Tankless Water Heater as Heat Source

[dustboy]

Just scanned your cabin thread, what a nice piece of work. Nothing like having a place where you're guaranteed complete peace and quiet. Even boondocking in the trailer it seems like the places we used to be able to count on for solitude, have gotten overrun by yahoos.

Enjoy!

[Shadow Catcher]

I have contemplated this for some time, but will not likely actually do it as my internal thermostat seems to have broken when I had the heart attack. We have a 6 gal water heater with aluminum tank and adding an aluminum automotive heater core and computer case fan for air circulation would not be difficult cost of a new heater core is not all that great (about $50)

And a 12V hot water circulation pump at about $20

[len19070]

Atwood sells a 6 gallon RV water heater with a Heat exchanger already built into the tank. Model #GCH 6A 10E, so that the RV's engine could heat the water in the water heater while driving without igniting the water heater. (using the engines heat)

This could be used in Reverse as I have seen it done back in the late 80's early 90's.

Without being hooked to the engine of course.

This is a way of doing this with Propane (and or Electric) But in my opinion if you have Electric...just use an electric heater?

http://www.easternmarine.com/atwood-gch ... -kit-96163

Page 12.

http://manuals.adventurerv.net/Atwood-W ... ervice.pdf

Happy Trails

Len

[lrrowe]

len19070,
Thanks, this offers another interesting possible solution to the project. No external heat exchanger needed and no water contamination issue if you accept the premise that if the internal heat exchanger is good enough to warm up the water in the tank while driving, then it is good enough to work in reverse. Too bad one could not find out the efficiency of the exchanger.

The premium for this model over one lower cost Attwood 6 gal unit (one I found with after a quick search) is about $130 more. I will add up the cost of my various options and see which is the best cost wise.

Bob

[len19070]

len19070,
Thanks, this offers another interesting possible solution to the project. No external heat exchanger needed and no water contamination issue if you accept the premise that if the internal heat exchanger is good enough to warm up the water in the tank while driving, then it is good enough to work in reverse. Too bad one could not find out the efficiency of the exchanger.

The premium for this model over one lower cost Attwood 6 gal unit (one I found with after a quick search) is about $130 more. I will add up the cost of my various options and see which is the best cost wise.

Bob

Everything is a trade off Bob.

And by the way, I wasn't looking for prices when I posted this. Just information. You may be able to find it cheaper now that you have a Model number.

Eastern Marine is not an economical place to buy things...Its that word "Marine" that gives it away.

Happy Trails

Len

[Prem]

KISS = Keep It Super Simple

KIL = Keep It Lightweight

[len19070]

KISS = Keep It Super Simple

KIL = Keep It Lightweight

This is a way of doing this with Propane (and or Electric) But in my opinion if you have Electric...just use an electric heater?

Happy Trails

Len

[lrrowe]

I for one will only admit at this time to have only one fault. I cannot keep it simple either in my computer programs, my house construction, my shad tank or anything else I do. What the heck, only one fault that I admit is not that bad is it.

But I do have a very simple back-up solution and that is my Mr. Buddy heater....I know that will keep me plenty warm enough. Just do not have what it takes at this time to run it all night. But who needs heat while tucked in a good sleeping bag anyway?

In case you are wondering what a shad tank is, here is a shot of it. I catch Gizzard Shad and Alewifes and use them for Striped Bass fishing here at Smith Mountain Lake.


Bob

[Prem]

Prem

[dustboy]

Atwood sells a 6 gallon RV water heater with a Heat exchanger already built into the tank. Model #GCH 6A 10E, so that the RV's engine could heat the water in the water heater while driving without igniting the water heater. (using the engines heat)

This could be used in Reverse as I have seen it done back in the late 80's early 90's.

Without being hooked to the engine of course.

This is very smart, whether it is used as intended or in reverse as a heater. I love efficiency; sometimes all it takes is a clever head.

[piperpilot3tk]

Lots of off road guys build hot showers using a water to water heat exchanger plumbed in line in the heater hoses of their vehicles.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3x8-10-Plate-31 ... 35cc5b8885

It would be easy to make a system like this with very few parts, all you need is the heat exchanger, 12 volt water pump, and some hoses and fittings. You could heat water at the vehice then store it in the CT for heat, or you could plumb the water system in the trailer to connect to the heat exchanger in the vehicle with some hoses and quick disconnects such as the ones used on pressure washers.

[lrrowe]

I agree about the heat exchanger idea. I used one (but a 4 times the cost one) for my radiant in floor heat in my house. With a 110 degree in temp, the other side leaves at no worse then 100 degrees. A very good ratio in my thinking. I left a post to this fact earlier.

So if one wants to use some hot water source, he/she now has two options for a radiator approach. One is with this heat exchanger mentioned above and the other is for the Attwood Hot Water Heater with an internal loop so the "waters" do not cross mix.

[piperpilot3tk]

Not sure I understand the point about the "waters mixing". All heat exchangers I am familiar with do not mix the fluids but instead are separated by plates or flues.

[lrrowe]

I was trying to point out that one Atwood model has a separate set up of tubing that was went through the heaters hot water tank and was designed for one to use the TV's engine hot water to heat the RV tank and that in it's own way is a heat transfer device. See Len19070's earlier post. So it is another option. With the internal tubing for the designed engine coolant, the heater water and the engine cooling fluid do not mix. Hope that makes sense.

[len19070]

I was trying to point out that one Atwood model has a separate set up of tubing that was went through the heaters hot water tank and was designed for one to use the TV's engine hot water to heat the RV tank and that in it's own way is a heat transfer device. See Len19070's earlier post. So it is another option. With the internal tubing for the designed engine coolant, the heater water and the engine cooling fluid do not mix. Hope that makes sense.

Just one little correction.

These water heaters original use are for Motor Homes. A TV hook up would not be practical using your tow vehicles engine heat for a trailers hot water. Not that it can't be done!

As I said earlier I have seen this done before with this unit, by RV manufacturers in the 70's & 80's to heat the rear areas of motor homes while driving. A very simple gravity feed hook up, a Reservoir using Antifreeze and sometimes a fan, hooked to a strip of baseboard with a shut off valve when you didn't need heat.

Happy Trails

Len