Best idea yet

kerry pinkerton

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Jul 13, 2012
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Albert Brascombe shared a great idea at the GMCMI rally. In a wet bath coach this is not as much of an issue as in some of the upfit coaches where
the hot water heater is not basically IN the bathroom. What Albert has done is put a valve and a TEE in the hot water line behind the door of the
bath module. With the valve in one position, the not yet hot water is diverted BACK to the fresh water tank. When the water gets hot as determined
by how hot the water line feels, Albert simply moves the valve back to the other position and HOT water is immediately available at the
faucet/shower.

This is probably the best idea I've ever heard for saving water and black/gray tank usage in motorhomes. No longer does he have to run a bunch of
water of perfectly good water down the drain into his black/gray tank while waiting for hot water to make it's way from the heater. Makes a lot of
sense when you're boondooking or not on a full hookup like we are at the Mansfield GMCMI rally.

I suspect this could be done with some type of automated temperature sensing switch but that is past my skill level at this time.

I'm going to do something like this on our SOB. The hot water heater is 20' away and we have the same problem with only so much capacity. Putting
perfectly good water into the gray tank just wastes the capacity.
--
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama

77 Eleganza II, 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny, lots of aluminum goodies.

http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/

'03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
 
That idea has been used for years in many commercial and hotel buildings where the water is not heated by electric. When the have electric heat they
simply put the heater(s) right at the fixture.

In our shop and hangars at the airport we use gas heat for water and our recirculating hot water in floor room radiant heat. When we draw hot water
out of the system for sink and shower usage, we always have instant hot water since it is always recirculating for the in floor stuff. In the summer
it becomes a little less efficient since we are not heating the floor and the recirculation is not occurring.

Keep in mind that constantly recirculating water to keep it warm will cost you a lot of heat loss in the system. You will not care if your heat
source is the engine of the coach while going down the road since that heat is basically free. When parked you are going to have to pay for that heat
loss either in propane or electric.

Also do not recirculate back to the main water tank, but only circulate back to the water heater tank. Otherwise you will end up with a main water
tank full of warm or hot water and not have any cold water available at the faucets.

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
G'day,

Yep, Albert is a clever bugger!

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

-----Original Message-----
From: Kerry Pinkerton

Albert Brascombe shared a great idea at the GMCMI rally. In a wet bath coach this is not as much of an issue as in some of the
upfit coaches where the hot water heater is not basically IN the bathroom. What Albert has done is put a valve and a TEE in the hot
water line behind the door of the bath module. With the valve in one position, the not yet hot water is diverted BACK to the fresh
water tank. When the water gets hot as determined by how hot the water line feels, Albert simply moves the valve back to the other
position and HOT water is immediately available at the faucet/shower.

This is probably the best idea I've ever heard for saving water and black/gray tank usage in motorhomes. No longer does he have to
run a bunch of water of perfectly good water down the drain into his black/gray tank while waiting for hot water to make it's way
from the heater. Makes a lot of sense when you're boondooking or not on a full hookup like we are at the Mansfield GMCMI rally.

I suspect this could be done with some type of automated temperature sensing switch but that is past my skill level at this time.

I'm going to do something like this on our SOB. The hot water heater is 20' away and we have the same problem with only so much
capacity. Putting perfectly good water into the gray tank just wastes the capacity.
--
Kerry
 
I believe he means to put the dump after the shower valve, so it only is in
use when he's running the shower, waiting for the hot water to start.
 
The system I designed used a 12 volt solenoid valve with a temperature switch to shut off the valve when the temperature reached 120 degrees. Simple
to do if you can access the water line close to the shower mixing valve and get a line back to the tank. We saved about two quarts of water doing this
in a SOB.
Hal
--
1977 Royale 101348,

1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,

1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout