Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-25-2020, 04:01 PM   #21
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
Worse than that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by donkro View Post
we do boondock so would like to keep the gas fired hot water heater hooked up, just would like the electric option when in a campground. I'm thinking I could hook it up before or after the gas heater. This Rheem unit runs on 110v and uses 29amps and says can be used in an Rv, also looks pretty small. My unit provides 30amps, so couldn't use anything else when this would be on.
Don't even think of of doing that. Some electrical fixtures are out of your control. What happens when your water heater and converter (battery charger) kick on at the same time? Or the air conditioner?

Would the family be happy if it were 100 degrees and they had to turn off the A/C before they took a shower or washed dishes? How often would they forget?

Be reasonable. Propane is not that expensive, around $12-14 at Costco for a 30 lb. cylinder that lasts all summer. And it's not fixed fee. They meter the fill and only charge for what you get, so filling every time you've camped a couple of weeks won't break the bank.

At the campground where our Cherokee 38P is sited, electricity is measured and it's much cheaper to use propane.
__________________
Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
Larry-NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2020, 04:06 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
Not "easier"

Quote:
Originally Posted by donkro View Post
Since we frequently stay at campgrounds with electricity, it seems having an electric source of heated water would be easier and less expensive than gas, especially since we're already paying for the electric.
Not easier. Recovery time on propane is maybe 20 minutes. Recovery time with a 1440 watt or 1500 watt electric heater is an hour. The Camco kit is only 425 watts. Would your family put up with 2-3 hours between showers?

Those that have tried these generally believe they are a bad compromise.
__________________
Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
Larry-NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2020, 04:17 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Central Wyoming
Posts: 142
OP - check the back side of the water heater for a threaded hub for the electric element. My Atwood in a SOB has the electric portion on the back side by the inlet and outlet piping. The hub for the electric element may be present even if the water heater is not electric and propane. It may be possible to add the electric components as that system is basically totally separate from the propane portion. A quick check of the Atwood/Dometic website has info showing what I have described.
WY Husker Fan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2020, 04:50 PM   #24
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
5picker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
Quote:
Originally Posted by donkro View Post
we do boondock so would like to keep the gas fired hot water heater hooked up, just would like the electric option when in a campground. I'm thinking I could hook it up before or after the gas heater. This Rheem unit runs on 110v and uses 29amps and says can be used in an Rv, also looks pretty small. My unit provides 30amps, so couldn't use anything else when this would be on.
If your R/V is only a 30a service, I would NEVER want any one single appliance to consume every amp of electricity that I have coming into my power distribution box from the pedestal.

If ANYTHING would be on when the on-demand water heater kicked in... SNAP... there goes the breaker!

Even on a 50a R/V service you'd have to have it isolated to one side with few other things on that side of the buss.

dmctlc mentioned having an Truma electric on demand in their Class A... maybe they would chime in with the model and the amps it draws. It might be a better choice.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA

Days Camped '19=118 '20=116 '21=123 '22=134 '23=118 '24=86
5picker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2020, 05:11 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 142
thanks, useful feedback!
donkro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2020, 08:08 AM   #26
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 3
Keep it Simple

I just added the Camco electric anode to my gas heater and we just camped and I never turned my gas on until I knew high demand was coming up. When I added the Temp. rod I had to make a sealed hole to the right of the tank cover close to the door. I never had to touch the gas line nor did I want to. I had plenty to line to mount my switch under the counter. Let me know if you need photos or you have it covered.
CampB2016 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
electric, heater, water, water heater

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:27 PM.