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Introduction
If you have an Aquahot (AH) system, and find that your hot water runs out during your shower, read on. I have fought with my AH for years, but think that I have finally found the solution.

Before I tell you what the problem / solution is, I want to tell you about the terrific guys that figured the problem out and engineered a solution to the problem. (Both attended the Spearfish rally last year) Rudy Legett (Trainer) is a fellow guru. When I sent him a note asking him to look at my AH, he responded that he might know what the problem is and might even have a solution. He told me that his mentor and acknowledged Aquahot expert Roger Burke had seen the same problem over and over, and had invented a solution to the problem. These guys met me in Nacodoches, Texas this week and applied the fix (still in prototype stage). As of 48 hours the prototype fix is working, and I am once again enjoying hot water.

Symptom
I would have hot water for about 5 minutes. After that, it would cool off to about 95 degrees. The temperature meter inside my coach never said anything less than about 165 degrees.

Diagnosis
It turned out that the tank inside my AH unit was not full of water / coolant. Whenever I filled up the tank, it would slowly leak down. I sometimes could tell that I had a leak (a small puddle under the coach)…but most times the coolant would just kinda disappear.

The fact that I was losing water was a key to understanding what was happening. Previously, I had replaced the radiator cap and overflow hose. (Both had been leaking). I was sure that they were good now. I also figured out that the water only leaked down to a particular level…never ran out altogether. Rudy suggested that the problem was in the neck of the tank (right under the radiator cap). He has a trouble shooting technique, but since I saw some corrosion around the “neck”, I was convinced I had a leak at the top of the tank.

Solution
If you get a leak inside the stainless box…you are outta luck. If the tank cracks or the copper tubing inside the box springs a leak…again you are outta luck. But, and this is the important part, if you have a slight leak and your AH unit has a normal radiator cap, there may be a solution. It turns out that the way that the neck was attached to the tank is not terribly robust and has been known to fail.

The solution was invented by Roger Berke and involves using a torch to remove the top of the tube (the neck that holds the radiator cap). After the neck is removed, there is vertical tube that goes to the tank. A silicone tube is attached to the tank tube with constant tension clamps along with a new machined part that holds the cap. Roger provided the part (see pictures) and a new radiator cap.

Installation
At the appointed time, Rudy and Roger showed up outside my coach. I had been cooling the unit for a few hours, but it still retained a little heat. Rudy carefully released the pressure on the tank. (Since I had a crack in the neck, there was really no pressure to release) With the cap off, Rudy used his torch to heat up the joint between the neck and the tube.

If you end up doing this, be careful to pack the gap between the tube and the stainless box with some sort of non flammable material. There is thermal insulation inside the stainless box that may be flammable. We used wet cloth to protect the insulation from the torch. (you might have a black rubber gasket fit around the neck)

The solder that holds the neck to the tube was easily liquified with the torch and the neck popped off. The next step was to slide the new silicone hose onto the tank pipe. It was a little tricky to get the constant tension clamp down onto the hose but with the right tools, Rudy was able to get the job done. Next the new machined neck slid down into the silicone pipe and another constant tension clamp added.

Finally, the tank was topped off with distilled water, the radiator cap put on and the unit was fired up. No leaks appeared.

Lessons learned
1. Roger has seen many AH units with corroded / leaking necks. This is the first fix that does not require the entire unit to be removed and rebuilt.
2. The neck part was made of stamped metal and was not robustly attached to the tube. Corrosion was visible on the outside of the tube. Once the neck was removed it was apparent that this problem was probably created during the manufacturing process. (the entire circumference of the neck was not evenly soldered)
3. Roger Berke has invented what may turn out to be a simple solution to what could be a widespread problem. Although the fix is still in the prototype stage, early testing has been successful.
4. Both Roger and Rudy are super knowledgable about Aquahot units and are genuinely good guys. Highly recommended.

Resting in Twin Fountians today. Red Jeep towed.
   

How has everyone attached the tv to the door

I am planning to make a fold up table in the salon area below the passenger side window. I am interested in any pics of such that Newell built into your coach, especially the fold up feature.
Thank you!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YC9...UTF8&psc=1

Hello,
We just left Indio,s Motor Coach Country Club and right now in Zion National Park in UT and heading more in to UT canyons after 5 days here in Zion River Resort
After parking our coach I heard whistling noise and noticed our air tank has big air leak!! I can locate buy placing my finger right in the center of the left side of the tank!looks like it will get larger and larger leak with time!
Is anyone here have replaced on their own, if so, what was the right order! disconnect both air ports , looks like in mine I would need to pull out the air fan motor right below case the tank is long and big around 20"x7" or so!

