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Changing out dual power option water heater to electric only


Carol2c

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Hi,

 

DH and I are thinking about changing out our current dual power (gas/electric) water heater to an electric only water heater. Has anyone else done this? What electric water heater would you recommend?

 

Thank you for sharing your collective wisdom.

 

Carol

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If you have the electric heater in the water heater all ready, just do not use the propane and leave it shut off.

 

Ken

Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot

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Ken is right. What does the propane being available harm? You are not required to use it and where would you even find a water heater to fit into an RV that doesn't have propane ability?

 

You need to tell us a little bit more about what it is that you have in mind. :)

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

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I use mine on electric only. I removed the outside baffles and added insulation to help keep the water warm. The heating tube goes through the middle of heater and a lot of heat is lost. I also removed the wires to the solenoids so that the heater cannot fire accidentally. I have looked at house type water heaters. Look for point of use types. They can be gotten in smaller sizes. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rheem-Performance-10-Gal-6-Year-2000-Watt-Single-Element-Electric-Point-Of-Use-Water-Heater-XE10P06PU20U0/204318373

 

After thinking through the whole process and installation, I am most concerned about the affects of our great interstates on the heater. My best idea was to mount it on foam to help cushion. Of course it would have to be strapped down.

George

2011 F350 6.7PSD CC 4X4 DRW Lariate
2015 Mobile Suites 41 RSSB4 5th Wheel

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Also if you have to pay for electricity as you do in many RV parks if you stay a month or more, propane is often cheaper than electricity.

Clay(WA5NMR), Lee(Wife), Katie & Kelli (cats)
Full timed for eleven years in our 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N Workhorse chassis. Snowbirds for 1 year. Now settled down in western CO.
Honda Accord toad.

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Just wondering your reason for doing so. Don't you ever dry camp? We used our propane way more than electric for 16 years of full-timing.

 

X2. To me, it seems a much larger hassle trying to jerry rig a small residential electric only unit into my rig than one specifically designed for my use in fit, size, capacity and efficiency.

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Just wondering your reason for doing so. Don't you ever dry camp? We used our propane way more than electric for 16 years of full-timing.

 

Not sure if you are asking me or not. :) But we never dry camp. And we almost never pay for electric.

George

2011 F350 6.7PSD CC 4X4 DRW Lariate
2015 Mobile Suites 41 RSSB4 5th Wheel

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X2. To me, it seems a much larger hassle trying to jerry rig a small residential electric only unit into my rig than one specifically designed for my use in fit, size, capacity and efficiency.

 

 

In our case, the water heater is in the kitchen area, next to the stove, in a cabinet that we would rather have the use of to store kitchen stuff. The hot water also has the longest run from the stove area, all the way to under the bed in the front then back again to the sink which is in the island. By installing a water heater in a more central location, the hot water would have a much shorter run and would put more weight on the "lite" side of the rig.

George

2011 F350 6.7PSD CC 4X4 DRW Lariate
2015 Mobile Suites 41 RSSB4 5th Wheel

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Unless you always have 50 amp service you'll be limited to a 120 volt water heater, they work quite well but have a slow cold to hot time and a slow recovery rate. You can't fix both of the problems at the same time though, a bigger heater will deliver more water but be slower to heat and recover, a smaller heater will heat and recover faster but deliver less water.

 

An electric heater is also going to eat a significant amount of your available AC power, on 50 amp it won't be a big problem but on 30 amps running other devices like the microwave, air conditioner or electric heat may trip your breakers when the water heat cycles on for more than a brief time.

 

Compared to a gas heater you are going to have less hot water available and take longer to have it available from a cold start. If you do like some of us and run both gas and electric while showering you may not be happy with the amount of hot water available.

 

It is certainly possible to do but it is going to impact your power situation and the amount of available hot water.

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Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day.

Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime.

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