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Can anyone recommend a tankless on demand water heater?

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer
I'm currently on 30A and would like to fill a soaking tub with hot water if possible. It would have to be hard-wired into my breaker box. I'm wondering if that's possible with the amps I have to work with. If everything else is off in the rig is there a unit that will allow me to fill a tub in 20-25 min. for a hot soak? I'm guessing it would have to be under 20 amps. I've seen some that are 60 and one tonight that is exactly 20 amps. Wondering if anyone ever tried doing this.

Thnks much...
39 REPLIES 39

John_Burke
Explorer
Explorer
CANNESDO wrote "Yes, thanks...that sounds good but what is the gallons per minute rating? If I don't have a good output the water in the tub will cool before the tub is full. That's the trick. Finding one with the output capacity that's w/in the Amp rating"

Fill your tub first and use a small pump with the Eccotemp or similar portable, tank less, propane water heater to circulate the water from the tub.
That way you can keep the water temp to your liking for as long as you want.
It is like a hot tub, they just circulate and heat the same water.

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer
MDKMDK wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
They do NOT make a 120 volt Tankless Water Heater for RV's. Doug

Was thinking the same thing. The only way I can think of to get instant, high volume, continuous flow, hot water in an RV, is from a propane fired device like a Truma AquaGo Comfort Plus.


Yay! Looks like Oregon has some of the softest water in the country. And I forgot, my hair is remarkably soft here. That's the easiest test for me. I've been on the road for 10 years and there are very few places where my hair feels this soft.

Looks like the average household tub fills at a rate of 7-9 GPM so I need to see if I can find a tankless gas water heater that can put out at least 6-7 GPM and preferably with 3/4" hoses, if possible.

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
Dang tootin'. The neutralizer is Caustic Soda. Rubber apron, gauntlet neoprene gloves, full MSE goggles, Full band face shield. The acid stays inside for a half hour. Then I dilute the caustic soda is a carboy. I dump the heater into the carboy and keep running. WOOSH!

There is a fire ant mount down on the gravel. They bite -- I bite.

With 66 degrees water and about 5 psi of gravity pressure an 1800 watt heater shower nozzle, I still have to throttle the water back to get it to a hundred degrees. I prefer mornings, the tinacas (reservoirs) had all night to cool down in the late spring. I suppose I should get a carboy and a pump and soften the water for the washing machine and shower. I wonder how much water is needed to soften a hundred gallons?

sempka
Explorer
Explorer
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Hard Earned tip

Use it with fairly mineral free domestic water and you will be pleased with its performance.

Use it with hard water and get depressed

These things deposit minerals on flow tubes like nothing I've ever seen.
Pre-treated softened water? Great.

I have three units that the kids used without my knowing it. Waiting for me to declog them when I get home. Hydrofluoric acid and a high Ph neutralizer


Be careful with that acid...
2000 Holiday Rambler Admiral

CFerguson
Explorer
Explorer
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Hard Earned tip

Use it with fairly mineral free domestic water and you will be pleased with its performance.

Use it with hard water and get depressed

These things deposit minerals on flow tubes like nothing I've ever seen.
Pre-treated softened water? Great.

I have three units that the kids used without my knowing it. Waiting for me to declog them when I get home. Hydrofluoric acid and a high Ph neutralizer


Thanks for posting this. I've been thinking of installing one (on its own circuit) but with traveling water, I can see where it wont work without a water softener (which is further than I care to go with this project).

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
20 amps x 120 volts = 2400 watts.


Unless you enjoy barely warm water.....a 20 amp heater is not going to do the job. It may be too much to ask of even a 50 amp RV.

The link provided suggests it may work for hand washing applications, and wants 3000 to 3500 watts.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

Chum_lee
Explorer
Explorer
Rather than building your own, I think you would be better off going on YouTube and watching a few "Wonderhussy" videos. Sarah knows the location every natural hot spring west of the Rockies. She visits them regularly and documents most of her adventures on YouTube. (no affiliation)

Chum lee

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
It's for the shed
It doesn't have to be RV certified
Get a high volume portable model, or outside residential model
That uses propane
I can explain it to you.
But I Can Not understand it for you !

....

Connected using T-Mobile Home internet and Visible Phone service
1997 F53 Bounder 36s

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer
cannesdo wrote:
MDKMDK wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
They do NOT make a 120 volt Tankless Water Heater for RV's. Doug

Was thinking the same thing. The only way I can think of to get instant, high volume, continuous flow, hot water in an RV, is from a propane fired device like a Truma AquaGo Comfort Plus.


Thanks! I'm thinking the same.


I called Truma and the flow output is too low for the water to stay warm and they are only certified for RV use. But I know there are others that run off of propane with higher flow outputs. I think propane is key. I'll let you know if/when I find the right one. 😉

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer
chast wrote:
Why not consider a tankless propane model? We use Eccotemp units at our vacation house. Simple hook ups to propane tank and garden hose and viola, you have endless hot running water as long as the propane and the water lasts. Great units, very durable, have lasted for years.


Yes, thanks...that sounds good but what is the gallons per minute rating? If I don't have a good output the water in the tub will cool before the tub is full. That's the trick. Finding one with the output capacity that's w/in the Amp rating.

chast
Explorer II
Explorer II
Why not consider a tankless propane model? We use Eccotemp units at our vacation house. Simple hook ups to propane tank and garden hose and viola, you have endless hot running water as long as the propane and the water lasts. Great units, very durable, have lasted for years.
chartrue2@aol.com

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer
Dick_B wrote:
We didn't have space for a Tankless Water Heater to fill our hot tub because the Baby Grand Piano was taking up all the available room.


Dear...Dick.

I've been on the road for 12 years with no bathtub. I miss it and since I'm sitting still and have a shed, why not. If you are a pianist and have gone 12 years without a quality piano I support you in installing a baby grand if you feel so inclined. It's America, right? And I'm 5'7" and would settle for a feed trough if it will allow me to get all the way under the water. It's cold and damp on the Oregon Coast and I no longer have a family and I would find it incredibly emotionally and physically soothing, especially around the holiday, to have a tub.

There. Can you accept that?

God forbid I should think outside the box. I'm sorry for you that you never have.

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer
MDKMDK wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
They do NOT make a 120 volt Tankless Water Heater for RV's. Doug

Was thinking the same thing. The only way I can think of to get instant, high volume, continuous flow, hot water in an RV, is from a propane fired device like a Truma AquaGo Comfort Plus.


Thanks! I'm thinking the same.

cannesdo
Explorer
Explorer
dougrainer wrote:
cannesdo wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
They do NOT make a 120 volt Tankless Water Heater for RV's. Doug


1. My neighbor had one attached which worked great (but he used it for showering.

2. It's not for my RV. It's for my shed.


That's OK, But WHY post on a RV forum????????? Doug


Because I'm in an RV next to the shed and it will be wired into my RV.