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L911 · 06-10-2012, 03:35 PM

I would like to replace or convert the existing hot water heater to electric, should i buy a conversion kit or just replace it with a new gas/electric unit?

cameront120 · 06-10-2012, 05:39 PM

If you have the original Bowen water heater from 1973, you're better off swapping it out with a new Atwood that runs on both propane and electric. It's an easy swap. The new one will fit in the space of the old one.

wahoonc · 06-10-2012, 06:10 PM

I don't believe that the original 1973 heater can be converted to electric. If you decide to upgrade you will have to pull wiring and add a breaker to your panel. If your 1973 is a rear bath like mine that won't be too hard as the water heater is adjacent to the breaker box.

Aaron

wbcci3371 · 08-15-2012, 02:42 PM

Water Heaters in '73? I had a '73 Excella 500. I just added a 120v outlet under the sink from the one over the sink. Then I plugged in the new Hot Rod after switching it with a 20amp single pole switch nearby the cabinet door.
The hot water heater on 120v ran a little cooler than the LP, but it was just fine and took about 1hour to recover. When traveling, it is cheaper to run on the CGs power than run your own LP. It is a good deal and pretty easy to install too.
Rich wbcci3371@gmail.com

Bill M. · 08-15-2012, 04:08 PM

I put a new Atwood gas/electric in my 88 and I did not wire it into the trailer. I use a seperate cord and plug it into the 20 amp outlet that is in most campgrounds now. I did not want to do the additonal wiring in the trailer and also did not want to add the WH draw to the 30 amp service. If I want to I can plug it into the existing outside outlet on the trailer but have not opted to do that.

Frankly I like heating water with propane a lot better. I run it about 20 min at night and 20 min in the morning and we have hot water all day.
My trailer came with one of the add on electric heaters. It was a poor unit and poorly installed. I ripped it out right away.

Splitrock · 08-15-2012, 05:19 PM

I installed a gas/electric 6 gallon Atwood water heater. It was an easy job and it works good and fast on 120 volt eclectic. I'm still in the construction stage and I haven't tested it on gas yet. I'm happy I bought this unit. If I needed a new one, I'd buy this one again.