Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Topic: Rebuilding Aqua Hot (Read 6004 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #25 – March 12, 2020, 06:17:56 pm

If you have mini hose clamps anywhere they use a 1/4 socket.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #26 – March 12, 2020, 06:19:01 pm

If you have any mini hose clamps they use a 1/4 socket.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #27 – March 13, 2020, 04:48:03 pm

Old guy, yes there is a mini hose clamp on the overflow line on top of the AH. It also takes a 1/4" socket to remove the screws that hold the high limit switches on.

Not much accomplished today. I spent the day chasing down copper coil in stock and getting the proper fittings to connect them. I wanted a 100' coil, none in town and delivery would be 4-6 away, so I went with 2 50' coils which I found at an HVAC supply. Tried 6 different places, no one could exactly match the old copper tube. It may have swollen and stretched in it's 24 years of usage.

The saga continue's

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #28 – March 13, 2020, 05:04:00 pm

Larry,

When you start to wind the coil around the tank be aware that where you solder the two sections together that area will be harder to wind around the tank due to the heating of the copper. With care it can be wound without kinking this area. It also works better to swedge this connection rather than using a coupling.

Mike

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #29 – March 14, 2020, 07:50:24 am

Thanks Mike. I've flared copper but never swedged copper before. I just watched a couple of you tubes. I might haver to try that.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #30 – March 14, 2020, 07:58:26 am

Swage | Spin Tools
Swage | Spin Tools

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #31 – March 14, 2020, 10:34:31 am

T-man thanks for the video. I already hove one coming on Amazon. It isn't the drill spin type. It sure looks nice though

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #32 – March 15, 2020, 07:36:50 am

Since I am awaiting the mastic to be delivered and I seem to have strained my back slightly, yesterday was a light day. I took the time to clean up the housing for the AH. I have worked with stainless steel on occasion over the year and know that there are various types of SS. I am so glad to see that they used high quality SS. After 24 years, it polished up to look nearly brand new. Only a couple of spots with any stain. With a little work, could probably reduce that. A previous owner had partially removed the inside panel which holds the fuses and relays. In the process he had bent it up pretty bad. I was able to get most of the bends straightened out so it looks better.

I want to replace the inside insulation. I don't know the type or where to buy. Any suggestions? I am also looking at modifying the existing plumbing. I am wanting to extend the connections to the outside of the case, similar to what the manual shows as being from the factory. Someone has reworked these so that all connections are congested inside. I had removed the outer front housing from the unit 4 years ago when a high limit switch went bad and I replaced. Took Rudy's advice to leave it off so that not as much heat built up on the electronics of the unit. Since it is in the inside middle bay, it isn't readily noticeable and allows for quick inspections of the filters, fuses etc. I may reroute some of my hoses so that they are not as tightly packed. Not sure yet, but thinking.

I changed the lights in the lower bay to brite white LED strips. It really lights up the bay. I want to see about adding one to the compartment for the AH. Just need to figure the wiring and where to hook up a switch. It sure is nice to have the coach at the house, but soon I expect the HOA to start complaining. don't like them anyway

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #33 – March 15, 2020, 08:40:37 am

Quote from: ohsonew – March 15, 2020, 07:36:50 am

I want to replace the inside insulation. I don't know the type or where to buy. Any suggestions?

Larry,

I would get some 1" KAO-Wool or any similar ceramic fiber product. You can find it on the web. If you have an industrial insulation company in your area you may be able to pick up some end cuts that they have for cheap. (none of this type product is cheep)

Mike

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #34 – March 15, 2020, 09:00:59 am

Thanks Mike. I didn't know the type of insulation it is. I looked at spun fiberglass boards which is manufactured here in KC but the thinnest I could find in a quick search was 2". I thought about contacting AH to see if they could help. I wasn't sure how well rock wool would stand up to the diesel environment.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #35 – March 15, 2020, 09:57:46 am

Ordered a roll of 1"X 24"X 12.5' ceramic fire insulation blanket

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #36 – March 15, 2020, 10:26:31 am

I put led lights in the Aqua-hot compartment and put a switch just inside the top left.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #37 – March 15, 2020, 10:51:44 am

That is likely the area I''m looking at. right now it is cold and snowing..........being retired I don't have the time restraints where I have to get out in it. Maybe this afternoon, supposed to get to around 40.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #38 – March 15, 2020, 12:50:33 pm

Quote from: ohsonew – March 15, 2020, 09:57:46 am

Ordered a roll of 1"X 24"X 12.5' ceramic fire insulation blanket

Larry,

That will be plenty with some left over for some other project.

