Aqua Hot Water Heater Switch

[patmsp]

Hi All:

I am currently camping in MN for work reasons. As you can imagine, we have to run the Aqua Hot to keep the rig warm. It drops down into the teens at night and up to 30 in the day. We are also plugged in to 50Amp service.

There is a switch next to the Aqua Hot that says "Water Heater 110V". When we have water in the rig it keeps a few gallons warm, but for unlimited hot water we have to turn the Aqua Hot on.

My question: If I turn on the Water Heater 110V switch (even when there is no water in the rig) will it provide heat to the Aqua Hot so that it runs less often. Also, will I hurt anything (ie: heating element not surrounded by water and may burn out prematurely).

Thanks for any advice.

[RJay]

Both the diesel burner and the 120 volt electric heating element heats the water glycol mixture in the hydro/aquahot system which circulates to the living area, water compartment exchangers and to heat the domestic hot water. Having no water in the rig will not harm anything if you run the electric heating element or the diesel burner. In extreme cold weather running the electric element in conjunction with the diesel burner will heat the water glycol mixture faster and provide more consistent heat to the living area and cut down on the run time of the diesel burner.

[Twomed]

""(even when there is no water in the rig)"" Do you mean not hooked up to water OR water drained as in winterized?? If all water is drained do not use the AQH. If just running on tank water because it's cold out you are fine. Leaving the electric on will help cut fuel use a little, if the electric is free.

[patmsp]

I was hoping to hear that it helped and did not hurt the system.

The electricity is free where I'm staying.

You guys are GOOD!

Pat (looking out the front window at the snow, hoping to see 30 today)

[Mike Canter]

According to my AQ manual is states that you can run the diesel furnace and the electric element with the AQ drained of fresh water (winterized). It still has the boiler water/antifreeze in the system which is what is directly heated.

[Twomed]

Gee Mike my manual says that too. First I read "Winterize". We are fully winterized right now at Curry Hammock SP in the FLA Keys. And when I get to Yellowstone it runs 24/7 for the first month, just like RJays will in his some time summer will come home of Grand Marais.