off and the water will stay hot all day unless the outside temp is very low. Most times we never need to turn it on again in the evening for dinner clean-up but on a few occasions we have had to, normally when my wife wants to give our daughter an evening bath or we want to shower in the evening. It takes very little propane to keep it hot anyway once it does heat up.
I would also suggest you try it out first before adding any of the aftermarket electric heating devices.

Mike
Re: Gas Electric Water Heater
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19261
Mike,
 Dan and Julie were inquiring about a replacement propane/elect. water heater, not an aftermarket add-on device to convert an existing propane water heater to gas/elect.
Re: Gas Electric Water Heater
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19264
Sharon N.,
 If you read the first sentence of the second paragraph from the post I was replying to you will see that Dan & Julie were in fact asking about the aftermarket devices that I wrote about.

"Has anyone installed one of the aftermarket electric heaters, like the one that replaces the drain plug with an electrode?"
 We've been able to have hot water for hand and dish washing for the 3 of us the rest of the day most times and I shut the hot water heater off after morning clean-up of the kitchen and dishes. I'm sure if left on it wouldn't really take much more propane to keep the water hot all day since it would only be maintaining the temp and not heating the water from a much lower temp. I just don't like it running if we're not going to be in or near it just in case something happens.

Mike
Re: Gas Electric Water Heater
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19268
Quote
When we ordered our LD, in August, we were disappointed that we could not order a gas/electric water heater even as an option.  Most other motor homes we looked at had this option or the dealer would
Lazy Daze provides 30A single-phase service for campground connection. Electric water heaters consume about 1400W continuously while heating up - 12 Amps. LD has to assume you may be doing this while the air conditioner is cycling on, which can take up to 20 Amps, dropping to 12 or so while running. This does not include the draw of the converter (and all the 12V appliances), the 2-4 Amps of the refrigerator, etc. In other words, you would likely be popping circuit breakers all the time.

This is not to say other dealers might not be happy to make some money installing such an appliance with sub-rated circuitry, and of course it is not an issue with 50 Amp service. The 50A service in large RV's is single phase, center-tapped 220V, which gives you a total capacity of 100 Amps at 110VAC. Of course, this is only where the campround is wired appropriately.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit