This is for those of you that have installed a Hot Rod in their Atwood 6 gallon HWH.I'm going to be spending 4 nights at the KOA in Old Orchard Maine. Will have full hookups and decided to install a Hot Rod in my Atwood 6gal HWH.Big question I have is where do you place the thermostat? I understand it is supposed to be in direct contact with the tank so it can properly regulate the temp.The existing thermostat and Hi-temp switch is under that black rubber pad just below the expansion valve I do have access to the top of the tank by going thru the bathroom drawer. I plan to plug the hot rod into the outlet originally used for the washer/dryer that sat next to the HWH.Note the picture below. It's the original hot water heater & I belive the original ignighter board! Just keep it clean and adjusted and no problems! I did replace the baffle in the upper left.

If it were me, I would return that hot rod. They do not heat the water that quickly, unlike the factory electric tanks. For the money you paid for that hot rod, you can buy a good amount of propane to heat your water. Also, you have an old heater...my experience is when you start messing with something old it starts to break.

I am assuming this is the HOT ROD kit you are referring too... How many WATTS is this device... Hopefully something you can run from an INVERTER when you are running off the power grid. This will have to inserted into the HOT WATER HEATER and from the photo you posted I don't see the bottom unused drain port my Surburban model has. It may be hidden by your propane pilot light assy and I cant see it.My water drain port shown on the very bottom here is a standard size port where you would screw in the HOT ROD element.Where are you going to insert the electric element into your hot water heater.Roy Ken

One reason I supersized the picture is so that users can see the drain valve, It's just to the left of the gas valve. I'll have to remove & insert the Hot Rod.I will NOT try & use the Hot Rod on my inverter. As stated above I'll ave full hookups. I'd never try & run off the inverter.

mchero - If it is in the 400WATT range I would try and use it on my inverter for when camping off the power grid. Would sure beat using up my propane to keep hot water going... Once the heat is up to temperature the gas furnace doesnt kick on very much here... Probably same deal with an electric element. I need it for a PLAN B in my setup for sure.... My hot water may be my source of HYDRONIC HEAT for my trailer soon so will need HOT WATER all the time when camping off the power grid. I have got to get rid of my trailer propane heater and its high current 12VDC fan for sure...Of course if the HOT ROD is high current then my INVERTER will be too small to run that... I need to run down the specs on it. I have seen lower wattage elements available in the 400-500WATT range.I did see something hiding behind the propane igniter - didnt know if that was your HOT WATER drain plug or not. Hopefully the photo is making its location looking like its behind the igniter. My Suburban Model is definitely out of the way of anything on the bottom like I showed in my photo. I remove this plug to drain my hot water heater when winterizing.What you got sounds interesting...My entire water heater is of course covered with a heat pad so if the temperature sensor has to touch the metal case of the hot water heater than you will have to cut some of the padding out to attach the sensor. Sure don't want to drill a hole through the outer case hehe...Roy Ken

I've had my Hot Rod for over 12 years and it works great and it will produce hot water in 30 to 45 min or so and save all that gas.You should install the T-Stat in the middle of the tank for best results, I just leave mine plugged in and use the switch I have to turn it on. My T-Stat is set at 125 deg which is plenty.One additional note : I do not have it on if I'm on inverter, it does draw amps.

Just purchased a hot rod from CW, have a question.

15 Replies

mchero
Explorer
May 30, 2013
Neil

Thanks for the info. I'm glad to say that I won't have an issue getting power to the Hot Rod but you did bring up a good point....Power switch!

I'll have to get a switch for under the sink. I'll post some pictures when complete.

Thanks all
C-Leigh_Racing
Explorer
May 29, 2013
mchero,
I, about an hour & half ago installed the 6 gallon hot rod in our Atwood HWH, was a piece of cake, took about 45 minutes.

