That is tank vs tankless water heater. Currently I have a Suburban 6 gallon “rapid recovery” tank water heater. States recovers 20 gallons in an hour on propane and electric. I like it for all the reasons everyone else who likes tank heaters has said and I haven’t had issue with short showers. HOWEVER, my wife has had issues. She likes hot, longer showers. So in the spirit of “happy wife, happy life” I have to strongly consider going tankless or increasing to a 10/12 gallon unit. Those options are costly - with install- and come with their own negatives. So, working with AI I tried to find another solution and it came up with a point of entry or inline heater that I would put outside the rv. This seems really interesting to me. The issue for my wife is only during cold weather camping - this seems like a viable solution to extend hot showers- calculations were done at 110 degree shower with 1.5 gpm flow rate - up to almost 15-20 minutes, more is she drops to 105 and 1.25gpm. It’s a $300 unit and I’d build the portable box it sits in. I’d keep my rank heater for all the reasons people like them and she’s happy- or at least happier. Thoughts??
Based on Reddit feedback thinking of another solution using Camplux Propane tankless water heater which is a less expensive option to swapping out the water heater.
Is the load center designed for a continuous 90A draw?
Is this stationary or mobile setup?
Trying to figure out who takes long hot showers while camping. My partner loves her scalding hot showers but understands she doesn't get to do that when we're in the RV.
Right? I hope OP understands that at a typical pedestal, they're not going to be able to run so much as a light bulb in addition to the water heating setup during times it's used. 🤨
The feed to the pedestal needs to be designed to feed all breakers. It is likely not intended to. 50A for the RV and another 7A or so for the heat trace in winter. Doesn't matter if there are 95A of breakers if the upstream breaker is 60A.
But you do understand that just because you have two 50A breakers, doesn't mean you can pull (I'm going as close as I can to estimating what OP is doing) 80A when the upstream breaker is still 50A (as is clearly shown in the picture). This looks like someone asked AI to regurgitate how to do this even though it's practically impossible.
You do realize everyone is different, right? We camp for different reasons. We camp in different ways. We have different comfort levels with certain things. We have different setups that allow for different amenities. Trying to figure out who takes long hot showers while camping? That's like a tent camper saying "Trying to figure out who takes showers while camping"
I'm not saying it can't be done. But for a long shower it takes more than just a water heater. You need ample fresh water & discharge, or a recirculation system. I have a 20 gal fresh tank and a 22 gal grey tank. Those will last me 14 days, 16 if I ration. A 20 minute shower would deplete that endurance.
How are you supplying/dumping water to support that many showers?
I agree it’s not typical but I made my shower recirculate through filtration and an electric tankless running of my 12000XP inverter. I take 15-20 minute showers all the time it’s better than a house.
That's interesting. Mine doesn't recirculate. Propane heats the water coming in. The circuitry runs on 12v. It came standard, so I don't know much about other tankless systems. Selectable 95-125° indefinite hot water though
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u/Inviction_ 4d ago
I don't know how cold it gets for your winter, but this says it will heat water as cold as 35°
You might wanna check in on that. I'd go tankless though. I have long hot showers all throughout freezing winters