hot water heater

[lakoria]

I would like to place a tankless hot water heater in our overlander. Which one should I go with? Tell me why?

[BIGED52]

Why do you want to heat hot water? Ed

[idroba]

If you are talking about an electric unit, see this recent post:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f445...ed-123766.html

If a gas (propane) unit, do some searching of the threads in the forums section, and you will find lots of information from those who have put them in.

[lakoria]

Wow, both of you helped me soo much, NOT. The posting you ant me to didn't help that person either. It just states that there is not enough electricity. Ugh!

[xrvr]

Use the search button. Jim

[jdalrymple]

I believe they did help you.

A tankless water heater of enough capacity to be useful requires 220 volt AC service.

Standard RV electrical service on a trailer of the vintage mentioned in your avatar is 120 volt AC.

So, unless already modified, the change to a tankless water heater would require a substantial upgrade to the electrical system of the trailer.

Plus, to even get access to 220 volt power in a RV park, one would have to find 50 amp electrical service. Not uncommon, but if not available it would mean no hot water.


I prefer the standard RV propane heater. They heat quickly, the water stays hot most of the day even after shut off, and hot water is available with no shore power at all.


If you have a special situation the allows to you use your trailer differently than most of us, my apologies and a tankless may work for you. In that case pick one from a reputable brand and vendor and install it.


Regards,

JD

[Wayward]

Originally Posted by lakoria

Wow, both of you helped me soo much, NOT. The posting you ant me to didn't help that person either. It just states that there is not enough electricity. Ugh!

Well it cannot hurt to read the threads. I have occasionally and my summary is that there is no really good single answer .

First order question is do you want electric or gas. Electric ones give you far more mounting options and are much more compact that gas because they do not need venting.

If you need gas, then you should decide on where you want to mount it and how you want to vent it - that may narrow your options.

If you need electric then you need to look at the current draw and make sure your 30amp system can handle it or if you want to put it on an external power cord to the campsite 20amp outlet, or upgraqde to a 50amp/220v system.

I do not recall the details but there is much discussion on the models that are a replacement fit for Airstream's tank models regarding about how well the compact tankless models can maintain temperature as flow increases - e.g when you open the shower valve more or when someone turns on the sink while you are showering.

Also different people have different reasons for going tankless that will influence their choices. . e.g. electric to conserve propane when at a full hookup, frustration with winterizing the tank, remodeling, running out of water with the tank-models etc etc.

I finally decided to keep the tank model because it produces enough hot water for us when off hookups and it is already vented out the side. I will add a small 110v electric booster in-line to save on propane when hooked up to AC.

[J. Morgan]

I broke the rules and used a tankless propane fired residential unit. At a bit over a year in so far so good.

It is rated at 6 gpm and it does provide endless showers. I vented through the roof, 3" flue.

Ecotemp, I paid under $500 through Overstock.com

http://www.eccotemp.com/eccotemp-40h...-water-heater/

[lakoria]

Thank you. I think most people that read my question read WAY too much into it. I simply asked what heater. My trailer is a frame and shell. We will put electricity or propane to for the better heater.

I do read the forums but most of it is banter.

[J. Morgan]

Threads tend to acquire a life of their own on here at times,,,

Your thread went off the rails almost from the get go....

Anyway, my heater is not approved for use in an RV, but so far it has performed well. At this point if I had to do it all over I would do the same thing.

It is a compact unit, easy to instal., and it works very well. I set it on 114 degrees, and the water temp is perfect. It if fuel efficient, and it always keeps up.

It does require a 3/4" gas line and 120 volts. This isn't a problem for me because an inverter is a integral part of my build.

Best of luck with your build.