Date:         Fri, 2 Mar 2007 08:28:59 -0800
Reply-To:     rpc <populuxe59@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         rpc <populuxe59@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Hot water if you've got shore power
In-Reply-To:  <45E8465D.3010701@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

With the only 120 volt electric water heater on that list, can  raise a gallon of water 20 degrees over one minute flow..  I see these used in public bathrooms to pass municipal code for heated water at sink. I don't know if camp sites offer 220 volts for the higher output.

  In my area, the gas fired "on demand tankless heaters" are available but very rare.  Some take 200,000 BTU's and you cant just vent them out the wall.  A normal domestic water heater uses 35,000 BTU's.

  The heaters Mike refers to were perfected by the Japanese and offered in the U.S. in the late seventies and eighties for heating houses or water--or both(very efficient), but plumbers and heating dealers discouraged them, never learned the maintenance and they are mostly gone.  My dad used one to heat a two story home for 25 years, Now he just got a conventional boiler and hates it. The dealer refused to service it anymore. I work for a Gas utility, and we wouldn't touch them either even though we sponsored the initiative to install them.  He misses the "Paloma-Pac".

  For camping with the Vanagon I bought a Coleman on-demand water heater. I haven't used it much.  I couldn't pass it up; it's amazing you can get automatic spark ignition, flame sensor and pump to work off the rechargeable battery in such a small package, High temp limits to prevent over heat and scalding.  There is a dial to set your temp for dishes or a shower or even a hot drink.  Good to practice using it at home first.

  Chris C
  90MV
  91GL

Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
  That reminds me of the small point of use propane fired water heaters
that I saw in many Japanese houses when I was stationed at MCAS Iwakuni
back in the mid '60s.

Mike



Christopher Gronski wrote:
> I thought this inline electric water heater seemed interesting. You'd
> need to have your van plugged in though:
>
> http://www.audubonsupply.com/browse.cfm/4,125.html
>
> Chris
>