Contemplating fitting a timer on the hot water system, so it is only heating the water for and prior to the shower period. Running 24hrs, via thermostat it seems to me to be a waste of energy, but also when on power, the element is going unnecessary during the day.
This would cut down the wear on the elements and thermostats, reduce the load at the post and van incoming power point.
I have a Suburban Hot Water Heater and only turn it on just before wanting a shower. On gas it turns off automatically after 30 mins and on 240v I turn it off after 30 mins. I need to apply cold water to the mix when having the shower. There is still plenty of hot water left to do whatever else I need to do for the day but is much cooler about 4 hours later.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Can you insulate the tank without causing a fire. This home hot water tank's 24 hour heat loss has dropped from 1.8kWh per 24 hours to 0.95kWh per 24 hours. It has an inner & outer layer of Aircell & R4 polybatt between the Aircell layers.
This is the result of our heater element being on for longer than necessary. Th e more calcium, the poorer the heating and the longer the element stays on. The insulation sounds a good idea, as the enclosure the heater is in gets quite warm, i.e. heat escaping.
Ian, not so long ago, I replaced the blown 240 volt heating element, in my Jayco built motorhome, with the Truma hot water system
It was such a pain in the backside, to get to the boiler to replace the element, that I will never use the 240 volt element again
We turn the gas side, of the hot water heater on, approximately one hour before we want hot water
After our showers, we turn the hot water system off
We use the kettle for hot water, for shaving/dishes etc
The 240 volt element did not have any calcium/lime on it
It was as clean as a whistle, apart from one spot, as big as a match stick head, which was rusty
The Truma has no anode, and as others above have already said, it has no insulation, so not much point leaving it on, all the time
Have the standard suburban in our Jayco.
I can't understand why Jayco has the 240v plug under the seat/cushions, so they expect you to go outside, open the door flap and then find the on/off switch which is hidden behind some pipes. Which is why I have had the 240v lead rerouted to a GPO which is easily accessible. We use the 240v when in van park and gas when free camping!
Hi Tony, did you know that Jayco now do not use this style of heater, but use a gas instant heater, no 240v heating. Probably in a bid to reduce weight, as we are all carrying around 21kg (21 lt.) of water unnecessarily.
Tree crest, our Jayco does not have an internal accessible switch that I know of, the only way to turn it on and off is as you say go out, lift the cover and find that little switch.
Most times we heat the water on the stove for washing up, to save water, so the only time we need a heatersupply is for using the shower.
I am going to pass over this idea, a timer would be running off 12v, and I need all the 12v we have when unpowered camping.
"This is the result of our heater element being on for longer than necessary. Th e more calcium, the poorer the heating and the longer the element stays on...."
Have changed scores of elements in domestic and commercial water heaters and have never seen one remotely like the one in that image. More likely the heater was mostly fed with bore water than normal town supplies
