Water Heater draw?

[Scott Forman]

I have to use my bus at a Football game this weekend, and the verdict
is still out as to whether my generator will be operational. The good
news is that I really don't need much 110v this time of year at a
tailgate. I have a small "suitcase" 1KW generator that I plan to use
to get the batt chargers running. If I have nothing else on, will this
1KW output be enough to run my water heater?

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

[Pete Masterson]

I guess it's a question of what does your water heater draw? My
AquaHot has a 2000 watt heading element -- that would eat a 1kw
generator for lunch. There should be a manufacturer's plate on the
hot water heater giving the electrical draw. Since a heating element
doesn't have an extra draw (like a motor starting up) you can
probably draw 80-90% of the rated power of your generator safely --
but check your generator's operating manual. Many generators are only
rated at a peak value and have a much lower "continuous" value. So 1
kw might _really_ mean 500 or 750 watts continuous.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart Texas



On Nov 14, 2007, at 5:40 PM, Scott Forman wrote:

> I have to use my bus at a Football game this weekend, and the verdict
> is still out as to whether my generator will be operational. The good
> news is that I really don't need much 110v this time of year at a
> tailgate. I have a small "suitcase" 1KW generator that I plan to use
> to get the batt chargers running. If I have nothing else on, will
> this
> 1KW output be enough to run my water heater?

[pattypape]

Scott,

The 1K gennie will probably make hot water, about 600/800 watts.
It may not charge your batteries, depending on the battery charge
needed.
A charger may need 1K to 2K Watts to recharge batteries.

Bill 88 FC


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@...>
wrote:
>
> I have to use my bus at a Football game this weekend, and the verdict
> is still out as to whether my generator will be operational. The
good
> news is that I really don't need much 110v this time of year at a
> tailgate. I have a small "suitcase" 1KW generator that I plan to use
> to get the batt chargers running. If I have nothing else on, will
this
> 1KW output be enough to run my water heater?
>
> Scott Forman
> 86 PT38
> Memphis
>

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Scott:

1KW is not enough gen set. The element in the average water heater is 1500
W. plug that into ohms law and you get 1500W divided by 120 vac equals 12.5
amps of draw.
a 1KW gen set puts out 1000 W so 1000W divided by 120vac equals 8.3 amps of
available power.

Check your manual for the wattage of the heating element in your unit, just
to be sure it is not a 750W.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35
Duncan, Oklahoma

At 11:40 PM 11/14/2007 +0000, you wrote:
>I have to use my bus at a Football game this weekend, and the verdict
>is still out as to whether my generator will be operational. The good
>news is that I really don't need much 110v this time of year at a
>tailgate. I have a small "suitcase" 1KW generator that I plan to use
>to get the batt chargers running. If I have nothing else on, will this
>1KW output be enough to run my water heater?
>
>Scott Forman
>86 PT38
>Memphis
>
>
>

[krminyl@...]

My water heater water stays warm enough for at least 24 hrs after shutting
down...warm enough to shower in, anyway....fwiw...

Kevin
YL CA
86 38 PT



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Dorn Hetzel]

won't the hot water heater also make hot water using engine heat, at least
for a while?

On 11/14/07, Ralph L. Fullenwider wrote:
>
> Scott:
>
> 1KW is not enough gen set. The element in the average water heater is 1500
>
> W. plug that into ohms law and you get 1500W divided by 120 vac equals
> 12.5
> amps of draw.
> a 1KW gen set puts out 1000 W so 1000W divided by 120vac equals 8.3 amps
> of
> available power.
>
> Check your manual for the wattage of the heating element in your unit,
> just
> to be sure it is not a 750W.
>
> Safe travels,
>
> Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> 84FC35
> Duncan, Oklahoma
>
> At 11:40 PM 11/14/2007 +0000, you wrote:
> >I have to use my bus at a Football game this weekend, and the verdict
> >is still out as to whether my generator will be operational. The good
> >news is that I really don't need much 110v this time of year at a
> >tailgate. I have a small "suitcase" 1KW generator that I plan to use
> >to get the batt chargers running. If I have nothing else on, will this
> >1KW output be enough to run my water heater?
> >
> >Scott Forman
> >86 PT38
> >Memphis
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]