In your pic, where the LP gas line comes through the metal housing to hook up to the gas valve, I just made a slit in that rubber seal around the copper line & ran the wires through there.
Then I took some electrical tape & covered the copper line just to be on the safe side in case the wires should giggle & wear on the insulation.
I mounted the thermostat in the center of the tank just like in eric1514 pic & hook all the wires up.

Now my next problem, is getting 120V into the area behind the HWH & then a switch to turn it no or off.

So far it has been maybe 2~3 hours since I plugged it up & got good hot water & aint burned a single drap o lp gas.
If I had only had that hot rod Saturday morning, we wouldnt have had to go till Monday night before a good hot bath.
Felt like an ol poor mountain kid again, those days washing with a wash rag.
Neil
mchero
Explorer
May 29, 2013
Thanks for the PIC Eric. On my setup the HWH is just to the left of the sink, under the drawer. Only access I have to it is from the top by removing the drawer.

I "believe" I "migt" be able to get to the side of it by removing a panel in the space under the sink. I would then be able to get to the side of it.

I ended up with the 10 gallon Hot Rod so I did not get very far trying to install the rod! CW did not ave the 6 gallon model in stock so I'll have to wait.

Thanks for all the help/suggestions. I'll post a follow-up when I get the proper kit.

RM
eric1514
Explorer
May 24, 2013
Here's a pic of the thermostat I mounted to the rear of my water heater. This side is accessible under the sofa in my coach. You can see that I had to cut away a small chunk of the white foam insulation for it to fit flush against the metal tank.

This is also Camco's version of the "Hott Rod" I think it works great.

Good Luck,
Eric
J_Walker
Explorer
May 24, 2013
mchero wrote:

Where did you mount the stat ??

I installed it on the tank inside the MH approximately half way between the top and bottom.a
mchero
Explorer
May 23, 2013
J Walker wrote:
I have used a HotRod for about 10 years and love it. I have saved enough propane to pay for it and I always have hot water. I would turn the propane on only when I needed it. I installed my thermostat on the inside portion of the tank. I don't have enough area of the tank exposed on the outside of the MH for the thermostat to gain contact.

Where did you mount the stat ??
J_Walker
Explorer
May 23, 2013
I have used a HotRod for about 10 years and love it. I have saved enough propane to pay for it and I always have hot water. I would turn the propane on only when I needed it. I installed my thermostat on the inside portion of the tank. I don't have enough area of the tank exposed on the outside of the MH for the thermostat to gain contact.
mchero
Explorer
May 23, 2013
Roy

Bottom left of the picture, just to the left of the gas valve you can see the drain petcock. It's just above the copper gas line that connects to the gas valve.

I'll have to remove, flush the tank & insert the hot rod.

I think I'll be ountng it from inside. Not enough room on the front face of the heater. I not going to try & remove. I'm afraid i'll run across some issues. Don't want to tell the wife that we don't ave ANY water in the MoHo.
RoyB
Explorer II
May 23, 2013
I just read this spec from CW on how many amps the HOTT ROD pulls...

"This will use approximately 440 watts (110 volts at 4 amps)"

This is getting even more interesting now. If it cycle on about every 30 minutes or more than it is something I should look into for sure...

I am pulling around 300WATTs now on my 1500WATT Inverter for all of our home entertainment and other keep alive items. Another 400WATTS is not a show stopper for me especially if its power on cycle is stretched out alot during a 24 hour period...

Roy Ken
msiminoff
Explorer II
May 23, 2013
The thermostat needs to be mounted to the side of the water heater housing (not the top). To do that you will need to use a razor-knife and cut out a section of the EPS insulation the size of the thermostat. I adhered mine with hi-temp RTV. You can try to reach in through the drawer hole or just remove the water heater from the side-wall of your RV.

HottRods work GREAT and I'm sure that you'll be happy with the results... and the LPG savings.

FWIW, I heat my water while driving with AC power from the inverter (via the alternator) and with DC power (excess solar) when boondocking. I almost never use the LPG anymore.
Cheers,
-Mark