Mike

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #39 – March 15, 2020, 01:12:39 pm

That was what I thought. The next smaller size was 2' X 5' and that wasn't enough. I'll find something I'm sure.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #40 – March 15, 2020, 07:26:10 pm

Not much done today. I basically did a service on the AH motor. Cleaned out the combustion chamber, set the ignition points. (Didn't know till I talked to Rudy a couple of weeks ago that the device to locate the points is mounted on the outside of the burner motor. Great business model that you won't see these days. Let the owner do something. The business plans for most places now is make it where it has to come back to the store/factory/certified tech for everything, all at oly a couple hundred dollars an hour!!!!! Sorry for the rant, just thankful that AH didn't do that plan in the early years. Don't know about now, hope not.)

I probably spent more time cleaning and sorting my tools which I had scattered around the garage. Anyway, got sidetracked by a couple of phone calls. There is always tomorrow.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #41 – March 17, 2020, 03:36:22 pm

OK the show is on again. The mastic came in yesterday afternoon, too late to try anything so I was hard at it at the crack of mid morning. I had to take the exhaust system to a muffler shop in the next town to have a new 2" exhaust built. He said no problem, has to order the muffler. It will be in tomorrow. Should be able to pick it up by mid afternoon.

Back to the mastic. I ordered 2 gallons' of the Chemax 300. I put it on about 1/8" to 1/4" thick for under the coils. I used less than 1/2 gallon. The reason for 2 gallons is I plan on putting a layer on the top of the coils once I have pressure tested the coil. It has been a long time since I soldered copper, so before it goes into the coach I want to pressure test with air to make sure there are no leaks. I bought a swag tool and used it for the first time. With practice, I might make it look truly professional. I liked how it worked so well and the fact that there was only 1 joint to solder verses 2 in a coupling, I figured that I bettered my odds.

If you do this project, make sure that there are 2 people to help hold the coil tight in place while wrapping it. It would have been nice to have had a 100' coil and a 50' coil instead of 3 50' coils, but no one seemed to interested in getting one in in a timely manner. I also made sure that the tank was secured from moving while it was standing up.

I was able to get 30 wraps on the boiler verses 29 on the old tube. Hopefully it will work as well or better than before. It worked great then, but if it can be improved, so much the better. I have 1" ceramic insulation due for delivery by this weekend. I hope to have some other items taken care of by then. We are supposed to get a lot of rain Wed-Fri with winds up to 70 mph on Friday, so we will see how much this impacts my betting out in the coach.

Were having fun now

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #42 – March 17, 2020, 04:42:23 pm

You don't need the muffler. You go to 2" to lessen restrictions. Why add one by installing a muffler? I left it off when I went to 2" and the sound is not noticeably louder, just has a little bit of a hollow sound.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #43 – March 17, 2020, 05:16:58 pm

Quote from: Bob McGee – March 17, 2020, 04:42:23 pm

You don't need the muffler.

Agree! Definitely do not need a muffler for the Aqua-Hot. It is quiet and works well with a straight-pipe exhaust.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #44 – March 17, 2020, 09:17:30 pm

Get a higher wattage heater element while you are in their... I have a 2000w now and have a 2200w in my drawer at work to swap out later.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #45 – March 17, 2020, 09:21:03 pm

That much power limits it to a strong output plug in?

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #46 – March 17, 2020, 09:46:28 pm

Depends on your setup I suppose.. and needs? 30 amp shouldnt be a problem and if pedestal to pedestal that shouldnt be a problem... Plugged in on a 15 amp plug... maybe a problem but you have other issues also.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #47 – March 18, 2020, 06:55:53 am

Bob & DJ, I assumed (yes I know) that I should since there was one originally. Could have saved a few bucks I guess. This will be one job that should never have to be redone.

David, my question is would I need a higher amp fuse in the rig? I'm not sure what the wattage is on the heater now, I haven't taken the time to look it up. Also, recomendations on where to get the higher voltage heater. I'm not sure if I would use it very often. Most of the time I have used the diesel side.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #48 – March 18, 2020, 08:53:18 am

Larry also consider the size of the wire going to the heater element. It needs to be sized large enough for the increased wattage.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #49 – March 18, 2020, 10:43:45 am

Larry, The electric element is 120 vac and is not fused. A 20 amp circuit breaker protects that circuit. The circuit breaker is in the 120 vac panel.

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