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Hot water

Is there another way to heat the water other than the 115 VAC.
Should I leave it on all the time.
It seems like it would pull a lot of electricity.
Maybe I'm wrong.
Thanks
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Hot water

Reply #1 –
Rick,

Your U-320 should have an AquaHot furnace which provides warm air to the coach and hot water.  There is a wealth of knowledge about the AquHot found via search on this forum. 

Short answer, you can use 120 volt power or diesel or a combination of the two to heat your water. 

Richard
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Hot water

Reply #2 –
Whether or not you want to leave the water heater on all the time depends on you.  We tend to turn ours on in the morning for 1/2 hour and then again in the evening while doing the washing up.  For us it makes a great difference in the life of our propane tank.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Hot water

Reply #3 –
Man, when I saw the title of this tread I thought you were asking if you were in hot water.  I was going to say-- ask your significant other.  That way you will have the FACTS.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Hot water

Reply #4 –
The AH 120 volt heater will take a couple hours to heat up from 70ish to what it normally heats it up to.  Once heated you may be good for a day.  We run ours for a couple hours in the morning and depending on outdoor temps maybe an hour or two in the evening.  If it is cold or we want to heat faster run the diesel burner, much faster.  For us it needs to be getting towards 40 before we need to run the diesel burner.

All of this depends on how much you heat, how much hot water you use and what the outside temps is.  some experience will guide you on the best way to use it for your own situation.

In any case run the diesel burner once a month or more to keep the nozzle clean and fresh fuel in the lines.  If you do this an annual maintenance can be done every two or three years.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Hot water

Reply #5 –
Brett, I bet that at first you thought it was from me. :))
(I've been good--so far as I know)
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Hot water

Reply #6 –
Rick,  The 5000 btu electric element cycles on and off per its own control thermostat.

The 50,000 btu diesel burn cycles on and off per its own control thermostat.

If you need no interior heat or hot water you can leave both systems off.  If you do not want to wait for either system to heat hot water, leave the electric on 24/7.  It only comes on o keep the coolant tank up to temp.

If you want a long shower, add the diesel burner to the electric element.  If outside temps drop below 50 or 45 degrees F, turn on the diesel burner too.  Electric element can not keep up in cold conditions.

Hope this helps
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: Hot water

Reply #7 –
Well right now I'm in no hot water. But that's today.
Anyway thanks for the input.
I think I will try the on and off cycle.
We are staying in Florida right now and it seems the basement gets awfull hot when it's on all the time.
So I'm thinking we will put it on in late afternoon and off in the am
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Hot water

Reply #8 –
Rick a couple thoughts. First make sure the basement thermostat is turned up all the way so that it isn't running. Should be in the compartment where the water manifold is.
Second the inverter even if not on will put out some heat if the charger is float charging your batteries. 
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Hot water

Reply #9 –
Quote from: folivier –
Rick a couple thoughts. First make sure the basement thermostat is turned up all the way so that it isn't running. Should be in the compartment where the water manifold is.
Second the inverter even if not on will put out some heat if the charger is float charging your batteries.
Don't you mean down all the way?
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Hot water

Reply #10 –
Yes, keep the basement thermostat low-maybe 40 degrees-just above freezing.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R