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Posted (edited)

In a recent post in the thread - "Truma has QC issues…. I mentioned that I had used a mod with a meat thermometer in order to - " tell me when the water is at about 104 degrees.  Then I simply take a shower using only hot water (i.e. I do not "mix" cold water with the hot in order to get the temp back down to a comfortable level).  This saves propane by not heating the water to 140 degrees in the first place, saves water because I don't have to mix the hot with cold (wasting that water until I get the mix right), and saves me from enduring that short burst of "cold" when taking a navy shower and turning the water back on."

This mod is fairly simple- 

First purchase a meat thermometer that has a "cabled" probe on it like THIS one.  

Next - examine your Suburban water heater to determine how the Styrofoam insulation has been placed over the outside of the water heater.  Note that most heaters have this insulation in two halves that meet at about the middle point of the heater (top to bottom).  Gently lift the insulation and place the meat thermometer probe between the insulation and the water heater tank - try to get as much of the probe as you can in direct contact with the tank.  Secure the probe cable to the outside of the insulation and tape the two halves of the Styrofoam insulation back together (note:  at this point I also added a layer of reflextix insulation over the areas of the water heater that I could reach.

Finally, route the end of the meat thermometer cable such that the end that plugs into the "read out unit" comes through the fresh air return grill under the street side bed.

To use - plug in the meat thermometer read out and turn on the water heater.  As the water inside the tank heats up you will note the "read out" on the thermometer will start to rise.  It will not show you the actual temperature of the water inside the tank because the probe is on the outside of the tank.  You will have to determine what is the temperature on the "read out" that equates to approximately 104 degrees (that is the temperature that most of us take showers plus or minus depending on how hot you really want to take your shower).  In my case the "read out" will show between 93 and 95 degrees.  At this point, I simply turn off the water heater, get in the shower and using ONLY the hot water, take my shower.  Yes, there will be a few seconds for the water to turn hot when you first turn on the water but I usually "catch" this water in a small container (if I'm really watching my water usage).  The use of the stock "shut-off" valve on the shower head for "Navy" showers can be used without the momentary shot of cold water when you turn the water back on - this is due to the fact that you are only using the hot water with no cold water being on at the same time.

When not using the heater, I simply unplug the "read out unit" and store it one of the kitchen drawers leaving the meat probe wire barely hanging outside the furnace fresh air return.  At one point I did fashion a holder for the "read out" unit and placed it near the fresh air return grill.  However, I have since removed that because the "read out" unit is not very heavy and is fairly easy to read just hanging by the cable.

Questions?

Bill 

 

Edited by topgun2
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2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

Near Asheville, NC

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Posted

104F is the high setting on most hot tubs. You could use an electronic thermostat switch to automatically control the heat at a set temp vs. reading the temp and having to turn it off manually. Not sure if this would be the best part, but some thing like this:

https://a.co/d/0nnLInc

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Chris & John in Prescott, AZ | 2016 EII #113 | '01 Ram 2500 Cummins!

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Posted
2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

You could use an electronic thermostat switch to automatically control the heat at a set temp vs. reading the temp and having to turn it off manually. Not sure if this would be the best part, but some thing like this:

https://a.co/d/0nnLInc

Perhaps - but - this would require getting the automatic control probe into the water tank and I simply didn't want to drill a hole into that tank and have to deal with pressure and leak issues.

Bill

2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

Near Asheville, NC

Posted
2 hours ago, topgun2 said:

Perhaps - but - this would require getting the automatic control probe into the water tank and I simply didn't want to drill a hole into that tank and have to deal with pressure and leak issues. Bill

I believe you could tie or tape the probe touching the metal of the pressure valve just above the heater to get a good reading, or wherever you mounted yours.

The difference is your sensor only reads the temp and you have to manually turn the HWH off at the time it achieves your desired temp. You must be there watching to time it right. These devices will activate 12V to the heater circuit to automatically turn it on and off. You could keep it at 104F 24x7!

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Chris & John in Prescott, AZ | 2016 EII #113 | '01 Ram 2500 Cummins!

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