Rv Tankless Hot Water Heater / 12v Fridge

[curtz]

The wife and I are starting to look at a new 5th wheel, our concern with the new ones are the 12v fridge when we dry camp, and the tankless hwh. Anyone running these new units, is there water wasted, how long do the batteries last with fridge. I still like the gas/ electric fridge and hwt in our old trailer but new one have changed. Any info appreciated.

[Tungsten,]

Your saying new fridges don't run on propane anymore?

[A207X2]

Wife and I are full-time RVers. We have a 2020 Riverstone 39FK with the tankless HWH and love it. Unlimited supply of hot water is great. We have a full stainless steel kitchen with a Samsung residential refrigerator. It's 120vac and runs off of a 1500w inverter.

[brendan's dad]

The folks we camp with have a new Reflections fifth wheel and there only complaint is when we are dry camping you need to run several liters water at the kitchen sink before the hot water shows up. The hot water in the bathroom happens within seconds, so they usually fill a pot in the bathroom and take it to the kitchen sink for dishes. They also have the 12v fridge, but have solar panels and 2 good 6 volt deep cycle batteries and have never had a problem.

[curtz]

Originally Posted by Tungsten,

Your saying new fridges don't run on propane anymore?

There all electric now

[curtz]

Originally Posted by brendan's dad

The folks we camp with have a new Reflections fifth wheel and there only complaint is when we are dry camping you need to run several liters water at the kitchen sink before the hot water shows up. The hot water in the bathroom happens within seconds, so they usually fill a pot in the bathroom and take it to the kitchen sink for dishes. They also have the 12v fridge, but have solar panels and 2 good 6 volt deep cycle batteries and have never had a problem.

I run four 6 volt batteries and solar on my trailer now so the fridge should be ok, was wondering about water waste for the kitchen sink, thanks.

[Tungsten,]

Originally Posted by curtz

There all electric now

Well then,I guess they'll run while driving now?Seams they would burn a lot of juice.Forcing people to run solar or a genny?

[A207X2]

Originally Posted by Tungsten,

Well then,I guess they'll run while driving now?Seams they would burn a lot of juice.Forcing people to run solar or a genny?

We don't run it while driving. Just leave it closed and it will keep everything frozen and cold.

[Barry D]

I have a Truma brand hot water tank in my camperized Mercedes van, and it still amazes me on how fast hot water comes, and stays hot.
Also, with the better battery and solar charging technology, then couple that with the very high cost of a three way fridge these days, (shore power, batter power, and propane) most manufacturers are going to all electric. I'm told propane fridges are a thing of the past. I just hope mine lasts until I mile out that machine.

[Coiloil37]

Ac/dc fridges don’t need to be hard on batteries. The 94 liter dual zone I’ve got averages about 2.5 Ah/h with one side at 3 deg, the other at -15 deg and Bluetooth on. If the fridge is full and people aren’t opening it all the time that drops closer to 1 Ah per hour. I have enough battery and charging capacity that it’s never been a problem. Last weekend I didn’t even plug my dc/dc charger into the batteries or take any solar, the lithium was still sitting on 13.5v when we came home.

On demand hot water, yes please. You’re only “wasting” the water in the lines between the heater and the faucet which isn’t any different then a hot water tank.

Guys, time to pick up some LiFePO4 batteries and do away with the old school 6v banks. My god, it’s 2024 and battery tech has come a long way. More usable capacity, lighter, more cycles, charge them much faster… both my dc/dc and AC charger output 40 amps. It doesn’t take long to top them up when your punching that many Ah into them.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

Ac/dc fridges don’t need to be hard on batteries. The 94 liter dual zone I’ve got averages about 2.5 Ah/h with one side at 3 deg, the other at -15 deg and Bluetooth on. If the fridge is full and people aren’t opening it all the time that drops closer to 1 Ah per hour. I have enough battery and charging capacity that it’s never been a problem. Last weekend I didn’t even plug my dc/dc charger into the batteries or take any solar, the lithium was still sitting on 13.5v when we came home.

On demand hot water, yes please. You’re only “wasting” the water in the lines between the heater and the faucet which isn’t any different then a hot water tank.

Guys, time to pick up some LiFePO4 batteries and do away with the old school 6v banks. My god, it’s 2024 and battery tech has come a long way. More usable capacity, lighter, more cycles, charge them much faster… both my dc/dc and AC charger output 40 amps. It doesn’t take long to top them up when your punching that many Ah into them.

So true.

[ghfalls]

Plus it’s more cost effective to go with lithium. You can get a 100ah for under $300 and it can be discharged fully 6000 plus times. You do that 20 times with your lead acid batteries in your rv, and they’re already on their way out.

[curtz]

Yeah I'll be going lithium when we find a new trailer, my four 6 volt set up is on a 2016, there wasn't much for lithium back then.