Posted 2008-11-22 3:29 PM (#95230) Subject: Point of Use Water Heaters
Charter Member
Posts: 34 Location: Holland, Tx
Are these okay for water heaters in trailers (for sink/shower use)?
The first few times I stayed in my homemade weekender, the weather was nice and I wasn't desiring a steamy-hot shower so everything worked out perfect.
This last time - it was chilly and I wanted a hot shower. I'm not the quickest shower taker and I ran outta hot water the first time around (6ga. electric hot water heater - tank style).
I am usually always going to be the only person in the trailer so I don't need a whole bunch of hot water, but I don't want to run out either. I cannot remember why I decided against them when I first did the conversion, but if they are an adequate and simple solution to my hot water situation, I would definitely like to know so I can swap it out.
From looking around on the internet, it appears that there are "tankless" water heaters & "point of use" water heaters that both provide hot water on demand as opposed to the time my type of water heater needs to heat such a small amount of water.
Honestly, I don't even know if my generator can handle the power required. I am pretty sure it would, but the tankless ones I've found are 50 amp/240 volt and I don't think my trailer is wired for that.
Posted 2008-11-22 3:59 PM (#95231 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Veteran
Posts: 285
Mandi, the trick to showering with a small water heater is turn on water, get wet, shut off water, lather up and then rinse. I have had up to four people shower right in a row and still have hot water left using this method.
Posted 2008-11-22 4:24 PM (#95232 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
Pretty much all the electric tankless heaters are going to be too much for most generators. Amps X Volts = Watts So the 30amp 240volt needs a 7200 watt generator or better to run it, that's bigger than most people have plus the trailer isn't wired for 240.
If I remember correctly there are some gas tankless heaters that could possibly do the job, I can't remember who makes them. I remember your thread.... if you can find it I think I may have put some links for the gas water heaters on there.
You could also go for a 10 gallon tank heater, I've never run out of hot water with mine.
Posted 2008-11-22 7:37 PM (#95238 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Member
Posts: 33 Location: Bloomington, IL.
We have a Kiefer with a weekend package and showered 3 without problems. We were some what conserving as this is our first LQ trailer and didn't know what to expect. This is a gas water heater with 6 gal capacity. I was told if we didn't have enough hot water there is a kit to add electric as well and can heat with both at same time. I was thinking this would be a good idea if plugged in it could save propane. Rod
Posted 2008-11-22 8:01 PM (#95239 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Charter Member
Posts: 34 Location: Holland, Tx
Yeah, I shut the water off while doing various things - AFTER the first time I ran out (I was there for 4 days - lesson learned quickly LOL). I just wanted to find an alternative that may make life easier.
I'm sure gas would be easier, but the weekend package is about complete and revising for gas would probably be way too complicated for me.
No big deal. Just thought I'd ask. I kinda figured there was a reason I didn't go this route the first time around.
Posted 2008-11-23 3:09 AM (#95242 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Veteran
Posts: 119 Location: Fort White, Fla.
Mandi, I am about to turn mine in too a weekend after we get back from a camping trip with are horses and there are tankless water heaters out there that run on 110 and 30 amps or less and they plug into a 110 socket or hard wired in, that would work just fine at lease for me anyway, I find several one there, but I'm just not sure witch one is the better unit, look on ebay or type in tanklees water heater for RV's and they can put out as much as 2.8 gpm, check out this web and look at the Eemax marine/rv models and they have others too, the web is www.designerplumbing.com Good Luck Jim
Posted 2008-11-23 3:18 AM (#95243 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
New User
Posts: 1
Location: KC MO
Here's a link to the one we're installing in our trailer for a cowboy shower. It's only $120.00. It does say not for indoor use however, i'd just recommend using an overhead fan while it's running. this was recommended by several people who installed them in campers and weekend cabins on another forum.
Posted 2008-11-23 9:58 AM (#95244 - in reply to #95243) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Charter Member
Posts: 34 Location: Holland, Tx
Originally written by jtt3kc on 2008-11-23 3:18 AM
Here's a link to the one we're installing in our trailer for a cowboy shower. It's only $120.00. It does say not for indoor use however, i'd just recommend using an overhead fan while it's running. this was recommended by several people who installed them in campers and weekend cabins on another forum. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=477229
I don't know how it would work conveniently for campers already equiped with showers, but it definitely wouldn't work for my trailer...just because of my setup. I really think it is more for primitive type camping where showers are more in "the open". My shower is in the living area of my trailer...
Posted 2008-11-23 10:02 AM (#95245 - in reply to #95242) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Charter Member
Posts: 34 Location: Holland, Tx
Originally written by Horsemen on 2008-11-23 3:09 AM
Mandi, I am about to turn mine in too a weekend after we get back from a camping trip with are horses and there are tankless water heaters out there that run on 110 and 30 amps or less and they plug into a 110 socket or hard wired in, that would work just fine at lease for me anyway, I find several one there, but I'm just not sure witch one is the better unit, look on ebay or type in tanklees water heater for RV's and they can put out as much as 2.8 gpm, check out this web and look at the Eemax marine/rv models and they have others too, the web is www.designerplumbing.com Good Luck Jim
FABULOUS!!!! Thanks so much. I googled tankless water heaters for hours, but never thought about the "for RV" part of my search. oops.
