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06-22-2016, 06:47 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: TN
Posts: 414
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Electric Water Heater Mod
Just an FYI for those of you with a propane only water heater.
You might be interested in a Camco 11673 Hot Water Hybrid Heat Kit.
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-11673-W...co+hybrid+heat
I just installed this in a propane only 4-gallon suburban water heater on a truck bed camper.
It's relatively easy and works like a charm.
It does require removing the anode rod and replacing it with a fitting with the heating element running through it, secured by a brass compression fitting. Only 400-watts so it won't draw too much power with an adjustable thermostat.
I'm pleased with the results and can save my propane for cooking.
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2012 FunFinder X 210UDS
4-68 watt flexible panels; 1-215 glass panel/4 Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Batteries
2014 Ford F350 6.7 Liter PowerStroke V-8 Diesel longbed, SRW
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06-25-2016, 02:32 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 498
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How neat! Mine is AC/propane, but good to know how to modify a propane model! Very clever!
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2008 189FBR & 2014 FORD F150 Now Full-Time
Tons of Inexpensive Camper Mods WackyPup.com
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06-26-2016, 09:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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The 6 gallon Suburban water heater in mine is propane or electric although I've never run it on electric.
Maybe one of these days I try the electric mode to see if it works too.
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2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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06-26-2016, 10:43 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 487
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle
The 6 gallon Suburban water heater in mine is propane or electric although I've never run it on electric.
Maybe one of these days I try the electric mode to see if it works too.
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Hi Eagle,
Mine is just propane... I think... But really, even when cooler weather requires the heater, and the stove is being used for cooking, I have gone for more than a week or 10 days on one 20# bottle. However, I usually turn the HW heater off at night, I don't like hearing the thing light up in the middle of the night... I'll turn it back on in the morning when I put the coffee on and it heats right up. I think the heater is the big gas hog though
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Happy Camping,
John (JC)
2013 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 4X4 MAX Tow Package
2018 Dutchman, Coleman Lite 1805RB
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06-26-2016, 02:36 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 498
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle
The 6 gallon Suburban water heater in mine is propane or electric although I've never run it on electric.
Maybe one of these days I try the electric mode to see if it works too.
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We didn't even realize ours was electric for awhile. Then, we realized we had hot water before turning on the gas,!! Of course, shortly after figuring it out, the electricity got connected while the tank was empty and the switch was still on. So the element instantly fried. If this happens to you, don't get an element from the camper store, just go to any hardware store and get one. It's $25-$30 at a camper store, and under $10 at home depot. Simple to replace! So if your heater doest work, that might be the problem.
And don't forget to check and replace your anode rod occasionally, it will make your heater last a lot longer. (Keeps it from rusting)
The advantage to the electric is it's completely quiet, and you're already paying for electricity in your fee so why use your gas?
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2008 189FBR & 2014 FORD F150 Now Full-Time
Tons of Inexpensive Camper Mods WackyPup.com
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06-26-2016, 02:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 498
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John c - I would be surprised if you're was only gas, yours is the same year as mine and I think it was standard, ... Maybe. Look and see if there is a little black on/off switch on the heater, kind of on the bottom left. That's the only way I know to tell. It's kind of behind the pipes. If it's on and you don't have hot water without gas, replace the element which is the part that has two wires attached to it, detach the wires, unscrew, pull out, screw in the new one, attach the wires, easy peasy. It is probably burnt in half.
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2008 189FBR & 2014 FORD F150 Now Full-Time
Tons of Inexpensive Camper Mods WackyPup.com
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06-27-2016, 06:55 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaintyLiz
We didn't even realize ours was electric for awhile. Then, we realized we had hot water before turning on the gas,!! Of course, shortly after figuring it out, the electricity got connected while the tank was empty and the switch was still on. So the element instantly fried. If this happens to you, don't get an element from the camper store, just go to any hardware store and get one. It's $25-$30 at a camper store, and under $10 at home depot. Simple to replace! So if your heater doest work, that might be the problem.
And don't forget to check and replace your anode rod occasionally, it will make your heater last a lot longer. (Keeps it from rusting)
The advantage to the electric is it's completely quiet, and you're already paying for electricity in your fee so why use your gas?
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Burning out the electric element is why I've never pulled out the little safe lock pin thru the electric mode switch on the water heater...as simple to use it in gas mode. Also, the recover rate in gas mode is far higher than electric.
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2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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