Aluminum Camper Forum

Livin Lite Forum => Camplite and Bearcat Travel Trailers => Topic started by: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 06:58:36 PM

Title: Hot water temperature
Post by: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 06:58:36 PM
Does anyone know if the hot water temp can be adjusted?   Sorry if this has been discussed already.... traveling and did a quick search and didn't see anything.

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Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: Merlin on April 13, 2017, 07:54:03 PM
The thermostat on my Suburban SW6D (gas only) is not adjustable. Suburban makes different temperature thermostats that can be used (120F and 140F that I know of), but you have to buy the temperature you want and replace it. The thermostat is under the rubber cover with the reset buttons on the outside panel. Models with an electric heating element may be different.
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: charliem on April 13, 2017, 08:06:53 PM
Quote from: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 06:58:36 PM
Does anyone know if the hot water temp can be adjusted?   Sorry if this has been discussed already.... traveling and did a quick search and didn't see anything.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Why would you want to adjust it? Too hot? Too cold?
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 09:55:04 PM
Quote from: charliem on April 13, 2017, 08:06:53 PM
Quote from: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 06:58:36 PM
Does anyone know if the hot water temp can be adjusted?   Sorry if this has been discussed already.... traveling and did a quick search and didn't see anything.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Why would you want to adjust it? Too hot? Too cold?
Too hot... one of my kids got scalded a bit the other night.  The temp seems to fluctuate a lot.

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Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: tinkeringtechie on April 13, 2017, 10:11:38 PM
Quote from: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 09:55:04 PM
Too hot... one of my kids got scalded a bit the other night.  The temp seems to fluctuate a lot.

How are your plumbing skills? I'd recommend adding a mixing valve on the outlet of the water heater. It will reduce the hot water temperature without giving up your capacity. The problem with lowering the temperature in the tank is that it will actually shorten your already short showers since you'll be using more hot water to maintain the same final temperature.
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: charliem on April 14, 2017, 10:37:32 AM
I suppose as a quick and cheap solution you could just crack the bypass valve a bit. Full open, as often found when folks complain about luke warm water, is too cool but partially open might be enough to knock the hot edge off. Some experimentation is left as an exercise for the student. 
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: DavidM on April 14, 2017, 11:02:41 AM
Charlie:

That is a great solution. I should have thought of that as I am a retired glorified plumber.

David
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: Merlin on April 14, 2017, 11:38:55 AM
Quote from: charliem on April 14, 2017, 10:37:32 AM
I suppose as a quick and cheap solution you could just crack the bypass valve a bit. Full open, as often found when folks complain about luke warm water, is too cool but partially open might be enough to knock the hot edge off. Some experimentation is left as an exercise for the student. 


Another winning entry in the "Daily Trouble-Shooting Award".
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: Merlin on April 14, 2017, 11:41:45 AM
Quote from: tinkeringtechie on April 13, 2017, 10:11:38 PM
Quote from: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 09:55:04 PM
Too hot... one of my kids got scalded a bit the other night.  The temp seems to fluctuate a lot.

How are your plumbing skills? I'd recommend adding a mixing valve on the outlet of the water heater. It will reduce the hot water temperature without giving up your capacity. The problem with lowering the temperature in the tank is that it will actually shorten your already short showers since you'll be using more hot water to maintain the same final temperature.

I like the idea of a temp limiter of some sort at the shower. I may look into that, to avoid scalding. I like very hot water at the sink, so if I mess with this someday, it will be just at the shower.
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: charliem on April 14, 2017, 11:56:12 AM
That's a bit harder. Physical access to the shower feeds is limited and may be under the trailer. DavidM or Merlin can help with that.

There are residential mixing valves that work by physically limiting the travel of the valve handle toward the hot side but they would take significant kludging in the trailer. A problem, but not unsolvable. Mods are half the fun of RVing  :D
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: charliem on April 14, 2017, 12:26:38 PM
Quote from: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 09:55:04 PM

Too hot... one of my kids got scalded a bit the other night.  The temp seems to fluctuate a lot.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Your comment on fluctuation is interesting. Once set the shower temperature should not fluctuate when on city or CG water. It can fluctuate when using the onboard pump if the pump cycles. I had that problem and found the pump just needed adjusting. There are two pressure adjustments on the pump that can be adjusted to prevent cycling when the shower is running. I posted the info somewhere but can't find it now. Sometimes the search function on these forums is flaky.
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: tinkeringtechie on April 14, 2017, 01:16:54 PM
If you wanted to get really fancy, you could use a thermostatic mixing valve:

http://www.supplyhouse.com/SharkBite-24504-HG-110D-1-2-SharkBite-Heatguard-Thermostatic-Mixing-Valve-w-Integral-Connectors-Lead-Free?gclid=CNbekPKrpNMCFUWXfgodPlsC9g

Then it should keep the temperature constant and safe.
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: tbrady on April 15, 2017, 12:06:43 AM
Quote from: charliem on April 14, 2017, 12:26:38 PM
Quote from: tbrady on April 13, 2017, 09:55:04 PM

Too hot... one of my kids got scalded a bit the other night.  The temp seems to fluctuate a lot.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Your comment on fluctuation is interesting. Once set the shower temperature should not fluctuate when on city or CG water. It can fluctuate when using the onboard pump if the pump cycles. I had that problem and found the pump just needed adjusting. There are two pressure adjustments on the pump that can be adjusted to prevent cycling when the shower is running. I posted the info somewhere but can't find it now. Sometimes the search function on these forums is flaky.
Hey guys, thanks for all the responses.   Still on the road and haven't had a chance to check in.  This is when using on board pump.  When using city water it is much better... if you can find the link Charlie that would be great!

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Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: charliem on April 15, 2017, 11:46:45 AM
I found the link in the forum archive. I 'd forgotten just how new this forum is. The fix takes some tweaking and testing so you may want to wait until you're home. Be sure to twist the right adjustment (there are two on the pump) and be sure to turn it clockwise (tighten). In researching the problem on other forums I found all sorts of bogus discussions including wrong directions and totally wrong explanations of how pumps work. Try a half turn at a time until you get it set right. The pump should come on and run continuously with the shower full on.

http://archive.aluminiumcamperforum.com/index.php?topic=2627.msg26254#msg26254 (http://archive.aluminiumcamperforum.com/index.php?topic=2627.msg26254#msg26254)

EDIT: Merlin, is this #3 for the week??  :D
Title: Re: Hot water temperature
Post by: tbrady on April 16, 2017, 12:30:39 AM
Thanks a ton Charlie!  I will give this a try.