tankless water heaters

I use the EccoTemp LPG L5, I can’t speak about the other one, I can say that I am very happy with my EccoTemp LPG L5. The only thing I didn’t like about it is the hand held shower nozzle, it leaks at the connector, and the on-off switch is very difficult to use, if your hands are wet or soapy, forget it, it’s nearly impossible to function.

The temperature of the water that comes out is very defendant on the temp of the water going in, so in the summer, we turn the heat down and in the winter, we turn it up. I also set the temp to be the hottest I would like it all by itself, I don’t try to turn on the hot and the cold water to blend them, if you do that, while you are adjusting the water temps, you are wasting water and gas, so set it to the temp you want when using only the hot water.

After reading about the other water heater, I would say this looks like it may be a better water heater, it requires no batteries or electric hookup, and it doesn’t need to be vented, it does cost more though, I would say that if you can afford it, get this one, if money is very tight, then get the one I have, it works and it works good.

Wretha

Some other relevant information (for those of you who are still interested in the unit):

The Eccotemp L5 is a pretty hearty unit, it lasts for an incredibly long time if used properly, and can provide a very economical and useful service to off the grid practitioners.

It’s not without flaws, but for the money it’s arguably the best unit ever produced in the genre. It will need a bit of fine tuning and will need a few minutes of setup, but it’s perhaps the best unit for 2-4 people on the market under $300/insert your currency here.

You can check out a review on it at this url: https://blog.campingshowerworld.com/?p=620

And purchase it here from a specialty supplier who knows a thing or two about the unit: https://www.campingshowerworld.com/eccotemp-l5-portable-propane-tankless-water-heater.html

The off the grid lifestyle is about being self sufficient economically efficient, and suffering in lifestyle as minimally as possible, and this unit meets these requirements all with ease. It’s worth a look if you need a good value, and a dependable unit, and aren’t afraid of a bit of fine tuning.

There are many within the green building and energy efficient movement that are somewhat opposed to tankless water heaters. They are certainly the right choice for many situations especially for off-grid people who already have propane infrastructure.

However, many feel tankless are not the greenest choice for most situations. At least two very good studies (by Consumer Reports and University of MN) find that its not cost-effective to switch from existing tank water heater to tankless.

People who are using solar to pre-heat should be aware of the problems associated with using tankless.

Other general problems with tankless: Most dont work with low flow fixtures, Cold water sandwiches, lose supply during power outages, dependence on a non-renewable resource, a possible increase in overall energy use due to endless supply.

Yes, tankless eliminate standby losses but if they arent the newest,cutting edge models, then their pilot lights burn just as much energy as the standby losses of a tank. There are new electric tanks available that are very efficient, simple and easy to maintain, easy to add insulation too, work great with solar, and can be fueled with renewable electricity. The new Rheem Marathons fit this description while being affordable and dont have Anode rods to maintain.

All this being said, LP tankless makes the most sense for off-grid with propane infrastructure. Just be sure to get one with electronic ignition, efficient condensing technology, and of course be aware of the effects of occupant behavior.

The Bosch 260 is a very good choice for the cabin when using an RV pump, these can be setup for natural gas or propane. They are also very compact

I thought I had covered it but I will sum it up: By going with Tankless you are committing to an unrenewable resource for the fuel.

Gordo if its 1500 watts on 120 volt a number 14 or 12 guage wire is all thats requred. The amperage would be about 12 amps.

regards NG

ng — i agree im just going off the manufacture specs when i looked into them.. i haven’t seen one in person { the electric models) maybe they have a capacitor or transformer in them. actuall that would be pretty cool to have an internal transformer and flip the line before it runs to the load. only if it had an internal switch relay or the transformer would be a huge ghost load.

peace g