Water Heater

[bikerbri]

I currently have a Carver Cascade water heater installed in the MH (Tanked) Gas/Electric operation. I am looking to upgrade to a Tankless Instant Water Heater and would welcome any recommendations anyone may have. Gas & Electric would be first choice.

Brian

[Gordon]

Just curious as to why? Is it just to save the weight of water in a small tank? I don't know of any instantaneous water heaters specifically for motorhomes, probably because they would need several kilowatts of power to heat water as it flows past the electric element or burning flame, whereas heating still water in a boiler can be done over time, later to be drawn off quickly as needed. 

An advantage I believe in a well insulated water tank, is the fact that once heated, the water will remain usable for many hours. We were on a site last week where the electricity was metered and charged for separately from the pitch fee, suffice to say that we were very conscious of the additional cost and so limited ourselves to using it only for the fridge and TV. The water was heated with gas each morning, then the boiler turned off until the next morning, and having used gas also for cooking and a little heating in the evenings after two weeks away the onboard LPG tank was refilled for just over three pounds - significantly cheaper than the cost would have been using the site electricity.

Gordon.

[bikerbri]

My partner Jayne had such a water heater some years ago in an Autotrail and considered it better than waiting for the water to heat up. Redring make instant water heaters for MH's and customer reviews are very good. You are correct Gordon that this model requires 'hook up' to operate being electric only but is linked to main sink, washbasin & shower and instantly available for use as with the boiler at home. I personally don't have a particular preference but if it keeps the 'boss' happy so be it.😉

[Gordon]

13 hours ago, bikerbri said:

. . . but if it keeps the 'boss' happy so be it.😉

Know your place eh?

Gordon

[bikerbri]

Well it's good to let them think that😃

[smino0_1]

Dont know whappened there but did post this yesterday,but didnt get posted? never mind maybe i didnt hit post?

I hae considered putting 1 of these on our boat,but has to be on ehu sadly.and unless we are on shore power its no good

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Faucet-Tap-Hot-Water-Heater-Instant-For-Home-Bathroom-Kitchen-Boat-UK/183200190875?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D88a6bb9b29d74a68a4cf7c6c1a29217b%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D202727954044%26itm%3D183200190875&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A976c6312-a28a-11e9-9601-74dbd18005e0|parentrq%3Ad87c9e3116b0a4e92225bf90ff734962|iid%3A1

[smino0_1]

Just now, smino0_1 said:

Dont know whappened there but did post this yesterday,but didnt get posted? never mind maybe i didnt hit post?

I hae considered putting 1 of these on our boat,but has to be on ehu sadly.and unless we are on shore power its no good

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Faucet-Tap-Hot-Water-Heater-Instant-For-Home-Bathroom-Kitchen-Boat-UK/183200190875?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D88a6bb9b29d74a68a4cf7c6c1a29217b%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D202727954044%26itm%3D183200190875&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A976c6312-a28a-11e9-9601-74dbd18005e0|parentrq%3Ad87c9e3116b0a4e92225bf90ff734962|iid%3A1

Ah sorry wasnt signed in

 

[Gordon]

11 hours ago, smino0_1 said:

I hae considered putting 1 of these on our boat,but has to be on ehu sadly.and unless we are on shore power its no good

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Faucet-Tap-Hot-Water-Heater-Instant-For-Home-Bathroom-Kitchen-Boat-UK/183200190875?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D88a6bb9b29d74a68a4cf7c6c1a29217b%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D202727954044%26itm%3D183200190875&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A976c6312-a28a-11e9-9601-74dbd18005e0|parentrq%3Ad87c9e3116b0a4e92225bf90ff734962|iid%3A1

Interesting concept but a 3kW load is a tad high even if on EHU. Given that 240V site electricity may only available at low currents, while I understand not wanting to store hot water that may not be used, I do feel that the preheated tank of water (whether using gas or electric) is the best option for motorhomes.

I was on a site just over a week ago where electricity had to be purchased in advance using a pre-paid card system. After using up a £5 pre-paid card in the first night, I bought another card just to run a TV for a couple of hours of an evening and running the lights, and that just lasted the rest of the week. We used gas for cooking, providing hot water on tap, running the fridge and taking the chill off the van in the evenings. On our return journey home we topped up the installed LPG tank at a garage forecourt for just over £3!

Gordon.

[smino0_1]

The reason we wanted a flow was the amount of water in the tanks is never enough water.So we chose another option of fitting a second insulated tank and draw water from 1 to another before showering.moreso on the boat as the salty air means more showering.but no so much in the moho.i have seen these in lesser watts too tho.

[Gordon]

That makes perfect sense. We always mix hot and cold together to get the temperature we want in a shower, so while accepting that more frequent showers may be necessary in salty conditions, surely it would only be a case of waiting a few minutes for the hot water to reheat between showers before it was ready for the next person. I don't know what volume of water you have on board your boat but I do know that just a few gallons of hot water is all that our family needed for us to all to shower one after the other when we owned caravans, as this was blended with the cold water supply. We had on board cold water tanks on most of the caravans, varying from 30 to 80 litres yet never ran out. The MH is a different beast and the on board water tank is massive, sufficient in fact to last a couple of weeks away (as we have just done). Similarly the grey and black  waste tanks were only emptied once - on the last day of the holiday.

I do hope you're able to find a lower wattage heater that is able to maintain a high enough temperature from a cold water supply. Speaking from experience though, our instantaneous shower at home uses an 8kW heating element, and that only just holds the temperature at a comfortable level. Okay, the flow rate in a MH or boat will be lower so allowing a lower wattage heater to work but I would suggest that the heater you linked to, with a 3kW heater, is about a low as you would want to go, and I have reservations over whether all EHUs would be able to supply the 12 to 13Amps needed, especially if you have other appliances connected.

Gordon. 

[smino0_1]

YES  And thats 1 thing folk forget when buying a boat.we are in and out of the sea in the med quite often so use the shower alot.even in the heat i like a hot shower as it cools me down when getting out.but back to the moho and 13amp was a neg when i seen them.Diddnt realise the home power showers where that high rated. the only other thing that we have in our kitch at home is a Quooker tap.but would think that is high too.

[Gordon]

Depending upon the model I believe the Quookers are rated between 1600W and 2200W and have a small hot water tank that holds water under pressure at 110degC that when delivered to your cup or mug is 93degC. 

Quooker specification.pdf

 

I genuinely believe that the system of having a small pre-heated water tank, that allows cold water to be blended with the hot for the perfect temperature shower, is the most appropriate system under the circumstances.

Gordon.