Getting hot water while in RV Park

[Jerry & Sarah]

22 New Aire
Is it necessary to use generator to get hot water when plugged into 50a shore power?

 

[AbdRahim]

No

 

[CaptainGizmo]

22 New Aire
Is it necessary to use generator to get hot water when plugged into 50a shore power?

Hi Jerry, you've posted this in the Newell Owners group and might not get all the exposure needed in future posts.

I'll flag this to have the Mods move it to the general (plumbing) section.

As AbdRahim states, though, NO...you do NOT need the Generator to power your heater. Remember, the OASIS has two heating sources; ELECTRIC (220V) and DIESEL. So, if you do NOT have ANY source of 110/220v, then you simply run it on the DIESEL function.

 

[Richpatty]

Remember, the OASIS has two heating sources; ELECTRIC (220V) and DIESEL. So, if you do NOT have ANY source of 110/220v, then you simply run it on the DIESEL function.

Minor note…. Oasis electric is 120 v….

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Minor note…. Oasis electric is 120 v….

That's a little more than minor! So it will run on a 30amp pedestal!

 

[SteveMA]

Just barely - you can only have 1 electric water/heat element on and 1 roof AC running at the same time as even a good 30A breaker will give up if you try both electric elements and any other significant load... (inverter charging, 2nd AC, floor heat...). A good breaker should hold ~120% overload (IE 36A) for a significant time but will trip when the load is >150% (45A) for several minutes and at 200% will trip almost at once. that is if the breaker on the pedestal is good. Most get "soft" over time being tortured by those RV people who overload them....

 

[Kevin D Pem]

So Steve, you design breakers? Your an electrical engineer? An electrician?

Just wondering where you got your information!!!

 

[SteveMA]

Depending on the curve rating of each type of circuit breaker (and there are many curve types) the NEC code specifies the constant load on any circuit protection device and related wiring to not exceed 80% of the protection device value. That means that a 30A breaker is normally not allowed to exceed 24A (30-20%=24A) and a 50A breaker should not have greater than 40A on each leg (which we all know we exceed). A healthy 30A breaker will hold 30A for a period that is between infinity and a specified period depending on the curve, impulse, heat, heat build up... I can go on and on.
The point here is that the NEC (National Electrical Code - pick a year, always changes) does define the behaviors of the breakers depending on type, thermal trip characteristics, overload character trip by type. Sample of 5 curves attached.

And in answer to your 3 questions - well yes to some and no to others.

 

[Jerry & Sarah]

My issue was during our first trip. When we got to the RV Park and set everything up, the water was hot. That evening the water temp was barely warm, and stayed that way.

I read in the owners manual something about the electric water heaters could not keep the water hot by themselves ( if you needed hot water, the generator must be used).

I was plugged into 50a shore power.

 

[wildebill308]

So Steve, you design breakers? Your an electrical engineer? An electrician?

Just wondering where you got your information!!!

I don't know where he got his info but all the Oasis systems I have seen are 110V and from ITR.
To supplement burner output, every OASIS heater has 120VAC electric elements that provide an additional 5,000 to 10,000 BTU to each system, depending on configuration.
I checked load on my unit and with both on they drew 26 amps. So if on 30 amp shore power I might use one and leave the burner on to take up any extra load.

 

[wildebill308]

Jerry & Sarah
Did you turn on your burner on the oasis control panel? Are both of the switches marked ACl and ACll turned on?
You should not need to run the generator if you have 50 amp shore power.
Let me know what you find
Bill

 

[Jerry & Sarah]

Jerry & Sarah
Did you turn on your burner on the oasis control panel? Are both of the switches marked ACl and ACll turned on?
You should not need to run the generator if you have 50 amp shore power.
Let me know what you find
Bill

Thanks; I will check it and report here.

 

[jaydee325]

My issue was during our first trip. When we got to the RV Park and set everything up, the water was hot. That evening the water temp was barely warm, and stayed that way.

