The temperature rise refers to how much the water heater can heat the water at 1/2 GPM - the following chart is from that page, sorry the formatting didn't stay:
So the heater will raise the temperature of the water anywhere from 33 to 75 degrees F. Meaning if your gound water is 50 degrees, the low end heater will heat it to 83 degrees. I'm not sure what the flow of a shower in a typical RV is, but a low flow shower head in a home is 3 GPM, or six times the rated speed, so you wouldn't get the stated performance.
The other limitations are power and water pressure. You need a minimum water pressure, depending on model, and you need 50 amp service and heavier than normal wiring. This means you would need to rewire the whole line, and you would be restricted to high-end RV parks with 50 amp service and normal household water pressure. No boondocking!
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Timothy, Colene and the original off-roaders Bonnie and Clyde (Sulcata Tortoises)
I've checked these out to replace my water heater at my lake house with a whole house tankless water heater. If you search around, you will find some that run on propane or natural gas, as well as electricity. Bosch, Takagi, and Noritz all have propane tankless heaters available.
Do a google search for "propane tankless water heater". You'll get a lot of hits.
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Y2K F250 CC PSD Auto, Short-bed Lariat, Woodland Green/Gold, ordered 07/10/99, born 09/12/99, delivered 10/08/99, Access bed cover, Bed Rug, Zoodad mod, Viper Remote Start Alarm, Fumoto valve, 103K somewhat error-free miles (so far) [never back to dealer for anything]
Repairs: CPS, Water Separator Valve assembly, rear axle bearings, VSS, batteries, brakes, alternator, serpentine belt (x2), driver door pwrlock actuator, water pump
2009 VW Tiguan 2.0 l turbo 200 hp gas engine (TDI engine not available for it yet)
You also have to have a steady flow of water for the tankless heaters to work (turn on)..... most rv showers that I've seen don't work like the shower in your house.
The temp. rise is how much it will heat the water at a given flow rate (in this case its 1/2 gallon per min. -- which is about how much hot water you're using in the shower ). The SMALLEST unit they make gives you a 33 deg. temp rise @ 1/2 G.P.M. which means if the incoming water is 60 deg. the output will be 93 deg. which is a moderately warm shower at best. This also means you'll be using straight hot water so flow will be disappointing. This smallest unit also draws 20 amps. which is probably more than the outlets in your trailer are wired & breakered for. The outlets are usually rated for 15 amps. I'm not trying to spoil your fun but I don't see this as a viable option in a trailer, and--if this serves as a qualification of sorts--I'm currently on my third 5th wheel.
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2011 F-350 Lariat, SRW, C.C., LWB, 4x4, Dark blue pearl metallic
2010 Montana Mountaineer 345 DBQ (5th)
Holy Cow!! When I began formulating my reply there were no responses to this thread, when I got back there were 4 or 5 (all stealing my thunder, no less!) Man I've got to learn to type faster!!
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2011 F-350 Lariat, SRW, C.C., LWB, 4x4, Dark blue pearl metallic
2010 Montana Mountaineer 345 DBQ (5th)
Pretty hard to beat the 6gal DSI gas fired unit for RV use. If your wanting to save some LP just shut off the unit after you use it. 6gal of HW last us all day on one heat cycle.
The gas fired tankless work just great but the electric ones have severe limitations.
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T_Bone
02 F350, 4X6, Crew, DRW, LWB, PSD, 6spd, 3:73, Island Blue, Stock, AEB2, Phoenix Az
Buy UNION work UNION. It pays off in the long run Define Union: A labor Union is nothing more than united workers with a common goal for better working conditions.
We all are in some sort of labor Union, some are just larger than others with better working conditions!
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