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auqa hot. when to use it instead of electric

I have recently purchased a 2007 affinity, so rookie question, at what point if any do you use the aqua hot instead of electric? Also what are the benefits to using the aqua hot?

Re: auqa hot. when to use it instead of electric

Reply #1 –
 Depends on your setup of course.    The electric is made to backup your aqua hot during showers, and laundry.  If you are  washing your hands, and or doing the dishes the electric will keep up just fine.

Re: auqa hot. when to use it instead of electric

Reply #2 –
The answer is:  It depends.  If we are not connected to shore power, we keep the electric off and only turn on the Diesel Burner when we need hot water.  If we are connected to shore power we leave the electric on all the time.  Electric will provide hot water for washing dishes, sinks, etc but not enough for a hot shower.  About 3-4 minutes prior to taking a shower we turn on the Diesel Burner and have all the hot water we need!    The element and mini-tank that it is in isn't sufficient to provide a lot of hot water like you would need for a hot shower.

Jim and Jona Seifert

jim.jona.seifert@gmail.com 2007 Country Coach Intrigue Ovation 530 42' Coach #12150

525 Cat C13 Allison 6spd

Toads: 2014 Ford F150 / 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser w/ REMCO DS Disconnect.
Airforce 1 Brake system
Blue Ox Aventa II Towbar
Jim and Jona Seifert
2007 Intrigue 530

Re: auqa hot. when to use it instead of electric

Reply #3 –
When dry camping I use the Aqua Hot system to save the batteries and I don't have to run the generator much at all.

Re: auqa hot. when to use it instead of electric

Reply #4 –
Your Affinity probably has the 130 series, which has Dual Electric Elements (Low/High), which will give you higher Electric only capacity. (We can both take showers very easily with dual elements on. And we find heating the coach (Which on our control says 'gas'.) from the AquaHot, does quite well on Electric only, down into the low to mid 40's. We fire up Diesel when we get down into the 30's, but only if we have not turned on our Electric Heated Tiles (We have some mats on the floor, that the DW prefers to remain down, so usually don't pick those up and use the heated floors until we get low 30's.). With the floor on, and one portable 1500W heater, we very seldom see the floor squirrel cage zones kick on/off (Gas setting, on the thermostat, which is of course actually the AquaHot.). If no electric heat is on, and down in the low 30's, we do turn on the Diesel part of the AquaHot - which puts out the highest possible BTU for coach heating. And when boo docking, we use AquaHot on Diesel setting, for all hot water and coach heating needs.

I'll share that we seldom use the AC Heat Pumps, due the higher fan noise. But if camping in a location of higher humidity, we'll fire up all three zones for a good 30 minutes or so, once a week - to make sure the ducting is staying dry from condensation build up... (Fighting mold.). And of course, in lower temps, Heat Pumps can't give you the heat gain required. 

It's just something to play around with, and see how things work for you.

And last tip, a good Scotch, sort makes you semi forget the temperatures...

Best to you, and all. Enjoy your Affinity!!!
Smitty
Former 04 Allure 31017. Now 07 Magna 6775.
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)