Camco Electric Hot Water Device

[balfre1946]

We are in a 2010 Fleetwood Fiesta 36' Class A with a propane hot water heater. We were told Camco makes a device that can heat water electrically, thereby not bypassing the propane. At one end is the heating rod, at the other two cables. We do not know where to plug these in, do we disable the propane heater, how do we do that ? Anyone have one of these?

[balfre1946]

We do not seem to have both options on our 2010 Fleetwood Fiesta 36' class A

[racerguy]

Many RVs these days have propane and electric, like my HR Endeavor.

Using both at the same time makes for super fast recovery. We never run out of hot water if both are turned on.

[Larryect]

Using the electric option could reduce propane use even if it doesn't eliminate it. No reason you can't use both.

[balfre1946]

Thanks everyone..we take long showers so I guess we will stick with propane.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

I installed the Camco heating element in our B+ this past spring before our trip to Alaska. Took me about an hour to install, including locating an electric source, mounting the thermostat on the tank and switch. The installation instructions to me were quite well put and were plug and play as far is the wiring went. We used very little propane running the water heater on our trip, plus the Camco conversion could supply enough hot water for a shower and another a 15 minutes later. This was quick shower, not a 15 minute shower.

[Dutch_12078]

If you really want your hot water to be totally electric, you'd be better off replacing the existing LP only heater with a combination LP/electric unit that's designed to run on electric only. Any RV repair shop would be happy to do the job for you. At a price of course...

[enblethen]

This one is a much easier to install.
I am not too thrilled with the add- on elements, but it is your choice.
Hott Rod
You can run a separate cord from your power pedestal to operate it. Saves additional load going through the rig's electrical system.

[John___Angela]

Good morning. You would be able to use this exclusively but a few cautions. The BTU output of the electric element is about a 1/4 of that of the propane burner so recovery of the tank will be much slower. You also need a dedicated breaker in your panel as they use upwards of 7 to 11 amps depending on manufacturer.

Good luck and happy trails.

[Old-Biscuit]

The LINK that 'enblethen' provide does show the installation.

You have to supply an 110V AC outlet for rod to plug into.
The kit has it's own ON/OFF switch and a temperature control thermostat (T-stat) that you cut a hole in the tank insulation and mount the t-stat against tank wall.
The rod screws into the drain hole and the two plugs on end of rod get plugged into the t-stat and ON/OFF switch (Complete instruction in packaging)

Anode rod is a sacrificial rod that is used to protect tank from corrosion.
If you have an Atwood Brand water heater no anode rod is used/needed.
If you have a Suburban Brand water heater than it will have an anode rod that is part of drain plug. So if you remove the drain plug/anode rod to install the electric heating kit then you will need to get a kit that also has an anode rod as part of the heating element.

I don't know for sure but I think the Camco and Hott Rod Brands do not have anode rods....the Lightning Rod Kit does

Here is installation instructions for Hott Rod Kit........LINK

Same basic instructions regardless of brand.

These aftermarket heating rods are only 350 watts (OEM rods are 1500 watts) so the heating time will be much slower

[Larryect]

After installing it, you could shut off the propane to the water heater and just use electric. But, it may have a slower recovery rate. Sounds like you should have an RV mechanic/tech/center install it for you. You will need 120 volts near or run to the water heater. Or possibly run a seperate cord.

[balfre1946]

Old Biscuit, I appreciate your response but I have no idea what a t-stat or an anode rod are, and the tank wall is not visible. We do not want to use this supplementally. We live in our RV and want to use this to replace the use of propane. If this is not an easy plug in thing, it is not worth it for us. We barely know how to screw in light bulbs LOL!

[enblethen]

Not much information on website. No instructions or good pictures.
Camco Hybrid heat

[Old-Biscuit]

Didn't come with installation instructions?

The 'heating rod' goes in the water heater tank drain......then it should have a 't-stat' that goes against tank wall (to control the on/off of rod---temp control) and then you have to plug it into a 110V AC power source (outlet that you install)

You leave the propane heating system alone....use it as normal.
The electric rod is used as a supplemental heating source (when AC power is available)

If you have a Suburban Brand water heater you still need to use an anode rod.
Some of the aftermarket kits have a small anode rod that is part of heating rod.

FYI.....neither Suburban or Atwood recommend them.
Doesn't mean they can't be used.