Surplus RV places in Elkhart

[luvrbus]

I had a Norcold in my Eagle and didn't want it on a wall or cut a vent hole in the side of my bus so I cut the vent in the floor to draw the air through the fridge but I still had to have a roof vent  and never was happy about that,but the fridge worked like a champ for years

[Jim Blackwood]

Here's why I like the purely mechanical (pilot light) water heater controls: Yes I know that's old tech. And compared to current electronic igniters it takes a bit more effort. And sometimes the pilot blows out when travelling. But there is a payoff, in fact several. First, say you make camp, light the pilot etc,etc. Not using hot water yet so the control is set to "pilot" only and you've gotten back from your initial explorations. Want to wash hands? Your hot water tap is the right temperature right out of the spigot just from the pilot. That's a very nice convenience. Then you want a shower? Switch on the main burner and you'll hear it when it shuts off, telling you your shower is ready. If you've fitted the electric heater element as well you can turn that on at the same time and do two things. First it cuts the warmup time in half, and second , with both gas and electric running it extends the effective capacity of the water heater, making a 6 gallon seem more like a 10.

I just don't think you can do any of that with the modern "improved" water heaters.

Jim

[chessie4905]

Mine is  electronic. Its usually on electric for plugging in. For propane, just flip rocker switch to dsi and it makes heat, no pilot light to deal with. Reefer is  Norcold propane/110. When at campground plugged in it automatically changes to 110. When unplugged/ automatically switches to propane and indicator light changes from green to yellow. We run on propane going down the road. If propane goes out, light will change to red. This unit works great, even in the 110 degrees in AZ, Ca, Co, etc rock hard freezer and cold reefer comp. My 12v/110 Norcold never got that cold in hot weather. Had to use fans to keep fresh foods cool enough.

[luvrbus]

Mine is  electronic. Its usually on electric for plugging in. For propane, just flip rocker switch to dsi and it makes heat, no pilot light to deal with. Reefer is  Norcold propane/110. When at campground plugged in it automatically changes to 110. When unplugged/ automatically switches to propane and indicator light changes from green to yellow. We run on propane going down the road. If propane goes out, light will change to red. This unit works great, even in the 110 degrees in AZ, Ca, Co, etc rock hard freezer and cold reefer comp. My 12v/110 Norcold never got that cold in hot weather. Had to use fans to keep fresh foods cool enough.

It has a plot light to heat the thermo coupling to open the gas valve,I haven't looked a 2020 model though,but I have 2 electronic controlled heaters and 1 has a pilot light and the other has a glow plug type ignitor that really sucks I have changed the ignitor twice in 3 years   
 

[richard5933]

Many of the propane water heaters with electronic ignition also have dual power and can make hot water from 120vac, propane, or both for even faster hot water.

The only loss would be the lukewarm water, but to be honest in warmer weather the water in my tank is usually plenty warm to wash hands as is.

[luvrbus]

The DL has a diesel fired boiler use it they make hot water in seconds on demand 

[Jim Blackwood]

I will be re-plumbing the Eiberspacher boiler but not for hot water. I expect at 80K+btu it would do a fine job at that though. I'll be using it for heat. The water heater has no need for that massive capacity, it would be rather severe overkill. And that's the whole point about the pilot light. For washing dishes and every other use you have for hot water it is just fine up until you need the shower. And it's there all the time without either having to wait or burning excess gas that you don't need to be burning to keep the water hotter than you want it anyway. Sort of the low tech answer to the instant water heaters.

So is there a modern water heater that runs a pilot light? Maybe lights the pilot with an electronic spark igniter? I'd have no problem with that, maybe even could tolerate an electric main burner valve.

Jim

[richard5933]

They still make the RV water heaters with standing pilot lights.

[Jim Blackwood]

OK, that's good news. The kind I like to hear. Just be a matter of finding one then, and since I'll have a standard front load washer on board I'll probably want a 10 or 12 gallon one.

