Aqua Hot Questions...
for a MH "wanna be". We are considering a coach with the Aqua Hot system (I have read the operating manual) and are trying to find out a little more about it, so thank you in advance for any respon...
Forum Discussion
If you have both the burner and electric on, I think the electric trys to keep it at 180F while the burner comes on once the water in the reservoir is below 150F until it reaches 170F, then it goes off until cooled by use (either domestic hot water or running a hot water coil to heat the coach).
The hot water tank being in the basement should help keep the basement warm.
Like said above, you might have 1 or 2 electric heating elements. One is normally rated at 1,500 watts 120 volts, the other might be rated at 3,500 at 240 volts. But it can change - depending on your model number.
Is it cheaper to run on diesel or pay for electric? Here in Portland OR, the hydroelectric power is pretty low cost, $0.10 per KW. 1 gallon of propane is 95,000 Btu's and in a LP heater will produce about 80,000 Btu's of heat, or what would take 22 KW in a electric heater. Diesel is about 135,000 Btu's per gallon, and can produce about 105,000 Btu's per gallon burned, given some heat goes out the flue. This is equal to about 32 KW. So it would cost $3.20 to offset one gallon of diesel in this area, more than $4.50 in Southern California with their higher $0.16 per KW power. For me, it is less expensive to run electric heat $2.20 than to buy propane. Diesel costs would be about equal up here in Portland.
Like stated above, if it gets below 30F, then leave the aqua hot on, it will not freeze. To save fuel, run the electric if at home, or a campground, but run it on diesel if you need to - if on battery power. You will need something to recharge the battery (solar or plug it in) if it is parked in a driveway or something.
Fred.
The hot water tank being in the basement should help keep the basement warm.
Like said above, you might have 1 or 2 electric heating elements. One is normally rated at 1,500 watts 120 volts, the other might be rated at 3,500 at 240 volts. But it can change - depending on your model number.
Is it cheaper to run on diesel or pay for electric? Here in Portland OR, the hydroelectric power is pretty low cost, $0.10 per KW. 1 gallon of propane is 95,000 Btu's and in a LP heater will produce about 80,000 Btu's of heat, or what would take 22 KW in a electric heater. Diesel is about 135,000 Btu's per gallon, and can produce about 105,000 Btu's per gallon burned, given some heat goes out the flue. This is equal to about 32 KW. So it would cost $3.20 to offset one gallon of diesel in this area, more than $4.50 in Southern California with their higher $0.16 per KW power. For me, it is less expensive to run electric heat $2.20 than to buy propane. Diesel costs would be about equal up here in Portland.
Like stated above, if it gets below 30F, then leave the aqua hot on, it will not freeze. To save fuel, run the electric if at home, or a campground, but run it on diesel if you need to - if on battery power. You will need something to recharge the battery (solar or plug it in) if it is parked in a driveway or something.
Fred.
