I found this unit on ebay and it is perfect for a camper but it's 240 volts. It's made in Germany. I was wondering if someone out there smarter then me could look this up and tell me if it can be converted to 110 volts and work the same way.
I don't claim to be smarter than anyone, but I did look at the Australian website for this German-made heater featuring (according to the website) "Swiss technology"...
If they can be converted to 120 V, there are two methods I can think of offhand:
if there are two heating elements in series, they could be connected in parallel (unlikely)
perhaps the heating element can be replaced with one intended for 110 to 120V, if there is a version at our voltage for some other country (the element is so much of the heater, it seems unlikely to me that this would be economically viable)
Depending on model, the 230V units use 14 to 21 amps. If they can be converted to 120 V, for the same power it would use (for the same models) 28 to 42 amps. My whole trailer only has 30 amp capacity, so this may not be so promising.
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1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
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Interestingly, 240VAC is usually available at modern RV parks -- The 50Amp outlet is actually 240VAC (but the interior wiring on the Bulgemobiles separates it down into two 50A@120VAC circuits for running stuf like two airconditioners).
I found this unit on ebay and it is perfect for a camper but it's 240 volts. It's made in Germany. I was wondering if someone out there smarter then me could look this up and tell me if it can be converted to 110 volts and work the same way.
Have you considered a propane tankless heater? I had one years ago in a slide in camper that I had and it worked very well. After I replace my ice box with a refrigerator in my Burro this little heater is my next project.
Go to ebay and search item #110017699558. The last one sold for $181.00.
the dimensions are 11X17X4.
Hope this helps,
I had not realized until Pete's note (and some web research) that "50 amp" RV service was the same configuration as a 240 V residential circuit, like that used for a kitchen range. I like the idea of upgrading to 50 amp service, using the eBay water heater in stock form, and having hot water on tap only when in a suitably serviced site.
It doesn't address Denis's question about the Rezi unit, but I think the propane option is a valid alternative. The following photo is a propane-fired demand heater mounted to the wall over the stove in a Boler B1700RG. The owner (and hopeful seller) of the trailer describes it as a "Paloma propane model #PH-3-3F with a 38,100 BTU rating".
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1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
A house I lived in in Germany had no central water heater -- Instead, each sink (and dishwasher and washing machine) had its own electrical demand heater (like the ones above) connected to the hot faucet. HOWEVER, the bath/shower gas demand heater was piped into a single spigot with hot and cold controls -- In order to get a smooth flow of even-temperture water out of the single spout, the hot had to be turned fully on and then tempered to cool with lots of cold water -- Otherwise, the tankless heater would rapidly cycle on and off, and the off cycle would be a jolt of cold water.
The photo of the propane water heater is indeed a paloma.
I looked for a paloma to use in my rig but found they were out of production.
Though I still would have bought one, parts for repair would become scarce.
So I elected to install a Bosch Aquastar LP demand water heater and it is a great alternative. They are available through Lowe's or Home Depot or many other places.
Parts should be available since they are still in production.
We recently bought a Water On Demand by Coleman and it is a great alternative to going through the hassle of installing a water heater. If you are interested go to www.coleman.com
I once had photos of the install of the LP demand water heater but the thread was lost due to malicious hackers. Sorry. One day I'll take photos again.
Tom, could you show a picture of your tankless propane water heater? Venting and such? ...
This reminds me... I didn't show the outside view of that B1700. I have only seen the photos, but it appears that the heater has an exhaust vent through the wall in the vicinity of, or combined with, the range hood vent (between the door and the kitchen window, just below the porch light). Here's the only exterior shot I have:
The hot water, cold water, and propane lines seem to come into the bottom of the unit from the space between the range and the exterior wall.
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1979 Boler B1700RGH, pulled by 2004 Toyota Sienna LE 2WD Information is good. Lack of information is not so good, but misinformation is much worse. Check facts, and apply common sense liberally.
STATUS: No longer active in forum.
miabella wrote,"We recently bought a Water On Demand by Coleman and it is a great alternative to going through the hassle of installing a water heater. If you are interested go to www.coleman.com"
HI Maggie, I had looked at those (Zodi too) but did not want to go through the hassle of setting it up outside and running the water inside. Want all hot water components inside and minimal set-up time.
Thomas Haney wrote, "I once had photos of the install of the LP demand water heater but the thread was lost due to malicious hackers. Sorry. One day I'll take photos again."
Hi Tom, ok great, when you have a chance! Busy getting our egg ready for our first trip in two weeks. And have many, many things to get done. Hot water will come from the gas stove on this trip.
Donna D. wrote, "How about something in the InSinkErator line? Are you looking for hot water at the kitchen sink, shower or both?
We would use hot water for both kitchen sink and shower. We boondock in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Gitchigumi (Lake Superior) no power, no hookups...just extreme beauty. We stay for one week and I'd be concerned about an electric hot water heater draining the battery. I have been thinking about the solar system but we also camp in areas with lots of trees. Not sure that we could gain much in solar energy.
Really interested in those little propane instantaneous water heaters. MIght put one on my list for Santa. Just concerned about the exhaust.
Though I didn't get new photos there were some I had on an old thread and have attached them here.
My water is supplied by the 15gal sprayer tank shown. It fits under a scamp bench.
It pumps water to the Aquastar LP demand heater under the sink.
The heater is exhausted out the side through a vent hole. Photo shown has that vent hole capped between uses. During use I remove the cap and slide on an elbow extension that ducts heat up and away from side of vehicle.
I did have to make a little drop box by cutting out the floor because the Aquastar was a bit too tall for the under cabinet. This was no problem because the fresh air vent is now underneath the trailer and this uses no interior oxygen to run the system.