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Re: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #25 –
The hot water heating spec for the Aqua Hot heater is "55 degree temp rise at 1.5 gallon per minute flow rate".

So 40 degree ground water will only get to 95 degress at 1.5 gallon per minute, cool shower.  Plus a fancy shower head flowing faster than 1.5 gallon per minute equals cool shower.

I agree using fresh water tank water helps provide hot shower in cold weather.  Plus refilling water tank each evening, not letting the fresh water tank get nearly empty, letting the new water warm up over night keeps tank temp up too.
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: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #26 –
I presume that 55 degree rise requires all of the BTUs being used to heat water, none wasted on interior or engine heating. And also requires electric plus diesel.

I learned this from Mark, our tail gunner tech rep on the Alaska Motorcade. That's when I started using tank water even with my conventional water heater. Well water piped through 40' of permafrost is a bit clilly.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #27 –
Tom,  Not knowledgeable enough to say how much interior heating demand would impact water heating.  The large heater in Unicoaches is normally able to heat water and interior at same time.  Not true for the 400 series in a  Nimbus.

Frigid conditions and cold ground water certainly challenge water heating
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: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Rudy –
The hot water heating spec for the Aqua Hot heater is "55 degree temp rise at 1.5 gallon per minute flow rate".

Is the Aquahot systems on all the Foretravel coaches 600D or equivalent? If not, what is the difference. I have seen 450D's and 600D's. Not sure what the 55 degree temperature rise would be associated with which one. Is there a higher temp rise or flowrate for the 600D's?
Future Foretravel Owners
2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Retired USAF, Retired DOD Civ's
FAA A&P, Indust. Eng., Acft Depot Lvl. Maint.
Larry and Becky Rountree

Re: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #29 –
Electric element is 5,000 btu's.  Diesel is 50,000 as far as I know.

A owner spent a full winter in Montana with foam around the coaches skirt with an aquahot U320.  Plugged in also. 

I think they added extra insulation in the windshield and window areas.

Heated water hose and running off internal tank I think. 

"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: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #30 –
What and how the Aqua Hot works for you depends on where you are and how you use it and what your expectations are. 

We have used our coach in a wide range of outside temperatures for more than 9 years.  Often below freezing.  We are comfortable heating the bedroom to 60 degrees and the living room to 68 degrees.  We will turn down the thermostat to 64 in the living room over night.  Unless it is less than 40 degrees we are on electric only.  In the morning the LR temps go from 64 to 68 in minutes.  And since the electric was on all night it is hot.  No problem taking a shower at any time.  And two in a row is OK. And the heat is on in the bathroom. 

We do not use the blower and heat exchanger in the dash, a simple switch to turn it off.  Much more uniform heat in the LR. The other fans run longer but not as often. 

Your experience may be different. You may want to heat the whole coach to much higher temperatures.  Maybe you want to take long showers.  What you want it to do for you and what your expectations are dictate what it will do. 

All of these stories about your big AH not heating the coach and letting you take a shower just are not our experience.  I don't think ours is any different, it is just how we use it.
 
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #31 –
Has anyone put in a 240 volt element in a Aqua-hot. At 240 volts a 2500 watt element could be put in.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #32 –
Not wanting to cause any conflict, not asking about inlet water temp verses tank water temp. Not asking about water hot enough to shower. Here is the questions:
Is the Aquahot systems on all the Foretravel coaches 600D or equivalent? If not, what is the difference. I have seen 450D's and 600D's. Not sure what the 55 degree temperature rise Rudy commented on would be associated with which one or even a different one. Is there a higher temp rise or flowrate for the 600D's?
Future Foretravel Owners
2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Retired USAF, Retired DOD Civ's
FAA A&P, Indust. Eng., Acft Depot Lvl. Maint.
Larry and Becky Rountree

Re: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #33 –
Newer Aquahot's  use double electric elements.
"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: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #34 –

  specs for 450D here: http://www.aquahot.com/products/RV/450D.aspx
                  600D here: http://www.aquahot.com/products/RV/600D.aspx
   
      Note as Bob said 2 electric elements in the 600D and a higher Continuous, Tank-less Hot Water 2.0 GPM
                                450D a single electric element and a Continuous, Tank-less Hot Water 1.5 GPM

   
Jim & Doreen
2003 U320

 "Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen"
― Louis L'Amour

Re: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #35 –
Quote from: master2301 –

Is the Aquahot systems on all the Foretravel coaches 600D or equivalent?

No.  Depends on the year/model of coach. 

Current model, new, large coaches have 600D equivalent.  IC has a 400D, maybe (believe that is a smaller model with no engine preheat).

Older coaches can have a roughly 450 equivalent or a Hydrohot (I believe that's what was used in some Nimbus coaches).  In between 2006 and 2014 or so it's going to be coach-specific what they might have put in.
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: Aqua Hot hot water

Reply #36 –
Thanks to all that responded. I was interested in knowing if what Rudy said about the 55 degree increase at 1.5 GPM was an Aquahot absolute or varied with model. Now I know that statement was directly associated to older discussed system.
Future Foretravel Owners
2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
Retired USAF, Retired DOD Civ's
FAA A&P, Indust. Eng., Acft Depot Lvl. Maint.
Larry and Becky Rountree