Hi Jennifer ….
I’d definitely stick with the water heater you have rather then changing over to the RV on-demand heater …for a number of reasons.
The Bosch/AquaStar & Paloma heaters have been around for a long time and have a great reputation. Plus it’s very easy to get replacement parts for them.
The RV-model is relatively new and pretty much doesn’t have much test info on it yet…plus you need to buy a bunch of different add-ons to make it work right in breezy or cold places.
Plus…there’s really no need to install it in a bus …because basically they’re designed to fit in the ‘Hole’ where the old water heater was in an RV.
So…stick with your model. It’s a MUCH better unit.
If you haven’t seen one …Here’s a link that shows what the RV-5000 Instant water heater looks like.
http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingP ... inpage.htm
I’ve seen lots of Paloma’s (basically no different then your model) installed in houses & a house truck down in Oregon…They’re typically installed over the toilet in the bathroom where they’re not in the way.
And for a bus, all you need to do is …install it up on the wall …cut the vent hole and install the vent …run a cold water line into the water heater and a hot water out line too…hook-up the propane line …and that’s about it.
As far as where the water comes from in an RV or Bus to make the water heater work…first there’s the ‘city-water’ inlet ( that’s where you plug in your hose at campgrounds or such for pressurized water )…then there’s the water tanks ( which feed the ‘house’ water lines ,using a 12-volt pump …when you away from ‘City’ pressurized water)
With an Instant hot water heater you don’t need to add any Hot Water holding tanks at all …that’s why they’re so Great.
They work by Cold water flowing into the heater …through a heavy copper line inside the heater…the water is ‘flash’ heated in the pipe …which flows out the line to your taps as hot water.
Before you try installing your heater ….make sure it’s an LP gas (propane) model and not a Natural Gas one.
If it is designed to run on Natural Gas …call the local rep and ask how you can switch it over to propane.
Usually that entails changing the gas nozzles & such…which isn’t hard to do.
Here’s a site to check out which Model you have…it should tell you if your heater designed to run off LP gas or not.
http://www.gaswaterheaters.com/aquastar/
Here’s the unit I think I’ll buy …
Aqua Star Model 125 HX
Robert Bosch, Inc., developed the 125HX patented hydro-generated ignition system that requires no standing pilot, electricity, or batteries. The Aquastar 125HX is the first tankless natural gas water heater to use this technology for pilot ignition. Hydro-generated ignition works much like the giant turbines in a hydroelectric dam using the flow of water to generate electricity. When a hot water tap is opened, cold water flows through the 125HX's hydro generator. The flowing water spins a tiny turbine, which, in turn, instantly produces electricity. This electricity creates the spark required to light the burners and the water is then heated as it passes through a copper heat exchanger. Choose the 125HX in either LP water heater or natural gas water heater.
http://www.houseneeds.com/shop/HeatingP ... .htm#125hx
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