Hott Rod Water heater element install

[duramaxnate]

Has anyone installed the Hott Rod hot water element on their Atwood water heater? Going to attempt to install mine here soon and wanted to see pics of how some of you did yours.

[DaHose]

I think an extension cord would be fine.

I purchased a Camco Hybrid Heat kit and the element for it has two spade lug female connectors. I ran some 120V wiring from the on-tank controller to my panel and hooked everything up there. I don't see why you couldn't just cut the end off yours and hard wire it all in like my setup.

Jose

[scroller95969]

torridgirl wrote:
I hooked up my Hott Rod water heater conversion kit to give myself an electric option on my all propane water heater and all is going pretty good except for one thing. The only outlet I can read with the cord shares a circuit with the water pump and if I run them both at the same time the pump doesn't get the necessary juice and I don't get any water out. If unplug the water heater it all goes back to normal. The instructions for the Hott Rod say don't use an extension cord with it so I can't reach another outlet. Any suggestions? Do you think it might be ok with a heavy duty extension cord? This RV is an older one so warranty is not an issue and I live in it full time. It stays parked in one place so i could take the extension cord to an alternate outside protected plug.

I'm having trouble picturing this. Is your water pump 120V or are you plugging the Hott Rod into a 12V receptacle? Or are your 12V batteries dead and the extra 120V drain on your converter overwhelming it so it can't supply 12V?

[torridgirl]

I hooked up my Hott Rod water heater conversion kit to give myself an electric option on my all propane water heater and all is going pretty good except for one thing. The only outlet I can read with the cord shares a circuit with the water pump and if I run them both at the same time the pump doesn't get the necessary juice and I don't get any water out. If unplug the water heater it all goes back to normal. The instructions for the Hott Rod say don't use an extension cord with it so I can't reach another outlet. Any suggestions? Do you think it might be ok with a heavy duty extension cord? This RV is an older one so warranty is not an issue and I live in it full time. It stays parked in one place so i could take the extension cord to an alternate outside protected plug.

[JiminDenver]

450 watts, that's perfect. Thank you!

[navegator]

Before you install the heating element, make sure that it does not touch the heating tube, some times the welded fitting is off a bit and when the heating element is tightened it will touch or some times pierce the aluminum heat tube and you will end with a leak.

Measure from the thread to the end and use a tape measure to probe for depth, be sure that the tape is going in the same direction as the heater element or use a piece of wood to probe for clearance.

navegator

[duramaxnate]

Of course my water heater is a pita to get to. I have a Fleetwood Gearbox 300fs and its under the bed towards the bathroom. I have to take my bed apart to install it (already had the bed apart so no big deal there.) Running power won't be too hard to do since I have access to where most of the wiring is being routed in the walls. I am installing the switch for mine in the bathroom since the heater is near there. I added a breaker to my panel just for this.

[DaHose]

I installed a different brand, but same function. I also use both for initial heat up, but can then run on just electric.

I was worried that 450 watt was not enough, but it works great.


Jose

[wildtoad]

The previous owner did the install. It only pulls 4 amps and it does take a while to get hot from a cold start. But it does get it quite hot. If we need hot water in a hurry we run both the elec and gas.

[Old-Biscuit]

JiminDenver wrote:
How many watts do they pull and how long to heat up a 6 gallon tank?

6 gallon........450W/4A
10 gallon.......675A/6A

45 to 90 mins to reach 130*F on initial fill. (t-stat adjustable from 110*F to 170*F

[JiminDenver]

How many watts do they pull and how long to heat up a 6 gallon tank?

[Old-Biscuit]

Need a 120V outlet to plug it into (or extension cord to plug into power pedestal 15/20A outlet)

T-stat goes against tank wall so you need to remove a section of insulation where you want to install.

Hott Shot element installs into drain hole. It has to be removed when you drain/flush - rinse water heater tank (One of the reasons Atwood voids warranty cause once installed folks have a tendency to NOT remove and flush tank routinely)

One example of install







Other issue is when installed in an 'pilot' water heater. Gas valve has a temp probe that goes inside water heater....ECO/High temp probe. When it trips due to high temp you have to replace the gas valve assembly. With Hott Rod (of Lightning Rod) element installed thru drain hole it can be in close proximity to the ECO probe ....and trip it. (A pilot flame adjusted too high can trip them)

Doubt if you have a pilot flame ----more than likely a DSI (electronic ignition).