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02-13-2011, 07:55 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 196
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Does engine coolant heat the hot water tank?
I noticed while reading the manual on the hot water tank of our new Georgetown that the tank may have a "loop" of pipe running through it which would allow the engine coolant to heat the hot water tank while traveling. Does anyone know if this is the case with the Georgetown units?
Mike
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02-13-2011, 08:12 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 517
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Yes, if your setup for it. I can't remember what it is called but it is a feature.
__________________
2009 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 2500 6.7 cummins
2011 Forest River Cherokee 28BHKS
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02-14-2011, 09:22 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
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This is called MotorAide, and I have had it on many motorhomes...the coolant from the engine is routed through the hot water heater and it heats the water in the tank..when you reach your destination, you have hot water immediatley. It is a nice feature and as far as I know none of the Georgetown units have it.
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02-14-2011, 09:38 AM
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#4
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CLASS "A" Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Upperco, Maryland
Posts: 3,136
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Must be something new they're offering. I don't see it on the website under the Options for the Georgetown Units.
__________________
2007 Georgetown 370TS
aka - RAYNMKR
Driver: Charlie
Navigator: Sheri
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02-14-2011, 10:22 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 517
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I could be wrong.
__________________
2009 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 2500 6.7 cummins
2011 Forest River Cherokee 28BHKS
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02-14-2011, 10:38 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Chesapeake, Va
Posts: 938
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I think I'd elect not to have that option. You'd be heating your potable water with a poisonous liquid.
__________________
Jason and Billie
2018 F-250, 6.2L
2011 Prime Time Crusader 320RLT
"PT Crew Member Since 11/2010"
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02-14-2011, 11:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
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No you are not, it works like a heat exchanger and is perfectly safe. I am still alive and I have had this feature for years on other units. The water heater has the loop in it but Forest River does not run the lines to hook it up...guess that saves a couple of bucks...
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02-14-2011, 12:00 PM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M109Rrider
I think I'd elect not to have that option. You'd be heating your potable water with a poisonous liquid.
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I don't have a horse in this race, but I have to agree with M109Rider on that. 1 little pin hole or bad fitting could contaminate your hot water supply. Hopefully someone could smell the antifreeze if that happened and take action before washing your dishes or taking a shower, but it just doesn't seem like a good idea.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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02-14-2011, 02:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Chesapeake, Va
Posts: 938
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After almost 20 years in the Navy I am unduly familiar with how a heat exchanger works. If it's a straight coolant to potable water heat exchanger it's not worth the liability to me. If it's common and well liked by MC owners then have at. It just struck me odd and goes against everything I've been taught as a shipboard engineer. Honestly I'm amazed it's even legal.
__________________
Jason and Billie
2018 F-250, 6.2L
2011 Prime Time Crusader 320RLT
"PT Crew Member Since 11/2010"
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02-14-2011, 08:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
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Not possible. The way the heaters are built there is no way for antifreeze to enter the acutal water supply......remember alum. does not rust and the antifreeze travels in and out in it's own tube. Your chances of an auto accident or winning the lottery are much better than dying from your water heater contaminated with anti freeze.. if it was available, I would pay to have it. Remember, it is a heat exchanger technology, not a direct insertion of anti freeze into the water heater.
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02-14-2011, 09:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 196
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I was thinking that if the lines were there I might use them to add an axillary heater for the coach. I am hoping to use the Georgetown for ski weekends and thought that it would help me conserve propane while traveling in the winter using the axillary heater while moving instead of the furnace. I did a similar thing in a van I owned in the early 80's. I won't be able to do it any event until the winter is over. There seems to be no easy way to see the back of the water heater and I don't really care to be crawling around underneath the unit in the snow.
BTW there are several systems in the motorhome carrying poisonous materials. The ammonia in the fridge is particularly lethal.
Mike
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02-14-2011, 09:40 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Posts: 310
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Exactly Mike. I have had the aux heaters in the past and they work well. Forest River does not run the lines as far as I know but it is easy to put a T in the line coming from the rad and then running it to a heater..then back to the rad .Good luck...and you are correct, the ammonia or carbon monoxide from the furnace would do you in long before a little anti freeze on your corn flakes...LOL...
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02-15-2011, 10:19 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 27
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comment
it was standard on Winnebago products; don't know about current use.
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