Electric water heating
This is a question mainly for people with a 10 or 12 gallon water heater who frequently use shore power electricity to heat their water. Most 120V heat elements are about 1500W so they are well les...
Forum Discussion
theoldwizard1,
First of all, no, I have not done what you ask. We've always had plenty of hot water with our 10 gallon water heater, though a few times we did have to run propane AND electric.
Do you have 50A service on your RV? If so, most 50A RV breaker panels WILL HAVE 240VAC available when connected to a properly wired 50A service. You would have to change the breaker in the box to one which connected to both "hots". You might be able to even use the same cable going to the water heater. You obviously would need a 240VAC heating element the current draw of which would have to be within the wire & breaker ratings.
Keep in mind, however, if you do this, your water heater WILL NOT WORK ON ELECTRIC if you have 30A service. 30A service is 120V only. It also may not work off your generator as many generators (even our 7 kW Onan) put out two 120VAC lines, but they are in phase, so 240V is NOT AVAILABLE on generator power. In my opinion, these are two big negatives, and probably why you don't see it done much, if at all.
~Rick
First of all, no, I have not done what you ask. We've always had plenty of hot water with our 10 gallon water heater, though a few times we did have to run propane AND electric.
Do you have 50A service on your RV? If so, most 50A RV breaker panels WILL HAVE 240VAC available when connected to a properly wired 50A service. You would have to change the breaker in the box to one which connected to both "hots". You might be able to even use the same cable going to the water heater. You obviously would need a 240VAC heating element the current draw of which would have to be within the wire & breaker ratings.
Keep in mind, however, if you do this, your water heater WILL NOT WORK ON ELECTRIC if you have 30A service. 30A service is 120V only. It also may not work off your generator as many generators (even our 7 kW Onan) put out two 120VAC lines, but they are in phase, so 240V is NOT AVAILABLE on generator power. In my opinion, these are two big negatives, and probably why you don't see it done much, if at all.
~Rick
