Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: How to use the AquaHot when driving (Read 608 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from Aquahot Preheating Wi...

How to use the AquaHot when driving

Hi Rudy,

OK. So at the end of the days travel we have hot water. Nice feature.

Is the hot water in the fresh water circuit in the same circuit as the hot water that circulates thru the AH?

Does the AH need to be on, in the salon, for example, to heat the salon with the small finned AH radiators while driving?

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #1 –
When I drive in the winter I just turn the furnace on at the control panel for all three zones. The engine heat is 180 and not the 220 that the AH heats to but it is plenty warm for driving.

You do not have to do anything else as you are using engine heat to heat the inside of the coach. You do want to watch your engine temps though but I rarely will get below 176 even with all the zones firing.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #2 –
We wondered if the AH actually heated the coach while driving.  Thermostat set at 68 in the LR and the LR never seemed to get/stay warm.  Then we discovered that with the dash heat on the LR thermostat wasn't often calling for heat.  So when we are driving and we want the LR to be warmed by the AH we set the thermostat to 74° or 75° or higher and we get heat.  Nice. Bathroom and BR aren't influenced by dash heat.  We might turn on the bath but usually not the BR.  The heat is there, why not use it if you want.  Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #3 –
The engine heats the AH coolant anytime it is running.

AH coolant can be circulated to the fan coils based on thermostats calling for heat.  All hot water comes from hot AH coolant.

Engine heating is normally not enough capacity for a shower but good for hand washing.  Engine heating capacity will heat the interior and utility basement down to 50 or maybe 45 degrees F.

For heating needs greater than that, turn on the diesel burner which is fine while driving.  So traveling in freezing weather, diesel burner on, thermostats set to your liking and away you go.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Rudy –
Engine heating is normally not enough capacity for a shower but good for hand washing. 

Rudy - I hesitate to disagree, and it obviously depends on AH model and personal expectation, but we find engine heating after a 2-4 hour drive in moderate weather provides more than ample hot water for both our showers and any other needs for the evening/morning when we're moving from one location to the next.  In our coach we don't need to run the AquaHot unless we're staying more than one night.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Rudy - I hesitate to disagree, and it obviously depends on AH model and personal expectation, but we find engine heating after a 2-4 hour drive in moderate weather provides more than ample hot water for both our showers and any other needs for the evening/morning when we're moving from one location to the next.  In our coach we don't need to run the AquaHot unless we're staying more than one night.

You sure you do not have some 110v heating input?  Seems an extreme amount of btu's stored in a small volume at 185 degrees or so.  But maybe your unit has a bigger internal tank and/or better insulated?

Insulated lines would also increase efficiency.  Interesting....
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
You sure you do not have some 110v heating input? 

Nope.  just cruising down the road for the day, stopping in time for happy hour.  No problem doing the dishes at night, after breakfast, or each taking a reasonable shower in the morning.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #7 –
Michelle,

No disagreement here.  There are those that can and those that can not.  But unlimited hot water is only specified by running the diesel burner.  Even better if one can shower on electric only or while running the engine.  Good for you all.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Nope.  just cruising down the road for the day, stopping in time for happy hour.  No problem doing the dishes at night, after breakfast, or each taking a reasonable shower in the morning.

Just for my info files about what is possible does your overnight use involve any space heating?

Me personally I would turn off the inverter overnight to see if the results repeated themselves.

Almost think a vacuum insulated tank would be required to last overnight.

But then again have not tested ours that same way.

Testament to the design of the Aqua Hot in general. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Just for my info files about what is possible does your overnight use involve any space heating?

Me personally I would turn off the inverter overnight to see if the results repeated themselves.

No heating.  If we need heat it *might* be heat pump.  Inverter is in a completely different bay than the AH and is not actively "inverting".

We've had the coach 11 years and it has always been like this - plenty of hot water after we drive.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #10 –
I guess it depends on your expectations and demands.  We have pretty much the same experiences as Michelle.  Driving 4-5 hrs and we are easily good overnight.  Four months this winter past and we ran the AH on diesel maybe five times.  Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Home2fromHastings –
I guess it depends on your expectations and demands.  We have pretty much the same experiences as Michelle.  Driving 4-5 hrs and we are easily good overnight.  Four months this winter past and we ran the AH on diesel maybe five times.  Roger

Yup - we run it on diesel at least once a month because we "should" and to keep fresh fuel in the lines, but we have gone months and never needed more than electric for our hot water needs (these months being between April and November when nighttime temperatures don't dip below the mid 40's or so).
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #12 –
I can keep the coach warm when driving even in the 20s and I too can take a shower as well after stopping but when it is cold out I do turn on the diesel side. This past winter we were traveling in jan and had to turn on the diesel side as it was a high of 5 degrees it that is the exception and not required down to about 20 degrees. This has been overt wo coaches and ten years with AH.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon
 

Re: How to use the AquaHot when driving

Reply #13 –
We get pretty much the same results as Steve and Michelle with our unit. Of course, ambient tempatures has a lot to do with that.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel