Just Bob
Connecticut
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Joined: 07/10/2007
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someone want or need a propane/electric hot water heater, if their coach is equipped with an aqua hot/hydro hot system?
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Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
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Joined: 03/13/2007
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Well, the electric heater would seem to be kind of useful when in a electric hook up is available, and in a campground. I believe the propane for all practical purpose is also part of the heater, and does provide and alternate fuel if you just need hot water. Propane is somewhat cheaper then diesel to make hot water. If you don't want to use then leave the switches off. Easy fix.
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Lug_Nut
Newmarket , Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 06/13/2002
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Many coaches that are equipped with Aqua Hot type heating also have heat pumps should they wish to heat their rig on hydro. This is, if the outside temperatures are about 40 or better.
Aqua Hot has no trouble in making lots of hot water when required, so I doubt anyone would opt to install a water heater.
'07 Newmar Essex 45' ISM 500 4 slides
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nelson
Clio,Mi USA
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Joined: 07/01/2002
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If someone is staying at a CG for just a few days and paying dally rate then the electric is part of the rate and they save LP.
2002 Damon Challenger 348 Ford V10
Blue Ox Auto Stop and Aventa II Tow Bar
2001 Ford Sport Trac with Remco Driveshaft Disconnect
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jvanloan
Mountaindale, NY
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Joined: 01/05/2004
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You all need to understand the Aqua Hot system. It has three sources of heat: Electric -- approx 5000 BTU, Diesel -- approx 50,000 BTU and Engine waste heat -- BTU unknown. It provides both domestic hot water and coach heat in three zones, each controlled by a thermostat. It also heats the basement. Electric and diesel sources are controlled by separate switches in the coach.
The electric heat is adequate for most uses, but high demands for hot water call for diesel to provide for continuous hot water over a period of time at high flows.
If you look at costs for fuel, diesel yields the highest BTU per dollar. I'm not sure which is next -- propane or electric, but electric is usually included by the campground so it is like free.
J Van Loan
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2Divers
Lakeland, Florida
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My Hurricane system does not have electric element, but does heat water if needed. My hwt runs on the hurricane, propane or electric. When in cold country below 40 degrees, (not often, LOL)I will run the hurricane. Normal camping, the electric is ok for normal water use. When we run shower or washer/dryer, we will use propane as supplement to electric. It is the versatility that we like about our system.
Bill
Bill (Driver) 
BUCS (SCW) USNR Ret. 
Helen (Navigator) 
Furry Kitty Kids
Linus 
Lucy 
Peaches 
2000 Country Coach Magna 40
2000 Grand Cherokee, Aventa II and Toad-Stop
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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Just Bob wrote:someone want or need a propane/electric hot water heater, if their coach is equipped with an aqua hot/hydro hot system?
Versatility!
If you run something such as AquaHot AND have propane...doesnt matter where you are you can get hot water and (furnace) heat in some manner without being a "nusance" to anyone close by.
If you are overnighting for example in some NF campground the hotwater heat can run on diesel fuel..sure...but all that I have stood and listen to were noisy ( Its a baby boiler is all) While my LP fired water heater ( remember..no electric now) sure isnt quiet by any means...the amount of water I need to heat is minimal..thusly its loud for a short time.
Is it NEEDED.?? NO! It just adds some degree of versatility is all.
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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Just Bob
Connecticut
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Sully and Joseph,
Thank you both for answering my question with clarity, and staying on track. I probably should have been able to figure out the answer myself, but I was drawing a blank.
Sure, this is your first DWI spot check.
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Just Bob wrote:Sully and Joseph,
Thank you both for answering my question with clarity, and staying on track. I probably should have been able to figure out the answer myself, but I was drawing a blank.
Bob: Versatility is one of the things I look hard at. And the MORE versatile a coach is...means that you do without some things...whether you really want them or not.
We dont want an all electric coach; or one with a W/D; No need for a hot water heating system or the giant reefer thats a 120 only model
If we were buying today..to get what we want would require buying used (and we have no problem with that) and Id get a 40 ft coach ( extra basement storage) dual slide ( bedroom and single living room..preferable galley slide) No tag axle model and with a larger engine so as to get a Jake Brake. The genset would be center mounted as CC does on models newer than my own.
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Rich D.
New England
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Joined: 03/10/2003
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jvanloan wrote:You all need to understand the Aqua Hot system. It has three sources of heat: Electric -- approx 5000 BTU, Diesel -- approx 50,000 BTU and Engine waste heat -- BTU unknown. It provides both domestic hot water and coach heat in three zones, each controlled by a thermostat. It also heats the basement. Electric and diesel sources are controlled by separate switches in the coach.
The electric heat is adequate for most uses, but high demands for hot water call for diesel to provide for continuous hot water over a period of time at high flows.
If you look at costs for fuel, diesel yields the highest BTU per dollar. I'm not sure which is next -- propane or electric, but electric is usually included by the campground so it is like free.
Exactly right. The AquaHot runs fine on electric alone for hot water, as long as the ambient temperature is above 60 or so. Since the boiler electric thermostat is set about 6 degrees hotter than the diesel thermostat, the diesel burner only comes on when the electric can't keep up.
Rich D. Wanderlodge LXi 43'
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