Re: [VAL] water heater - tankless

["Wayne A. Moore \(WAM\)" <wam52@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Tom,

We installed a tankless heater. It has been the best investment in our 66 
Tradewind, translating to endless hot water availability when hooked up to 
utilities. We installed a Precision Temp 500 in 1999 and have had nearly 
flawless operation. I say nearly because when it gets real cold and wet out 
in late and early season adventures, its possible for the control board box 
to be affected by condensation causing the system to "misfire" hence no hot 
water with all systems green. This has happen twice in 6 years and all I 
have done is take the board out of the box and let it dry out. Now even 
though that board is potted, somehow the moisture must be affecting the 
values of the components and with this being a very intermittant problem I 
haven't taken the time to investigate furthur.

The coils for the precision temp essentially sit outside the heated space of 
the trailer in its own box and keeps the flame from the heating manifold 
contained. Because of this, the coils and supply and return pipes are 
exposed to outside elements. So when use is intended for cold weather it is 
recommended to purchase the cold weather kit, which is nothing more than a 
120v pipe wrap kit. We have not used the trailer in the dead of winter for 
traveling with a full load of water and I have often wondered how cold it 
will have to get before that coil will freeze with water in it.

I suppose, that I could install an inverter if I were to do that kind of 
traveling but for now all we do is a couple of weeks in Florida from New 
Hampshire, so we'll just travel dry till we get below the Mason / Dixon.

Later

WAM and Lin
VAC/WBCCI/WDCU 15116