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Old 10-20-2014, 09:08 AM   #1
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On Demand Electric Water Heater

I am trying to figure this out, and thought I would turn to you guys for some help. I'm 1/2 way through hopefully a complete restoration, and I'm picking out appliances. The tradewind (66) will be used mainly as an additional quest house on my land. My question with this being the primary purpose of the airstream (not boondocking) is can I have an ondemand say 220v 9kw electric water heater which will give my around 3gpm, and use a step-up converter like this to get me from 110 to 220v Amazon.com: Goldsource STU-N Series 10000W Heavy-duty AC 110/220V Step Up / Down Voltage Transformer / Converter with US Standard, Universal, German/French Schuko AC Outlets & DC 5V USB Port - 10,000 Watt: Automotive

I just want to have one line running into the airstream and have a separate breaker in the airstream.

Does this make sense? Would it work? And thoughts or advice much appreciated. Thanks.
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Old 10-20-2014, 10:22 AM   #2
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Watts = volts x amps. Or amps = watts/ volts.

A 10,000 watt demand heater at 240 volts takes close to 42 amps. I am not clear why you want a transformer unless you are thinking you can run this heater on 120 volts transformed up to 240 volts. Is that what you are thinking?

If so, at 120 volts the amp load would be twice that at 240 volts, or about 84 amps.

The original airstream cord is good for 30 amps max at 120 volts.

So, it is unclear what you want and why, but the original cord will not work.
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Old 10-20-2014, 10:27 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by Trady66 View Post
I am trying to figure this out, and thought I would turn to you guys for some help. I'm 1/2 way through hopefully a complete restoration, and I'm picking out appliances. The tradewind (66) will be used mainly as an additional quest house on my land. My question with this being the primary purpose of the airstream (not boondocking) is can I have an ondemand say 220v 9kw electric water heater which will give my around 3gpm, and use a step-up converter like this to get me from 110 to 220v Amazon.com: Goldsource STU-N Series 10000W Heavy-duty AC 110/220V Step Up / Down Voltage Transformer / Converter with US Standard, Universal, German/French Schuko AC Outlets & DC 5V USB Port - 10,000 Watt: Automotive

I just want to have one line running into the airstream and have a separate breaker in the airstream.

Does this make sense? Would it work? And thoughts or advice much appreciated. Thanks.

If you want an on demand water heater, buy a propane one....
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Old 10-20-2014, 10:27 AM   #4
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If it were me, I would not make that choice.
I would suggest using a traditional rv type water heater, either propane/on demand or a combination propane/electric 6 gallon.

(just my $0.02s)
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Old 10-20-2014, 01:29 PM   #5
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Thanks for the replies. I do not want to go with propane, as the whole airstream for the most part will be next to my house, so I can use my electric supply. I want to use a tankless electric heater to heat the shower and faucets. A tankless heater like this...

PowerStar 7.2 kw 240 Volt Point-of-Use Tankless Electric Water Heater-AE7.2 at The Home Depot

It is 30 amps, 7.2kw, 240v.

I am putting in completely new electrics including shore-line.

What I am wanting to do is use a step-up transformer from 120v to 240v.

Is there any reason this would not work?
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Old 10-20-2014, 01:52 PM   #6
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Why not wire the camper for 50 amp service and use that as a source of 240 volts? I'm no electrician, but you need to talk to one.

Power doesn't come from nowhere. That's what people above were trying to tell you. It's not enough to 'step up' the 120 volts to 240 volts; such a move would at least double the amperage requirements on the 120 volt line. Similar to how running a 3 amp appliance at 120 volts requires at least 30 amps at 12 volts.
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Old 10-20-2014, 04:33 PM   #7
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even if you had 50 amp RV service in the trailer it would still only be about half enough power to run that water heater. You need to pick out a water heater that draws substantially less power. If that heater draws its rated capacity it would have to be on a 40 or 50 amp 220 circuit in a house. About like a electric range. The idea of rewiring the trailer to 50 amp RV service is one way to get 220 for something like a on-demand water heater to a trailer. But you still need a much smaller capacity heater. And if there is no propane the refrigerator, the stove, and any space heater will all draw electric power also. Plus hair dryers, toasters, etc.
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Old 10-21-2014, 01:53 PM   #8
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Tankless Electric Water

If you want a shower forget the tankless electric. A 12 Kw Tankless electric water heater will only deliver a 45 Degree rise at 2 gallons a minute. Summer time in the south it would be fine. In coming water at 70 degrees summer time but winter at 45 incoming temp= 90 degrees luke warm
I sell plumbing for a living. Electricity can not produce enough heat to do a shower economically.
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Old 10-22-2014, 10:02 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by l.flegel View Post
If you want a shower forget the tankless electric. A 12 Kw Tankless electric water heater will only deliver a 45 Degree rise at 2 gallons a minute. Summer time in the south it would be fine. In coming water at 70 degrees summer time but winter at 45 incoming temp= 90 degrees luke warm
I sell plumbing for a living. Electricity can not produce enough heat to do a shower economically.
X2. Listen to what others are telling you. Remember that new solutions have new problems. Like Alan said, go with a 6 gallon combo (electric/propane) water heater. It will work just fine.

Dan
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Old 09-16-2020, 05:20 PM   #10
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Thanks
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Old 10-06-2020, 12:20 PM   #11
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Trady66, I'm with you. For whatever reason, you don't want propane. Period. If we start from that point and we add that you are never boondocking AND you have access to your house's panel, just size that to run your tankless on a dedicated 240V circuit that has the required Amps. If I'm understanding you correctly, you don't need to go from 120v to 240v . . . just start with 240v and run with it.

If you make that choice and you want to move your camper to another location, just make sure you have or can create an electric source that has a, say, 100Amp panel.

You've changed it from a "camper" the way we normally think of it into a "guest house," but, if that's what you want, so be it.

The reason I'm weighing in on this is this is EXACTLY what I'm wanting to do. My camper will be a vacation rental on my property and I don't want propane either.
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Old 10-06-2020, 12:50 PM   #12
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My home water heater is a propane tankless one. I cannot imagine preferring an electric one.

As for my Airstream, I would never go tankless with that.

Pat
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Old 10-06-2020, 12:58 PM   #13
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30 Amps at 240 volts. = 60 Amps at 120 volts.

You will need to wire your new trailer accordingly. Since you will probably want the lights and heat to stay on while the water heater is working (maybe the TV, the Refrigerator...) You will need somewhere on the order of 100 amp 120V service to do what you want.

I would consult an electrician to set you up for it. You may need a permit...
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