Truma Hot Water (UltraRapid) - tips re ensuring you stop heating if tank empties
mixedup said
09:21 PM Feb 15, 2021
I'm just noting that wiht the Truma Hot Water (UltraRapid) system (Gas & 240V) if you forget to fill the tank or someone drains the tank and you try to operate the element it will burn out. Was wondering then:
a) Any tips / ideas on a way to protect against this? (noting the product doesn't)
b) Whilst freecamping if I got to the bottom of one of my water tanks I'm wondering whether the Truma Hot water tank probably wouldn't empty straight away anyway? As there'd be no water to pump through the system to push it through the hot water system. Is this correct? (i.e. then there might be a bit of a buffer there)
c) If somehow you did empty the hot water tank I know the 240V element still on would be an issue, but wondering if the gas to would be an issue? i.e. with no water does the gas light and run? (in which case would still be an issue)
thanks
Tony Bev said
09:31 PM Feb 15, 2021
Hi Mixedup
I have the Truma hot water system, which has a 240 volt heating element, and gas
Not knowing what type of RV you have, on my motorhome a Jayco Conquest build
It is a right royal pain in the backside, to change the 240 volt element
I make sure I have water in the tank, then heat the water, 240 or gas, then have my shower, and then turn the hot water system off
To do the dishes, I just boil the kettle
The method behind my madness is that
If the hot water heating elements are switched OFF, then they can not burn out
mixedup said
09:42 PM Feb 15, 2021
ok - just make a habit of turning on for just that minimal period
JeffRae said
07:12 PM Feb 16, 2021
We turn the 240 power off as well, and would only turn it onto gas if needed. I tend to always use the taps in the "hot" so the tank is always full of water
JeffRae
Mike Harding said
08:10 AM Feb 17, 2021
I cannot think of any simple way to fit after-market element protection to this, and similar, heaters.
I don't use the electrical heating side often but when I do I ensure I run both sink and en-suite hot taps for 10 to 20 seconds and ensure there is a good flow.
I *think* that once the water heater internal tank has been filled (when first used) it will never fully empty via the caravan taps even if the caravan main water tanks become empty - correction welcome?
As for heating an empty tank with gas; I imagine there would be a longer interval before damage occurred but it would probably, eventually, destroy the unit?
An abundance of caution is advised.
Radar said
11:18 AM Feb 18, 2021
Mike Harding wrote:
I cannot think of any simple way to fit after-market element protection to this, and similar, heaters.
I don't use the electrical heating side often but when I do I ensure I run both sink and en-suite hot taps for 10 to 20 seconds and ensure there is a good flow.
I *think* that once the water heater internal tank has been filled (when first used) it will never fully empty via the caravan taps even if the caravan main water tanks become empty - correction welcome?
As for heating an empty tank with gas; I imagine there would be a longer interval before damage occurred but it would probably, eventually, destroy the unit?
An abundance of caution is advised.
Hi. Without going out and laying in the wet as it is raining, I think my caravan has a "non return valve" near the water heater which in my uneducated thought process tells me that if you ran your tanks low that the pump was not pumping water, it would not empty the water heater because its up hill from the cold water storage.
Hope I wrote that right and we practice only using the water heater gas or electric when we are showering.
I'm just noting that wiht the Truma Hot Water (UltraRapid) system (Gas & 240V) if you forget to fill the tank or someone drains the tank and you try to operate the element it will burn out. Was wondering then:
a) Any tips / ideas on a way to protect against this? (noting the product doesn't)
b) Whilst freecamping if I got to the bottom of one of my water tanks I'm wondering whether the Truma Hot water tank probably wouldn't empty straight away anyway? As there'd be no water to pump through the system to push it through the hot water system. Is this correct? (i.e. then there might be a bit of a buffer there)
c) If somehow you did empty the hot water tank I know the 240V element still on would be an issue, but wondering if the gas to would be an issue? i.e. with no water does the gas light and run? (in which case would still be an issue)
thanks
I have the Truma hot water system, which has a 240 volt heating element, and gas
Not knowing what type of RV you have, on my motorhome a Jayco Conquest build
It is a right royal pain in the backside, to change the 240 volt element
I make sure I have water in the tank, then heat the water, 240 or gas, then have my shower, and then turn the hot water system off
To do the dishes, I just boil the kettle
The method behind my madness is that
If the hot water heating elements are switched OFF, then they can not burn out
JeffRae
I cannot think of any simple way to fit after-market element protection to this, and similar, heaters.
I don't use the electrical heating side often but when I do I ensure I run both sink and en-suite hot taps for 10 to 20 seconds and ensure there is a good flow.
I *think* that once the water heater internal tank has been filled (when first used) it will never fully empty via the caravan taps even if the caravan main water tanks become empty - correction welcome?
As for heating an empty tank with gas; I imagine there would be a longer interval before damage occurred but it would probably, eventually, destroy the unit?
An abundance of caution is advised.
Hi. Without going out and laying in the wet as it is raining, I think my caravan has a "non return valve" near the water heater which in my uneducated thought process tells me that if you ran your tanks low that the pump was not pumping water, it would not empty the water heater because its up hill from the cold water storage.
Hope I wrote that right and we practice only using the water heater gas or electric when we are showering.