Help: Water heater output to fresh water tank

Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic

   Newb alert...first post here. Just got my R-Pod 172 (I call mine X-Pod) to use this winter for snowboarding trips. 

This winter, I want to use my water heater to keep the freshwater tank thawed. 

On another (non-R-POD) forum I saw a post where a gent said he plumbed the hot water output into the freshwater tank using a thermostat controlled valve to move hot water from the water heater to the freshwater tank to keep it thawed. The freshwater tank could be kept thawed simply with one thermostadt controlled valve. Seemed an extremely elegant solution.

I would GREATLY appreciate advice on how to plumb this in the X-Pod from you expert R-Podders to make this mod as easy as possible. Questions...

1. Where is the best location to put a T in a hot water line?
     - Location near the sink faucet would pull hot water through sink line, keeping that thawed.
     - Shower hot water might be closer/easier install.
     - Make the extra effort, install a T at both the sink and shower.

2. Where to connect a hot water return line back into the freshwater tank (with valve in between).

Other side issues worth noting
- Will be using X-Pod most weekends, i'll keep it plugged in to home electric during the week.
- Cabin will be kept above freezing through the week while plugged in at home (and on trips)
- Will sanitize water heater.
- Gray water - I planed on dumping RV antifreeze in as we use it.
- Black Water - I plan to remove the X-Pod Toilet and put a cassett toilet in it's place for the winter.
                      Blackwater will be in the cabin at cabin temps.

I'm extremely open to suggestions on this as I need to get it done by Nov 14th or so. Thank you for any help!

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
XPod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Location: Evansville IN Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Topic: Help: Water heater output to fresh water tank Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 3:54pm
	Newb alert...first post here. Just got my R-Pod 172 (I call mine X-Pod) to use this winter for snowboarding trips. This winter, I want to use my water heater to keep the freshwater tank thawed. On another (non-R-POD) forum I saw a post where a gent said he plumbed the hot water output into the freshwater tank using a thermostat controlled valve to move hot water from the water heater to the freshwater tank to keep it thawed. The freshwater tank could be kept thawed simply with one thermostadt controlled valve. Seemed an extremely elegant solution. I would GREATLY appreciate advice on how to plumb this in the X-Pod from you expert R-Podders to make this mod as easy as possible. Questions... 1. Where is the best location to put a T in a hot water line? - Location near the sink faucet would pull hot water through sink line, keeping that thawed. - Shower hot water might be closer/easier install. - Make the extra effort, install a T at both the sink and shower. 2. Where to connect a hot water return line back into the freshwater tank (with valve in between). Other side issues worth noting - Will be using X-Pod most weekends, i'll keep it plugged in to home electric during the week. - Cabin will be kept above freezing through the week while plugged in at home (and on trips) - Will sanitize water heater. - Gray water - I planed on dumping RV antifreeze in as we use it. - Black Water - I plan to remove the X-Pod Toilet and put a cassett toilet in it's place for the winter. Blackwater will be in the cabin at cabin temps. I'm extremely open to suggestions on this as I need to get it done by Nov 14th or so. Thank you for any help!

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 5:27pm
	That's a new one for me so, I can't be of much help....sorry.

sfish Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 18 Sep 2011 Location: Bloomington Mn. Online Status: Offline Posts: 134	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 6:35pm
	My first question is what are the temps going to be when you leave it plugged in at home? How are you going heat it. If you put the tee in will the water need to be circulating and wont there be a pressure build up issue in those lines if the water isnt circulating. It sounds very costly to keep it going in the winter. Let us know. Thanks , Steve
	sjf

Podsible Dream Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Dec 2010 Location: Hightstown, NJ Online Status: Offline Posts: 571	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 7:00pm
	It might be easier and cheaper energy wise to put a pond type heater into the fresh water tank. Then it could be turned on an off as needed. With some searching you should be able to find a 12v unit that could be used on and off the grid. the use of a recirculate system is energy intensive, and probably not needed as the greatest portion of the tubing is inside where you will be keeping the temp above freezing, although that may be problematic as most of it is behind and under where air circulation is not the best. Good luck with whatever direction you go!
	Chris and Walt '10 RP-171 'Free Spirit' '13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8

Iteach5th Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Nov 2010 Location: Floral Park, NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 7:32pm
	You may be able to keep your tanks thawed, I don't know how you'll keep the lines thawed unless the water is allowed to flow. Dumping antifreeze into the grey tank will fill it pretty quickly. Best bet would be to dry camp and try to find a shower someplace else.
	"Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you are right"- Henry Ford 2011 RP-177 2009 Jeep Cherokee 1982 Coleman Redwood pup

dsmiths Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Location: Southern Ind Online Status: Offline Posts: 866	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 7:34pm
	Instead of cutting plumbing, what about a stock tank heater, I think they are 120 volt only and are submerged and have a thermostat, I have not done any research on them, any heater with the capacity to keep 35 gallons of water warm from freezing will probably drain the 12 volt system quickly. maybe a low volume 12 volt pump to recirculate water from the hot water heater is best, you might be able to t into the hot water output with a smaller line and recirculate it, leave the hot water heater on gas mode. let us know how it works out.
	Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller

XPod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Location: Evansville IN Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 7:37pm
	Is there a way to get into the freshwater tank other than the fill line and drain plug on the bottom? I thought about a pond heater but i'm hesitant to cut into the tank itself.

TerryM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 7:44pm
	If you pack snow up all around the camper that will help a lot. It will also help in heating the camper. It really depends on how cold it will be. If it is only down to around 32* you shouldn't have much of a problem. Even colder temps. for short duration wouldn't be bad. Remember the furnace blower draws a lot of power. Terry
	RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565

XPod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Location: Evansville IN Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 7:44pm
	Temps...i'd just like to keep the freshwater above freezing...maybe a little more for some buffer. I live in the tip of southern Indiana so the winters aren't too harsh but we can still go below freezing for a few days at a time. Ya the electricity might cost a fortune but i'm not sure about draining/winterizing every Sunday night, then de-winterizing on Friday. I went into this knowing the fuel for winter camping was going to be significant.

Goose Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Online Status: Offline Posts: 672	Posted: 31 Oct 2011 at 9:10pm
	I don't think that the stock tank heater would work to well, as the fresh water gets low the heat elements would make contact with the bottom of the plastic tank and the result may not be what you want besides having to cut a hole large enough to get into the tank and the electric wire to seal up tight. At this point I don't have a simple solution to your problem without doing something really expensive. I have to vote with Iteach and say go the dry camping route even though it is not what you want to do. Goose
	Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee