RV tankless hot water heaters are showing up.

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While looking RV hot water heaters I ran across a few tankless ones at PPL Motorhomes. Prices are high on them, but they offer a built in option for a trailer, and they are designed for vehicle or trailer use. The BTU outputs look to me to be lower than the home units some have used.

Atwood has 45,000 and 50,000 btu models. They fit in standard RV waterheater places. http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-water-heaters/rv-ondemand-water-heater.htm

Girard Tankless RV Water Heater is adjustable from 18,000 BTUs to 36,000 BTUs, 12.5" x 12.5" x 15.5". Needs 12VDC for blower for combustion air and electronic ignition. Boasts of 90% efficiency heat exchanger.
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-water-heaters/rv-tankless-water-heater.htm

PreceisionTemp also makes them, and from a press release it looks like they may make the Atwood units. They have the RV500 unit on their site: http://www.precisiontemp.com/pt_rvmd_rv500.html but I've seen a press release for a RV550 unit that doesn't need to use the standard RV hot water heater door. I can't find specification for it. RV500 13.5" Wide x 13.5" Deep x 14.5" High. Weight: 35 pounds. 12 VDC at 1 amp. Operating range is 9 to 15 VDC.
56,000 Btu input – 44,000 Btu output at maximum burn at 8.5 WCI manifold pressure.15,000 Btu input – 12,000 Btu output at low burn at 1.2 WCI manifold pressure. (85°F temperature rise per gallon per minute continuous flow at high burn). Propane input to output numbers say 78% to 80% efficient heat exchanger.
 
Girard Winter Use Device (WUD)
Q: How does the Winter Use Device (WUD) work?

A: The Winter Use Device consists of a thermostat attached to the heat exchanger and a solenoid valve connected to the water heater and plumbed to the outside of the coach or the fresh water tank. While the unit is in standby and when the temperature begins to approach freezing, the water heater is activated and a small amount of hot water is circulated through the heat exchanger raising the temperature of the remaining water in the heat exchanger. The water is expelled to the outside of the coach or into the fresh water tank and the unit returns to standby mode. The entire process only takes about 45 seconds. Consult the separate Winter Use Device manual for more details.

NOTE: In order for the Winter Use Device to properly operate (not freeze) in the winter it is necessary to leave all your RV power sources ON (12V, LP gas and Fresh Water supply and water pump). Also the Water Heater needs to be “ON” and your RV must be designed for winter use. Consult your RV manufacturer for further information regarding using your RV in the winter.
I guess it would work, but as said the rest of the RV must be winter proofed. Sounds like it would be constantly cycling in very cold conditions.

From: http://greenrvproducts.com/operating-tips-2/faqs/
 
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