Next up: Ranges, specifically gas ranges. Not interested in inductive, infrared and all that. In my opinion they are still trying without too much success to emulate a gas cook top. Now granted gas stovetop makers have been making it easy for them with these burners that only heat the outside of the pan. Whose bright idea was that? Gas burners used to have flames all the way to the center. Even the cheapest tin RV and campstove burners made did that, but somewhere along the way (maybe the 80's, it seems everything bad happened in the '80s) they lost all contact with reality and common sense and decided fire on the outside of the pan was the next great idea. It wasn't. It was horrible. But Monkey See Monkey Do, and now that's all we have. Anyone know of a gas stove top that has a proper flame pattern?

Jim

[richard5933]

Ten gallon is about the largest traditional RV water heater that I've seen. If you plan to do laundry, then perhaps you will benefit from a small 10-gal electric unit in series with the propane heater.

Not sure you're going to find what you want with the gas range. They stopped putting the flame in the center years ago, and unless you have really thin/cheap cookware you shouldn't notice that much of a difference. The burners on the RV stoves don't have that big of a burner and the flame hits most pans somewhere towards the middle of the radius. The only time it's a problem for me is using my moka pot for coffee since it's only 4" in diameter.

[luvrbus]

They still make the RV water heaters with standing pilot lights.

Yes they are still made with no electronics I installed one when Sonja van heater starting leaking, lol cost me over a 100 bucks to find out to much propane pressure will blow the gas valve on a new unit, that valve is touchy and exspensive   

[Tedsoldbus]

Hi again Jim,
I thought I had my gas valve solved with my nearby RV guy. Dometic stopped making what I need years ago. RV guy pulled one from an old fridge, but the one in my bus has a larger line coming into one end than the little one going to the burn tube. He backed away from wanting to touch it. After market for the real thing was $350 but is an "all sales final" place. (that one probably leaks like mine) or $500 for "new", but 2 people told me that place is an unreliable source. So if I did the $500 and paid probably  $200ish to have it installed, now I am 700 into it. I won't attempt it myself. I am older now. I won't work on 220 electric, natural gas of any kind, and the big spring above the garage door...
 And after staring at it, other parts of the back of my 40 year old fridge look rusty and questionable. I feel like I am just digging a money hole on a "maybe this will work".
Watching Utube of newer RVs going around America demonstrates the new stuff has plenty of problems as well. So I am going to bail on Dometic and Norcold and gamble on something I hear works well. I will drive up to Shipshewana, spend the 1000ish for the Amish to fix me up, 3 year warranty, 100 bucks gets you 3 more, and they answer the phone when I call. Last part of that was my decision maker....
You have to do what works for you Jim. Some like all electric and there is merit to that ( no "boom" sounds) and others including me and Chessie want to keep the electric when plugged in and propane rolling down the road. I've always had that and I just like it. The Amish folks I am going to (JC Refrigeration) tout the all electric that uses less energy. Probably responding to the solar panels, battle born in the belly bay trend, but they will still install the dual system for people like me (probably after rolling their head a little). So on your fridge and water heater things, if you like pilot lights, get one. It is good to gather lots of ideas and opinions before you spend money. But remember the best opinion at the end of the day is yours. And if it was wrong, be sure to let us know....
Ted

[sledhead]

With the 11 gal. marine 120 v water heater and the diesel boiler I have the boiler cycles off after 6-7 min. ( from cold ) and the water in the heater is hot and I can shower as soon as I want and as long as I want  than if on the pole I use the 120 volt for hot water .

works for me and is the best water heating system I have ever had 

dave

[Tedsoldbus]

Don't tell my wife that. I'll have to get one....

[sledhead]

Don't tell my wife that. I'll have to get one....

I had to make the system myself as the old aqua hot was a bad design and I went from that to make my own with a new better boiler and off the shelf all aluminum marine water heaters . faster and much more efficient
 

dave 

dave