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Old 04-13-2020, 01:52 PM   #1
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Hot water heater upgrade

I have a Coachman Clipper 17BH 2018 and it has the Suburban SW6D Gas water heater. Looking to upgrade SW6DE to have both electric and gas capability. Does anyone have any info on this subject?
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Old 04-13-2020, 03:53 PM   #2
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They're the same size so physical installation isn't really an issue if you're handy. The biggest issue you'll have is running power to the new one since the unit you have now doesn't have it.
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Old 04-13-2020, 03:57 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Bama Rambler View Post
They're the same size so physical installation isn't really an issue if you're handy. The biggest issue you'll have is running power to the new one since the unit you have now doesn't have it.
I agree with Bama.

But you should make sure the water heater is wired back to its own dedicated breaker.....they draw a lot.
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Old 04-13-2020, 10:35 PM   #4
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If doing the upgrade requires a whole new heater maybe a “hot rod” is the answer. Does Suburban make an upgrade kit? Jay
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Old 04-14-2020, 01:39 PM   #5
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HOT ROD

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Originally Posted by Jay2504 View Post
If doing the upgrade requires a whole new heater maybe a “hot rod” is the answer. Does Suburban make an upgrade kit? Jay


On an older trailer I had great success with a "HOT ROD" electric element heater. It was pretty easy to install, performed well over several years, and as I recall it had minimal current draw - only about a hundred watts.

My present unit has dual power hot water heater, but if I wanted to convert one, I wouldn't hesitate to use a HOT ROD instead of changing out the entire water heater.
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Old 04-15-2020, 09:23 AM   #6
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That's 400 watts

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Originally Posted by jjuscg View Post
On an older trailer I had great success with a "HOT ROD" electric element heater. It was pretty easy to install, performed well over several years, and as I recall it had minimal current draw - only about a hundred watts.

My present unit has dual power hot water heater, but if I wanted to convert one, I wouldn't hesitate to use a HOT ROD instead of changing out the entire water heater.
The Hot Rod kit draws 400 watts. That's low enough to run on existing circuits, as long as it's not sharing with a toaster, coffee pot, or heater. Some have reported that it takes a long time to heat, as compared to the units built with electric, which have 1440 or 1500 watt elements.

Taking the whole unit out is a bit of an undertaking, what with removing the old caulk and butyl tape and installing the new one. I'm kind of thinking that Suburban might use the same tank for both models and simply plug off the extra opening and not use the extra thermostat and high-limit mounts. If I were in this situation, having confirmed that, I would buy a used DE-model heater from an RV salvage yard and transplant the element, thermostat, high-limit switch, wiring, switch, and all the related mounting bits and covers.
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Old 04-15-2020, 05:20 PM   #7
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Thanks

Thank you all for all the great ideas. I plan on researching Suburban for an upgrade kit I don't want to drop my wattage as I may be moving into the camper for a while during a house renovation.
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Old 04-15-2020, 06:01 PM   #8
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we have a 'HOTT ROD' water heater element in our propane-only manual light camper water heater, and it works great - no need for propane, though you CAN also run both at the same time, if you wish.

We decided to give ourselves TWO power options: either plug it into an outlet within the RV, during temperate months, or plug it into a Shore Power 15/20amp outlet, via an extension cord, if a 120v outlet for power is available outside, during hot and cold months.

There are also TWO versions of the 'HOTT ROD' - the lower wattage version, which pulls about 5-6 amps, or the higher wattage version, which pulls closer to 10-12 amps. You can use either in any water heater, but the higher wattage version is obviously going to require more of it's 'own' 15amp circuit, or would be able to be part of a 20amp circuit with a few other smaller items.
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Old 04-15-2020, 06:11 PM   #9
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Several folks I know using the Hott-rod option simply use an appropriate sized extension cord back to the pedestal. They didn't permanently wire them in.
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Old 04-15-2020, 06:12 PM   #10
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the 'Hott ROd' is not a permanently wired water heater element - it uses a standard 120v plug that you plug into any outlet.
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Old 04-15-2020, 08:01 PM   #11
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Not so hot

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Originally Posted by formerFR View Post
we have a 'HOTT ROD' water heater element in our propane-only manual light camper water heater, and it works great - no need for propane, though you CAN also run both at the same time, if you wish.

We decided to give ourselves TWO power options: either plug it into an outlet within the RV, during temperate months, or plug it into a Shore Power 15/20amp outlet, via an extension cord, if a 120v outlet for power is available outside, during hot and cold months.

There are also TWO versions of the 'HOTT ROD' - the lower wattage version, which pulls about 5-6 amps, or the higher wattage version, which pulls closer to 10-12 amps. You can use either in any water heater, but the higher wattage version is obviously going to require more of it's 'own' 15amp circuit, or would be able to be part of a 20amp circuit with a few other smaller items.
Not quite as hot as you think. There are indeed two versions, as described here.

One is 450 watts (about 4 amps) and the other is 675 watts (about 6 amps). I am unable to find one that draws 10-12 amps.
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Old 04-16-2020, 09:33 AM   #12
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Dear Sir;

There is no way to change this model over to an electric element as there is no hole in the tank body for the element.

It would require a new unit SW6DE also you would need to have access to 120 VAC for the element.


Ronnie Ellison
Service Manager

Apparently I will need to invest in the SW6DE as per Suburban Airxcel.
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Old 04-16-2020, 09:38 AM   #13
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Uggh.

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Dear Sir;

There is no way to change this model over to an electric element as there is no hole in the tank body for the element.

It would require a new unit SW6DE also you would need to have access to 120 VAC for the element.


Ronnie Ellison
Service Manager

Apparently I will need to invest in the SW6DE as per Suburban Airxcel.
Uggh. Too bad.
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Old 04-16-2020, 09:39 AM   #14
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apparently the 'service manger' doesn't understand how to 'simply' install this Hott Rod water heater element INTO the drain plug hole - easy. And, yes, you have one!
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Old 04-16-2020, 09:40 AM   #15
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Question

(pssst, it's right there at the bottom!)
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Old 04-16-2020, 11:34 AM   #16
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formerFR, that drain plug is also an anode rod that’s essential for a Suburban WH. So unless the hot plug gadget is also an anode, or it can be installed somewhere else, its not an option.
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Old 04-16-2020, 11:43 AM   #17
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yes, any electric water heater element is, by default, an 'anode rod', which is simply a rod that is the 'sacrificial' metal, versus the tank itself...

if you go to the Hott Rod website you'll see any/all information you need to know : )

enjoy
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Old 04-16-2020, 02:00 PM   #18
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Okay now that make since. I was under the assumption there was an extra place for the element did not consider using drain plug. Okay that I may have to try. Thank you!
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Old 04-16-2020, 07:57 PM   #19
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The electric/propane models have both a long anode (which is an extension of the drain plug) and a looped electric element. I read about this Hott Rod product and the only thing I could see about it providing an anode is that that there is some kind of anode built into the Suburban reducer bushing so there can’t be much of an anode.

Personally, we never use the electric side. The propane heats the water much faster and if you want to save propane you can turn off the WH. The water stays warm for quite a while in our tank.
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Old 04-16-2020, 08:13 PM   #20
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Had a 3 way on my Jayco.... Lived the electric side for hot water.
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I have a Coachman Clipper 17BH 2018 and it has the Suburban SW6D Gas water heater. Looking to upgrade SW6DE to have both electric and gas capability. Does anyone have any info on this subject?
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