Texman 182g Mods

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   we had freeze warnings overnight.  so, i turned on the recirc system only, not the hot water heater. That way only the fresh tank water and unheated water in water heater tank would recirc as needed and use no propane.  I figured this would be fine since no extreme lows expected, only around 32 deg and the tank water should be around 55 deg from well water.  

We hit 32 deg around 4 am and stayed there until about 9 am, so five hours.  The sensor in the supply line was at 37deg at 8 am.  Winds blowing 10-15 mph throughout the freezing hours.  I wasn't in the pod, but i don't think the recirc ever came on since the set point is at 34 deg.  We are supposed to freeze tonight and saturday night.  The saturday freeze should be down in the 20s.  

it is nice to have this as the temps fluctuate around freezing and being able to leave the water in the pod and be ready to go.  It should really open up some boondocking possibilities for us at higher elevations.  Everyone seems to complain about the heater noise, but it doesn't seem that bad to me. it only takes a few minutes to heat up the small pod.  So i am hoping i have at least a 3 season pod for boondocking.  I don't really want to camp in the snow anyway.  

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texman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Location: TeXas Online Status: Offline Posts: 446	Topic: Texman 182g Mods Posted: 12 Apr 2019 at 9:25am
	we had freeze warnings overnight. so, i turned on the recirc system only, not the hot water heater. That way only the fresh tank water and unheated water in water heater tank would recirc as needed and use no propane. I figured this would be fine since no extreme lows expected, only around 32 deg and the tank water should be around 55 deg from well water. We hit 32 deg around 4 am and stayed there until about 9 am, so five hours. The sensor in the supply line was at 37deg at 8 am. Winds blowing 10-15 mph throughout the freezing hours. I wasn't in the pod, but i don't think the recirc ever came on since the set point is at 34 deg. We are supposed to freeze tonight and saturday night. The saturday freeze should be down in the 20s. it is nice to have this as the temps fluctuate around freezing and being able to leave the water in the pod and be ready to go. It should really open up some boondocking possibilities for us at higher elevations. Everyone seems to complain about the heater noise, but it doesn't seem that bad to me. it only takes a few minutes to heat up the small pod. So i am hoping i have at least a 3 season pod for boondocking. I don't really want to camp in the snow anyway.
	TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia TexManMods

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 10 Apr 2019 at 7:03am
	The recirc system does the same thing as the pads but much more efficiently and more securely because you're directly heating the water in the fresh tank and all the water lines. You can either use propane or 120Vac as the heat source since the water heater has both options.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 09 Apr 2019 at 3:06pm
	Oh yeah, I know they draw a lot of power...but in those situations below freezing, here at home and camping with electric hookups, it would save me from draining the fresh water tank or winterizing for just a few weeks.
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

texman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Location: TeXas Online Status: Offline Posts: 446	Posted: 09 Apr 2019 at 1:31pm
	i stayed away from the heat pads because they are power hogs and really only usable when on shore power. I prefer to boondock so i went with insulation and recirc water to deal with freezing temps.
	TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia TexManMods

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 09 Apr 2019 at 1:07pm
	I might be interested in insulating the fresh tank similar to what you did, and the supply pipe, but I intend to also use a heated pad under the tank, keeping it simple, at least in theory. I already re-arranged the fresh tank drain and the fresh water supply tube...the drain tube on mine was rigid, and hung down below the axle, even after the axle lift. (no jokes please!) I have also insulated the supply tube with regular foam pipe-wrap, I figure it can't hurt!
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

texman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Location: TeXas Online Status: Offline Posts: 446	Posted: 09 Apr 2019 at 10:49am
	Pod Party sounds good, the surrounding states can have the other party. The membrane material on the tank is TPO Roofing. Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is a single-ply reflective roofing membrane made from polyprophylene and ethylene-propylene rubber polymerized together. It is 60 mil thick and tough stuff. it is not the easiest to work with as far as wrapping a water tank on an Rpod, but that is definitely not the intended use for the stuff either. it normally comes in 10 foot wide rolls in various lengths. i have a friend in the roofing business that let me have some. cuts easily with a new razor. Scissors work but a slow and hard to cut. i mechanically fastened the TPO to 1" square aluminum tubing that i mounted to the frame at the front and rear of the Fresh water tank. and then fastened the TPO to the POD frame on each end. The TPO covers the tank including the fresh water supply line. The fresh water supply line is insulated with Rubber pipe insulation as well. The Tstat sensor that controls the valves to allow recirculating water is on the supply line close to the tank elbow.
	TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia TexManMods

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 08 Apr 2019 at 12:08am
	We need to have a Panhandle Pod Party or something. (not pot party, POD party!) Also, I'd like to know more about that membrane you used on the tank.
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

texman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Location: TeXas Online Status: Offline Posts: 446	Posted: 01 Apr 2019 at 9:13am
	started with one tank open that weighed 26.4 lbs at 8:45pm Friday and weighed again at 6am 04/01/2019 and had 26.0 lbs. So .4 lbs of propane used to keep water heater at 78 deg. This morning temps about 36 deg and the tank sensor read 40.8deg. So not sure it ever cycled very much at all. not a good test period, but it did get below freezing for several hours. http:////snpy.in/okhyJs
	TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia TexManMods

IdahoBoy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 24 Oct 2015 Location: Ketchum, Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 65	Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 8:40pm
	Thanks! That is what I was hoping. I like easy.

texman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Location: TeXas Online Status: Offline Posts: 446	Posted: 25 Mar 2019 at 8:22pm
	KT20MNT Flame king. Bought it on amazon. Plumbing is easy just make sure you use the correct tape or compound on the non compression fittings. Holler if you have questions
	TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia TexManMods