Tankless water heaters

KC10Chief · 11-27-2007, 04:05 PM

I can't remember if this has been covered already, but I'm seriously looking at using a tankless, propane water heater in my bus. They take up a lot less room, use less gas, and you have an endless supply of hot water as opposed to just a few minutes like you would with a regular RV water heater. Does anybody have one in their bus? I'm looking at one of these babies on E-bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/LPG-Gas-10-Liter-Ta ... dZViewItem

I figure for the price, it's worth a shot. It's cheaper than an RV water heater as well. Also, does anybody use copper tubing for any of their water lines? I think Jake Von Slatt did for his shower. Any reason you should use copper and not just use PVC? Seems like PVC would be better. It doesn't corrode, sweat, and it's a lot cheaper. Thanks for your thoughts!

KC10Chief · 11-27-2007, 05:27 PM

HA HA! Seriously? Had you seen them before I posted the link? I'm still a couple months away from needing one, but I'll let you be the guinea pig and test it out! Let us know how it goes!

crazycal · 11-27-2007, 06:19 PM

I think that bus "Aimless Pursuit" had one. Here's a pic.

KC10Chief · 11-27-2007, 08:23 PM

Holy crap! That thing is huge. Anyways, I was going to make a thick wall between my bathroom and kitchen and put the water heater in there. I knew they had to be vented, but I wouldn't buy the installation kit. I figure you can find most of that stuff locally. If anything, you could use some automotive exhaust pipe. I'm not sure if there needs to be a clearance or not. From everything I've read, you should be able to use PVC for everything. These things heat the water to about 120 degrees. That's nowhere near hot enough to hurt PVC. I've also wondered about the RV shower heads they sell on E-bay that have heaters built into them. They sell for about $50.

KC10Chief · 11-27-2007, 08:27 PM

It looks like the installation kit is nothing more than some braided water lines and a couple fittings. You can probably find that stuff at a hardware store for cheaper than that.

swinada · 11-28-2007, 07:50 AM

We talked about these heaters here

http://www.skoolie.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2324

and here http://www.skoolie.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2071

COMA bought one and was going to report back to us with his experience, but so far we didnt hear from COMA yet. Maybe he is so frustrated with them that he gave up. I was holding off on buying because i read some not so good reviews about the Mary heaters.
The one in the picture above is a BOSCH and costs way way more money.

crazycal · 11-28-2007, 08:27 AM

Maybe you can adapt something like this. I think it would be cheaper.

lapeer20m · 11-28-2007, 09:04 AM

i just brought home my idea of a tankless hot water heater.....

(this isn't mine, just some photo i found online)

It's a 115K btu fuel oil boiler.

the_experience03 · 02-24-2008, 08:03 AM

Well...it's not as bad as the typical spammer's post.

Roasting8 · 02-24-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_experience03

Well...it's not as bad as the typical spammer's post.

Actually, his prices aren't bad. The only problem is; most of us are looking for propane types.

I actually tried the small shower type, a long time ago (about 40 years ago), and it worked pretty good. The only problem was, at that time, the reliability. The heater would only last about a year and the coils would give up.

I'm sure that, by now, the reliability has improved.

$45 for a small shower one, might be worth a try.

BTW, did you check out the passive water heaters?

Roasting8 · 02-24-2008, 09:35 AM

Wow, I just noticed the shipping charges. $50 shipping, would make the small shower one, $95.

oldog12 · 02-25-2008, 06:57 PM

The RV-500 is the only LP tankless water heater made for an RV/Skoolie.... It's just a LITTLE pricey....
http://houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingProdu ... inpage.htm

swinada · 02-26-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldog12

The RV-500 is the only LP tankless water heater made for an RV/Skoolie.... It's just a LITTLE pricey....
http://houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingProdu ... inpage.htm

WOW that is pricey....$1000 bucks.....not for me, I guess I reuse the old 5 gallon heater from the camper.

oldog12 · 04-01-2008, 01:41 PM

Did you happen to notice those Titan units require 150PSI water pressure?

I'm not sure, but I don't think my system will do that....

oldog12 · 04-01-2008, 01:54 PM

CRAP...

I have to remember to puy my reading glasses on when I'm at the computer... Water pressure required is 5-150 PSI.... MY BAD...

oldog12 · 04-01-2008, 05:27 PM

...BTW, for what its worth, some time ago, I was reading on some sailing forum that those electric water heaters barely get the water tepid...

oldog12 · 04-02-2008, 11:48 AM

I hope I wasn't misunderstood... I too am examining the tankless water heater option. I have ruled out the electric one pretty much because of the immense power draw and skimpy production of hot water in an RV/Sailboat environment.
A couple of fellas have installed propane fired tanless water heaters that are/were on this forum including one that installed an RV-500. You can find their handiwork in the photo gallery...

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