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09-30-2012, 08:49 PM
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#1
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Old School Young Gun
Currently Looking...
Olney
, Illinois
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 384
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Water Heater Replacement
Hey guys! I got all the plumbing in my AS done (including water heater) to find out my water heater is gas... No problem, except my gas isnt hooked up. I was going to tear out all the gas lines and go to full electric before I found this out. My first thought was to replace the heater with an electric one. Do they make a camper specific one?
Option 2: Rip out all my gas lines EXCEPT the one going to the water heater and keep a gas water heater. Simple enough! Except Id have to keep tabs on my propane JUST for hot water.
Which is the better solution?
__________________
No Airstream Yet...
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09-30-2012, 08:58 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
1997 34' Limited
1970 27' Overlander
South of Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,709
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Go with a unit which works on both electric and gas. When I replaced mine, that is what I used. When camping with full hookups, I use the electric. If I am dry camping, I use the gas. It works like a champ. Also, if all four of us want to shower in the morning, I use both for quick hot water recovery.
__________________
Craig and Carol
1997 34' Excella 1000
1970 27' Overlander, International
2009 Ford F150 5.4L
ProPride hitch with 1400# bars
AIR 41028
TAC GA-8
WBCCI 10199
Past President Southeastern Camping Unit (12)
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09-30-2012, 08:59 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master 
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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Put in an Atwood 10 gallon that runs on both gas and 110. It'll be an easy swap with the old one.
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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10-01-2012, 08:54 AM
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#4
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Old School Young Gun
Currently Looking...
Olney
, Illinois
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 384
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Gotcha! Thanks for the input guys!
__________________
No Airstream Yet...
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10-27-2012, 11:53 AM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member 
1976 31' Sovereign
2000 33' Land Yacht
Ball Ground
, Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 311
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is changing easy
I am currently camping and the water heater has gone out several times. The pilot light is very low and easy blown out. I put a new pilot assembly and didn't improve. I can spend over a hundred dollar on a new valve or put that money on a new unit with electronic ignition. On my 1976 will the old one pull out the hole from the outside and will the new one fit the hole with out major modifications. Any ideas? Thanks
__________________
A husband is the biggest baby you will have and take the most adult supervision.
Gene and Elaine Thomason
Ball Ground Ga.
1976 31 foot Sovereign
2011 GMC 2500HD Denali
6.6 Duramax Diesel
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10-27-2012, 03:10 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,493
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Water Heater Replacement
Greetings Gene!
Quote:
Originally Posted by GAT
I am currently camping and the water heater has gone out several times. The pilot light is very low and easy blown out. I put a new pilot assembly and didn't improve. I can spend over a hundred dollar on a new valve or put that money on a new unit with electronic ignition. On my 1976 will the old one pull out the hole from the outside and will the new one fit the hole with out major modifications. Any ideas? Thanks
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I suspect that you coach likely cam equipped from the factory with a 10-gallon water heater. A typical six-gallon RV water heater will require modification to the opening. Ten-gallon modern RV water heaters "may" be a very close replacement for an OEM 10-gallon unit, and this can be verified by comparing the opening measurements for the new unit against the opening in your coach.
My '78 Minuet had an OEM six-gallon water heater, and a new Atwood six-gallon water heater fit in the opening without modification.
Good luck with your investigation!
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
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10-27-2012, 05:55 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,403
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Hi Gene,
I replaced my water heater with an Atwood 6 gallon gas/120 volt electric. I had to raise it up a little. It was an easy install because I had the toilet and the bathroom walls removed at the time. I added a water heater install section to my blog. That shows what I did.
`
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10-27-2012, 06:38 PM
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#8
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GAT
Any ideas? Thanks
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Before you spend the big bucks, change the thermocouple. It's the tube that the pilot bathes in flame, and if it isn't in good shape, the furnace won't work properly.
It's a disposable,like the pilot assembly: not expensive.
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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10-27-2012, 06:49 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master 
1978 31' Sovereign
Texas Airstream Harbor
, Zavalla, in the Deep East Texas Piney Woods on Lake Sam Rayburn
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,435
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How many amps will be available to the trailer?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCamino Man
Hey guys! I got all the plumbing in my AS done (including water heater) to find out my water heater is gas... No problem... I was going to tear out all the gas lines and go to full electric before I found this out. My first thought was to replace the heater with an electric one.
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Do you plan to install a 50 amp service???
I ask this because I am certain that most Electric Water Heaters will draw around 15 amps. The draw of an Air Conditioner at startup could easily approach 20 amps - you would have to do some powerful amperage control if you intend to use a cooking element or microwave in addition to the usual light and entertainment draws.
__________________
Dennis
"Suck it up, spend the bucks, do it right the first time."
WBCCI # 1113
AirForums #1737
Trailer '78 31' Sovereign
Living Large at an Airstream Park on the Largest Lake Totally Contained in Texas
Texas Airstream Harbor, Inc.
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