I read in the owners manual something about the electric water heaters could not keep the water hot by themselves ( if you needed hot water, the generator must be used).

I was plugged into 50a shore power.

I suspect your New Aire has the optional engine heat/preheat function. With that option, the engine provided all the heating to the Oasis heating unit. Once in camp, you used up any residual hot water and apparently did not have the burner switch on and/or did not have either of the AC1/AC2 functions switched on.

Per the manual, the burner is primary heat source and electric is secondary. This means that with the burner switched on and the AC1/AC2 also on, the electric will be secondary to the burner in camp.

I assume that your New Aire also has energy management for the electrical loads. Even if you are on 30A power and you exceed 30A from the electric heaters plus anything else electrical you have running, the excess load should switch to batteries via the inverter (at least my Ventana does). This should be a short lived excess load and your batteries will handle it fine and seamlessly.

Whenever I'm in a site that only has 30A, I usually just have the burner switch on and both AC1/AC2 on. The diesel usage is negligible for hot water and heating.

If you haven't yet, suggest you sit down with the manuals and learn how your electrical and heating systems work. You'll have a much less stressful experience.

 

[Jerry & Sarah]

I suspect your New Aire has the optional engine heat/preheat function. With that option, the engine provided all the heating to the Oasis heating unit. Once in camp, you used up any residual hot water and apparently did not have the burner switch on and/or did not have either of the AC1/AC2 functions switched on.

Per the manual, the burner is primary heat source and electric is secondary. This means that with the burner switched on and the AC1/AC2 also on, the electric will be secondary to the burner in camp.

I assume that your New Aire also has energy management for the electrical loads. Even if you are on 30A power and you exceed 30A from the electric heaters plus anything else electrical you have running, the excess load should switch to batteries via the inverter (at least my Ventana does). This should be a short lived excess load and your batteries will handle it fine and seamlessly.

Whenever I'm in a site that only has 30A, I usually just have the burner switch on and both AC1/AC2 on. The diesel usage is negligible for hot water and heating.

If you haven't yet, suggest you sit down with the manuals and learn how your electrical and heating systems work. You'll have a much less stressful experience.

Thank you.
Yes, i believe that your reply is exactly what happened, and yes, I need to study the owners manual to clearly usderstand how this system works. Everything on this Coach is new to me ( this is our first class A), and that is a lot to process on our first night out!

I appreciate all the people here who are willing and able to help.

 

[RKins]

My issue was during our first trip. When we got to the RV Park and set everything up, the water was hot. That evening the water temp was barely warm, and stayed that way.

I read in the owners manual something about the electric water heaters could not keep the water hot by themselves ( if you needed hot water, the generator must be used).

I was plugged into 50a shore power.

The typical RV water heater has a heating element like the one in your S&B home. Your New Aire is all electric I presume so I think they were talking about the electric element not keeping up with the demand. My water heater is gas, electric and also has a loop that runs through the engine coolant to heat the water as you are enroute to your destination. Doesn't your oasis heat water too?

 

[wildebill308]

Jerry & Sarah, Did you get it figured out?
Bill

 

[CaptainGizmo]

Minor note…. Oasis electric is 120 v….

I apologize...my memory of my Dutch Star's OASIS was blurred by our current AquaHot, which has both 110 and 220v electric.

 

[team bradfield]

Thank you.
Yes, i believe that your reply is exactly what happened, and yes, I need to study the owners manual to clearly usderstand how this system works. Everything on this Coach is new to me ( this is our first class A), and that is a lot to process on our first night out!

I appreciate all the people here who are willing and able to help.

we were all there at one point, I recall our first couple nights in a Class A, lots to learn, this site is a huge help

 

[AC7880]

22 New Aire
Is it necessary to use generator to get hot water when plugged into 50a shore power?

No. LOL!

 

[AC7880]

That's a little more than minor! So it will run on a 30amp pedestal!

If you manage your electrical loads - yes.