Stick & Brick Remote Water Heater Control?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

• 
  Present water heater is new 16 gal with old fashioned twist the dial thermostat
• It is a 300' trip
• No lights because no 120vac available
• Meaning ducking two clotheslines, using a flashlight
• Upgrading to a 45 Kg tank
• Supply line to shower is buried bare in 14' concrete
• Meaning for enough hot water for shower it takes max heating of all 16 gallons
• Water heater is a pig it sucks 20 gallons in 3 weeks if left on high 24/7.

Am I spinning my wheels trying to find some kind of wireless or even wired remote thermostat that is a plug-n-play replacement for the grand-double hike manual now in place? I tried one tank's worth trudging through cold pitch black rain and manual shutoff means a 4x savings.

You do not want to know the price of gas or the hassle involved in getting any tank refilled. The owner of the rental just h-a-d to set the "boiler" on the ground with the controls 6" from the concrete. Of course the heater is outside and cold winter winds help suck all the heat out.

If I could "twist the knob" especially after 8:00PM and control it remotely it would save me back and forth trips.

The heater has an old fashioned thermocouple controlled always on pilot light. Don't care about that. Want to adjust the temp up and down. Remember the parts about Pitch Black access, Extensive length of bare hot water pipe buried in concrete. Then at times driving rain 😞

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I am going to first of all, insulate the water heater with the highest R-value insulation. R-11. Then see if a "25 gallon" cylinder of "gas" can last however many months. If it displeases me then I will go with the tank valve servo kit.

This oceanfront area of northwestern Mexico is infamous for almost all day long winter fog and names like Gray May and June Gloom. So a solar preheater is an oxymoron. Thanks for the suggestion PT. The last time the gas ran out was when I was presented with the classic "minute and a half" ultra soft boiled eggs. Interesting breakfast.

[wa8yxm]

Question .. Why do you need to twist the dial and. HOW FAR

THere are many 12 volt DC "Servo motors' some are "Linear" some are rotary

Screw a rod (Arm) onto the knob or attach by whatever means needed for small turns (like 90 degrees or less) and mount teh LInear push/pull motor (like a door lock motor from a car) to move the thing through a linkage.

or use a Stepper motor for up to 360 Degree movement and an Ardrino to controll it.

[pianotuna]

Any chance of using solar to at least preheat the water going to the tank?

[Naio]

That makes sense to me, that tankless wouldn't be good with a lot of mineral deposit. And not your

[MEXICOWANDERER]

It sits in a narrow eight foot wide 200' long alleyway. Exposed, outside. I checked out tankless and they seems to mineral clog within a few months*. The tank heaters can be blown down occasionally. And it seems demand heaters prefer not to be outdoors. This is the landlord's house.

* The day I checked out the house before renting I found the hot water supply to the shower to be plugged solid with mineral deposits. The owner hired someone to dig out 14' of pipe in the concrete wall and replace it. I guess the water can be considered "hard".

When I depart so does any control circuit and the original reinstalled.

[Naio]

Before ordering parts for a shutoff, it might be useful to compare to the price of a tankless. They have come down a lot. You don't need the whole house kind, just the point-of-use small one.

[Naio]

I wouldn't worry about finding a specific insulation kit for the heater. Just use any old fiberglass batt, wrap with plastic and duct tape.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I wonder about the type of pipe thread for bushings?

[shastagary]

how about a ball valve adapted to the main burner tube with one of these to turn it on and off Automatic Manipulator Shut Off Valve

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Online answer from vendor

Hello, unfortunately I wouldn't recommend any of our valves for gases that low of pressure

In order to not be guilty of my obsession about insulation I will avoid being a hypocrite and do an R-11 insulation kit first.

Then a gas valve if deemed necessary,

[time2roll]

I was thinking something like this at $40:

https://www.electricsolenoidvalves.com/1-2-110v-ac-electric-brass-solenoid-valve

I assume 1/2" is enough but you will need to check the threads on your valve.
Also appear to be available in 12v and 24v if low voltage is preferred.
I have not entertained a project exactly like this. Just a random thought came to mind. I have replaced and connected few gas valves.

Another thought would be to adapt a gas valve for a fireplace that includes a remote. I have two of these at home and they work great in a fireplace.... Doubt the range of the remote would be much over 15' though.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Your voice speaks loud with me Chris Bryant. OK for an ordinal...?

Wrap tank around and top with Reynolds aluminum foil, then attach a thermal blanket that fits a 16 gallon heater? This means insulating the top except where the burner hat is. There is a Home Despot right next to Wal-Mart where I get my Rx's filled in gringolandia. Or is it better to shop online for a better quality or value blanket kit?

The problem with such a small reserve is the Delta T of around (?) 100F with incoming water. The heater has to be set on max temp or I do a navy shower like I do in the rig. But in the rig the Delta T is like 30F

I rigged up a recirculating hot water system in the bus. But now I have one functioning hand...

Is there a hose shower head that is easily manageable with one hand? I know this is wandering from the original subject line but the circumstances are reversed. The bus tank has limited water but an 83 gallon motorfuel tank. Here it is unlimited water but a 100 lb tnk.

The gas truck comes a couple of days after I call them to exchange tanks. They light off the water heater. But they show up anytime inside working hours in those couple of days. Means staying home while maintaining a vigilant eye on an unlocked patio gate to meet up with them. This is a real PITA and want to minimize it. A 0645 wakeup is too early for me.

Two houses share 30 amp TOTAL 120vac service drop so en electric heater is out of the question.

Insulation blanket

Flexible shower head hose

Lousy internet connection

[Chris_Bryant]

Insulate! The pilot should keep the water hot with no main burner unless you are using hot water.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Thanks for staying with this time2roll

Any vendor catalog recommendation? Solenoid control voltage? I've seen expensive LPG solenoid valves for boats. How would you configure the easiest to install setup? Control voltage would originate inside the house.

Is it necessary to use special flared tubing (and all the usual newbie questions)?