Since we are looking at different coaches and possibly upgrading, please help me understand the difference between these 2 systems. Is one easier to take care of?
It is the capacity. AquaHot is the larger of the two.
I think it is 5 or 6 gallons of antifreeze difference and a bigger system to accommodate it. I know I can heat water and run the heater with my aquahot but the hydro hot might be limited to only one of those functions at a time. It is a cheaper unit but many brands use them with great success.
Excellent! Thank you!
John is correct . C.C. used the Hydrahot system in their coachs.You could have heat in the coach or take a shower but not both.
My 08 Nimbus has the Oasis (Hydro Hot) model CH50B. My wife enjoys takeing long showers and runs the heating system concurrently. The bathroom has a seperate thermostate which controls two register fans located in the potty room and shower area. We had a chance last year in Canada to give it a good workout and was very satisfied with it.
The oasis system is different than the Aquahot hydro hot. They are the same in principal but the oasis matches the aquhot closer than the hydrohot. It has a spiral heating element that is suppose to transfer more heat. Interestingly, FT has gone back to Aquahot again.
Actually that's not quite true, the newest Nimbus has the Oasis. They both heat and have unlimited hot water. One is smaller than the other (oasis) and has a stainless construction. The Aquahot now comes with a white painted body and is very large. The Aquahot is an option I am told. I have had four Foretravel's and three have had the Aquahot. My current Phenix has the Oasis. The Oasis has much less diesel smell when running but has less capacity with electric only. The Aquahot worked fine as does the Oasis. In my opinion I would be happy with either.
I would describe the similarities and differences between the Aqua-Hot and Hydro-Hot units as follows:
The same.....
- Same 50,000 btu diesel burner.
- Same 1450 watt electric heating element.
Different....
- Aqua-Hot contains about 18 gallons of coolant vs. about 3 gallons of coolant in Hydro-Hot. The Aqua-Hot would store more heat energy for transfer to hot water when there is demand .
- Aqua-Hot will allow you to heat hot water @ 1.5 gallons per minute AND Heat coach AND preheat engine (if equipped with pre-heat loop).
- Hydro-Hot will allow you to heat hot water @ 1.5 gallons per minute OR heat coach OR preheat engine (if equipped with pre-heat loop). Hydro-Hot will stop heating coach (turns off pump and fans) and switch to making hot water as soon as there is a demand for hot water.
- Aqua-Hot is larger (18.5" H x 18.5" W x 36.75" L) (about 200 pounds dry) vs. Hydro-Hot (12"H x 18.5"W x 30"L) (105 pounds dry).
The Oasis is also a very fine system. It is not more efficient or more reliable, just different.
The Aqua-Hot uses the Webasto diesel burner. It uses a high pressure pump to spray diesel fuel into the combustion chamber. The Oasis uses a compressor to create a vacuum to draw the diesel fuel into the combustion chamber. Both systems use multiple thermostats, float switches, coolant pumps, fuel pumps and control boards making them complicated systems.
If I were to purchase a brand new coach, I would select the Aqua-Hot model 675-D. It has two electric elements, which allows most hot water / coach heating needs to be furnished by the electric elements.
If I were to purchase an older coach, I would prefer the Aqua-Hot 941 / AHE-100 / 600-D series of full size Aqua-Hot heaters.