Electric Water heater

dougrainer wrote:
4. If they state OVER 30 amps service to use Water heater on 120, then you are given GOOD advice. The reason is---The Roof AC will pull about 15 amps--refer-3 amps- power converter/Inverter/charger-1to 4 amps. That gets you to 21 to 22 amps. IF you try to use the water heater OR the Microwave on 30 amp service, you will trip the pedestal breaker. The manual is just stating the obvious for when you operate on 30 amp service. If on 30 amp service, run the Water heater on LP. If on 50 amp service, you can run everything in the RV. Doug

I suspect you are right about why that warning is there. However, if it's a standard RV water heater, then I think that manual warning is much too simplistic. I've got all the appliances/devices listed above with only a 30A service and I certainly use my electric WH (1400 W = under 12A). It's just necessary to balance the power usage to stay under 30A total. If I'm not simultaneously using both the AC (13A) and the microwave (9A), I can use the 12A needed for the electric half of my WH.

I do a lot of dry camping/boondocking and I prefer to save as much propane and water as possible, so I often leave the WH off completely. When I want small amounts of hot water, we use the hot pot. It's a waste of water to run the heated water through the lines and throw away the unheated water in the lines, and I hate running out of propane before the end of a 3 week vacation. When we want to shower, or need lots of hot water, we crank dual propane and electric on the WH, which heats the 6 gallon tank in minutes. I agree that leaving the WH always on electric with a 30A circuit while camping in the heat needing the AC is going to be a problem.