I checked with several trucks stops but with out much luck , plus we are on the road traveling!

What would you suggest to do ?

Can we drive with the leak and wait to get to bigger city to fix it? It looks like compressor keeps up with.

Also, I was thinking to just order on on line and replace myself since we are on the road !I found same size 3 gallon tank but with 3 1/2" ports !!! Can I just put 1/4" reducer on one port and for the relief Valve I am sure I can find the solution with right size!

Most of the tanks are rated for 120-150psi , would that work!
I send the email to Newell and see what I come up with but I figure I ask here as well!


Thanks,

I want to disable the alternator output on the generator.
Which wire would I disconnect to do this, without harming the alternator?
I don't want to remove the belt.
I will put a switch so I could enable it if needed. When driving and running the generator that alternator senses the house (LiFePO4) batteries as full so it cuts the amps output and the volts go to 14. This causes the engine alternator to shut down. Which is how I have the Balmar regulator programmed. But the engine batteries aren't getting any charge so they slowly start discharging.

Here is a little ditty I wrote. More to come! (I couldn't figure out how to attach it. Kept giving me the message "this thread is not available", or something like that.

Big Blue

“Let’s fulltime!”
“Okay! Let’s DO it!”

And we were outta there.

Actually, it didn’t happen that fast. We have been rv’ing since 2000. Did the normal stuff. Started out tent camping and complaining when one of those smelly big things pulled in and who cares if they have their own toilets, fridge and showers? Obviously, we did, cause we got our first rv, a GMC, then moved up to a Barth, then down to a Roadtrek (Gary couldn’t stand up straight in it) then back up to an Allegro Bus, AND THEN.... to a monster. But a kind, friendly, beautiful monster, our Newell, number 729, our gentle giant.

We sold our six acres, house and barn on the Chama River in New Mexico. And along with it our mini donkeys, chickens, tractor, four-wheeler and 8 koi. We graciously threw in the pond care, the 24/7 mowing, the mosquitoes, the pocket gophers, our propane, telephone, satellite, television, and electrical expense at no extra charge.

We then traveled to the Newell factory in Miami, Oklahoma. Actually, the Okies pronounce it Miam-UH. Obviously to differentiate it from the one in Florida. The similarities are astounding.

And lo and behold, we found our monster, our very own Big Blue. And it had everything. Four slides, all electric, dishwasher! What more could a girl ask for? We were amazed at the technology that Newell had ten years ago. Yes, it’s ten years old, but who cares? The only thing our bus had over it was the side cameras on the turn signals. I think I would trade that for the push button shades.

So we leave Camp Newell with a song in our heart. Until we realized this was not just a monster, it was a whole new animal. We had to unlearn as much as learn. But with the continuous help of Newell’s 24/7 service we did fine! Gary was most reluctant to call, but I didn’t hesitate. Cresley, Mike, Curtis, Ryan, others whose names escape me... remember me? “Susie”. I can just see them rolling their eyes when they heard my name. But each time (and I am sure I interrupted more than a few sit down dinners) they were terrific, and most helpful to these Newell newbies.

Let’s see, what are our favorites? The dump procedure would have to rate right up there at the top. At least that’s what Gary tells me. I’m not even sure where to find it on Big Blue. And the Gaggenau cook top. No more trying to get that dern propane cook top lit. And how could I leave out the dishwasher? Of course, I had one in the other rv’s, but Gary didn’t always dry them that well.

The oohs and aahs Big Blue receives are legendary. Every campsite we pull into it attracts immeasurable attention. (And even freebies, like chocolate chip cookies, from the campsite owners) Gary loves pointing out all the exterior features and I love pointing out the crystal wine and old fashioned glasses, compliments of Newell.

Life, however, is not perfect. There are some downsides. Or rather, one downside. The money pit bay. Unfortunately the 24/7 hotline doesn’t tell us how to run it on cooking oil. But I BET they could upgrade that!

Susie Richardson
April 2014 ©

In Nacogdoches this afternoon Rudy Legett will arrive and tomorrow Roger Berke along with Bill Johnson. Rudy and Roger are here to have some things looked after at our friend Bernd's shop and Bill needs to have his Aqua Hot repaired. It seems that Roger has developed a fix for leaking at the filler cap which has plague a lot of us. I found out that I had this problem last year at Spearfish. Finally after a number of tries got it fixed.
Bill has this problem and it is going to be interesting to observe Rogers and Rudys technique in solving it.
We will also go over to Motor Homes Of Texas and meet everyone there and introduce Roger and Bill. Everyone there already knows Rudy. It is going to be a good week.

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