Adding Electric to Hot Water

[stevemorris]

our hot water heater is propane only, electric was extra

can I add an electric element(the hole is there), whats involved with the control circuits

[lc-12]

I installed the Hott Rod in my RV and use only that to heat the water for showers and dishes. No problems at all and keeps up with my needs pretty well.
If multiple showers, one after another, I will fire up the propane, but have yet to need to do that.

[ArticFox_676]

The hot rod can be left on and the water is ready for dishes etc. For showering we still need to turn on the propane also. Now we don't have to wait for the water to get hot can start showing right away and the propane keeps up.

[coolbreeze01]

I don't understand why they install gas only water-heaters. How cheap...

[mclark50]

We had the dealer add a Hott Rod to ours. We love it. We brought the plug to the inside of the camper and it is very convenient to just plug it in when we want hot water. We do not leave it plugged in all the time. It gets very hot. It does void the warranty, but we really didn't care.

[Bheffington]

There you go! I saw a kit at CW this weekend.

[Old-Biscuit]

YES you can install an aftermarket electric heating element in the water heater tank drain hole.

Kits are available.........Hott Rod & Lightning Rod are two that are available.
Remove drain plug, install heating element, hook up t-stat and plug it into a 110V AC outlet.
Will need to provide an outlet for the 110V AC power. Kit has everything else.

Two things to be aware of:
MFG. will VOID warranty if used
IF you have a Suburban Brand water heater you will need to get the Kit with one that provides an anode rod on it. There are much smaller than OEM rod so they will have to be checked/changed more frequently