Posted 2008-11-23 8:03 PM (#95278 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Missouri
My trailer had the same type tank heater when I bought it but I wanted something that didn't take so long to heat up when using the generator. I just installed a Ariston 2.5 gallon tankless heater. It runs on 110 volt and my generator handles it just fine. I ordered it from Home Depot online.
Recently four females showered and we all have long hair and everyone had hot water. Best money I have spent in a long time.
Posted 2008-11-23 8:53 PM (#95280 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
New User
Posts: 1
I have a tankless and it works great, except if you are in an area that is really cold. We went to Waco last year and it was in the 30's and we never had hot water the whole weekend. The water was just too cold to heat. Other than that, it takes up little space, doesn't trip the breaker unless everything else is running too.
Posted 2008-11-24 11:53 AM (#95290 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Charter Member
Posts: 251 Location: Holland, Tx
Now let's see if I am understanding them correctly...?
The tankless heats as you use the water. The faster or more it heats, the more energy supply it will need.
The point of use (Ariston) has a small holding tank & heats quickly so I would have hotter water more readily available while staying within my energy consumption range.
Posted 2008-11-25 3:05 AM (#95319 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Veteran
Posts: 119 Location: Fort White, Fla.
I don't know too much on the energy rating, I do know that as the water pass throw it, it heats the water up and gives you hot water and they use a lot of wattage to power them so you need to see with the wattage it pull and I looked up the Ariston 2.5 gal unit and it sounds like it is a small water tank that kept's the water hot put it is a big unit measuring 14"x14"x10-1/4" and is for only one sink, if you are looking for hot water in the sink and shower you will need a bigger unit but even still you will not be able to operate both at the same time in a compact size I am going to call today about the Eemax marine model today and find out more about it but what I have read about it, it sound like what you and I are looking for that can run the sink and shower
Posted 2008-11-25 10:19 AM (#95334 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Charter Member
Posts: 251 Location: Holland, Tx
I don't think the Ariston heater is any larger than the 6g. tank-heater I have now. Maybe even a hair smaller...that's why it is still a possibility for me.
Posted 2008-11-25 4:57 PM (#95358 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Veteran
Posts: 119 Location: Fort White, Fla.
I won't be running the sink and shower at the same time either, I am taking about the hook up of the unit, I don't think you can hook up two separate things but I am not sure it just takes up more space than other ones and when you don't have much as it goes now every little bit of space count
Posted 2008-11-25 5:05 PM (#95359 - in reply to #95358) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Charter Member
Posts: 251 Location: Holland, Tx
Originally written by Horsemen on 2008-11-25 4:57 PM
I won't be running the sink and shower at the same time either, I am taking about the hook up of the unit, I don't think you can hook up two separate things but I am not sure it just takes up more space than other ones and when you don't have much as it goes now every little bit of space count
Won't you just run one line out of the heater the same as you would from a regular water heater and then put in "T's" whereever you need it to go to another faucet (sink or shower)?
That's how my line is run now. I have one line coming out of the water heater. It runs a short distance and then there is a T fitting. One goes up to the sink faucet and the remainder goes on to the shower head.
Posted 2008-11-26 1:22 AM (#95365 - in reply to #95359) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Veteran
Posts: 119 Location: Fort White, Fla.
That is the way they are all run, and that is the way my tankless water header in my house is run but in the desperation it said's a one point outlet and for a single sink I need to make some phone calls I have been busy lately trying to get ready to go to Fiddler Green Ranch at the Ocala National Forest this weekend with are horses and I will find out more about them I just what to make sure that I am going to get the right one and do the job and is not going to take up to much space
Posted 2008-12-03 5:46 AM (#95645 - in reply to #95626) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Veteran
Posts: 119 Location: Fort White, Fla.
Not yet but I will try today I have been busy I just got back from camping and riding the trails in Ocala National Forest and than started to tare out the inside of my dressing room to convert it and I will let you now
Posted 2008-12-03 5:10 PM (#95694 - in reply to #95626) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Veteran
Posts: 119 Location: Fort White, Fla.
Eemax's rep's said that there 110 unit only heats it up 27 degrees higher and that I would not be happy with it and the only other units are 220 volt so back to the drawing board and still looking
Posted 2014-02-02 9:37 PM (#157308 - in reply to #95230) Subject: RE: Point of Use Water Heaters
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Aubrey, TX
All the reviews I've been reading say that these electric point of use only heat the water up 30 degrees. So if your water source temp is 40-50 degrees, the temp of your water will only be 70-80 degrees. That's a cold shower. I'm very disappointed. I didn't want to haul around LP tanks-they make me nervous.But now, if I'm doing an LP tank, I can get a little fridge & microwave, as I may have to live in it for a few months until my house is built.
Point of Use Water Heaters
