Duoetto 12 volt 10 litre water heater, recommendations???

madaboutled · Guru

Duoetto 12 volt 10 litre water heater, recommendations???

hako · Guru

Our heater in the Avan is starting to make funny noises and I also was looking at these. Apparently they are Australian made! Found this link:
http://www.jtsonline.com.au/facts/duoetto

As always it would be nice to get an opinion from a buyer.

Regards

moamajohn · Guru

I fitted one to my Coromal pop top under the seat beside the wheel well .Then put a flick mixer in the sink and gave the hand pump the flick ,great ! John

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

"On 12 volts the load is 300 watts with a current draw of 25 amps."

That is a serious amount of power to provide.

More than double the power used by leaving you head lights (and parkers and tail lights) turned on.

If it is coming from the tug it would need very large cables.

Cheers,

Peter

hako · Guru

They also operate on 240Vac and use a larger element then. In a camper it would be run from the camper/house battery just like an inverter but as you say Peter, it is a serious amount of power.
The alternative is gas, and the cost installed will be well over $1000 whereas the Duoetto costs about $350 and you can fit it yourself. We only need one for hot water in the sink.
Regards

ShortNorth · Senior Member

Hey Denis,

The standard water heater in Aliners (not sure about Cruisers or Cruiseliners) is a Mercury Aqueous 10 litre 240v unit (1000watts) - it is the identical brother to the Duoetto, but 240v only (same casing, same size, same appearance) - I had a close look at mine today. I'm sure if your water heater is on the way out, and you can't find an Aqueous, getting a Duoetto should fit straight in without any modifications, even if you don't use the 12v section. Without taking mine out, I couldn't see how hard it would be to wire up the 12v side of things if a Duoetto was to replace a failed Aqueous. However, with the Aliner battery at only 95A/hrs and the Duoetto running at 25 amps on 12v, the Duoetto would run the battery down pretty quickly - maybe with a decent solar system attached, it might cancel out the Duoetto's daily consumption ???

Regards, Brian

VWT5 · Newbie

I have a Duetto fitted to my VW campervan, really pleased with it. 240v operation is great, heats up quickly and always hot water on hand. Only have a 120 amp AGM so don't use on 12v when stationary (20 amp draw) , but if bush camping turn it on when driving so have hot water on arrival and can top up with about 10amp draw before the bedtime wash.

Hope this helps,, Bob

hako · Guru

Thanks Brian - our Cruiser has a different HWS - apparently they are prone to failure from what we are told.
I think I'll look closer at the Duoetta as they'd be lighter as well - not interested in the 12v side really as when bushcamping we live mostly outside.
Just as an aside, I note in the latest Bunnings catalogue they have a "Gleamous" 3.3KW Electric hot water unit 15 amp single phase 6l/min flow rate for $119. Not sure if it has a 15amp plug or designed to be hardwired in. Might be worth a look.
Regards

Possum3 · Guru

If the hot water is only needed for wash-ups why not purchase a 12V kettle for less than $20 from Aussie Disposals?

VWT5 · Newbie

Hi Possum3,

what part of the original question didn't you understand

hako · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
If the hot water is only needed for wash-ups why not purchase a 12V kettle for less than $20 from Aussie Disposals?

We have gas as well so could boil a kettle but we tend to rinse the dishes etc under warm water....having a hot water system makes washing up more convenient I guess...it could be considered a luxury but then again you never see a house without a HWS.

Regards

ShortNorth · Senior Member

hako wrote:
........................ they have a "Gleamous" 3.3KW Electric hot water unit 15 amp single phase 6l/min flow rate for $119. Not sure if it has a 15amp plug or designed to be hardwired in. Might be worth a look........................
Regards

Whooah there ! The standard caravan site supply is only 15A - 3.6kW - if you fit this you'll have to turn EVERYTHING else off.

And it will be utterly useless if you ever need to run from a normal 10A 2.4kW supply (through an Ampfibian, of course).

The Aqueous / Duoetto is only a 1000w (just under 5A) - much better - we have hot water available within 10 seconds of connecting on site - 1000w is more than adequate. The 240v element runs only when water flows, so is basically an instantaneous type - the fully insulated tank can hold the heat for very long times, and once setup on site uses the element to top up the heat on demand as needed.

madaboutled · Guru

ShortNorth wrote:
hako wrote:
........................ they have a "Gleamous" 3.3KW Electric hot water unit 15 amp single phase 6l/min flow rate for $119. Not sure if it has a 15amp plug or designed to be hardwired in. Might be worth a look........................
Regards
Whooah there ! The standard caravan site supply is only 15A - 3.6kW - if you fit this you'll have to turn EVERYTHING else off.
And it will be utterly useless if you ever need to run from a normal 10A 2.4kW supply (through an Ampfibian, of course).

Thought pretty much the same thing, Great Minds.....

Your info that followed that was what I was after more or less, so thanks for that.

hako · Guru

15 amps - yup, good point there Brian but I suppose in theory it could be done, after all lots of appliances in the van are 2400 watts like kettle and heater and they run through a 10amp powerpoint....but it was only a thought.
Duoetto here we come.

Thanks

gfsutton · Newbie

I purchased an Aqueous (first cousin to the Duoetto, 240v only) water heater for our caravan on 31 March 2014 from Aus J Imports. It was used on 3 trips for a total of about 10 weeks in the first year. On the next trip away (July 2015) the heater was leaking. The ad gave a 12 month warranty but the instruction manual gave a 3 year warranty on the tank. I contacted the supplier and was advised to strip the insulation and get it welded. I did so and after 8 welds it was still leaking so gave it up. The tank was supposed to be 304 SS. I contacted the supplier and they agreed to replace it providing I paid return postage and a $50 handling fee. Total cost $114.75 but I got a replacement heater. This unit was used for three weeks. Next trip away in February 2016 and a check as soon as water was turned on showed the ominous leaks from inside the insulation. I phoned the supplier and he said to put the info in an email. I did so and am still awaiting a reply. The heaters cannot easily be drained between uses as the inlet has a direct coupled non-return valve and the outlet extends to the top of the tank. It has to be removed from the caravan while full. There is no sacrificial anode protection.

I now have a Suburban cylinder installed.

-- Edited by gfsutton on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 06:50:34 PM

-- Edited by gfsutton on Wednesday 22nd of June 2016 01:32:14 PM

vonjean · Member

Thanks for info on the Aqueous 12 volt water heaters, as I was debating getting one for my VW transporter. Was looking at the 5 or 6 litre one. But after what you said I might have to keep looking! Don't want the same trouble as you had.

Cant have gas inside van [so I am told] have no room for a gas bottle sealed outside, and as a female travelling alone, do not wish to shower outside, not even in a shower tent! Isolated places keep me inside at night.

My original idea was to heat water on the portable stove, and pour into small bucket, then a tiny 12 volt pump pumps it up into a shower. Not great but maybe work. Unless anyone got better ideas?

I only have room for this one water source in shower, no sink.

What was the suburban heater you put in please?

Vonjean

gfsutton · Newbie

It is the Suburban 240V. No problems in 2 years. Its designed for an external hatch but I put it under the sink and arranged the pipework with a drain valve to empty the heater when not in use. The anode protects the heater tank from corrosion and I will need to replace the anode this year.

-- Edited by gfsutton on Monday 2nd of April 2018 10:32:38 PM