Under Sink Water Heater

[Topzide]

View attachment 5017714

Newr unit of the one I've got under the sink. Has served me well. I believe the biggest difference is the 208 voltage design used on a 240 circuit! It's an element so voltage won't damage like a motor.

 

[kenmac]

I have a small water heater in my shop. I think it's 5 gallons 110 volts . The water comes in the garage through the bathroom which is insulated. I keep a small elect heater with thermostat on in the winter to prevent the water from freezing

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I ended up just getting a 4 gal 110 unit from Home Depot. I put it above the sink, it did not fit under. I just got it all finished this weekend. I had roughed in a full bath with a shower in the corner before I poured my slab. I've been using the shop for a couple of years now and don't think I have a need for a shower and wanted to preserve some square footage. I ended up turning my toilet 90 degrees from how it was originally laid out so the "toilet closet" can stay tucked back a little more than it would have been. I left the shower drain accessible in case I want to use it at a later date. The air compressor fit really well there, and it has to go somewhere.. So I just built a little riser to keep the plumbing safe. I am going to hard pipe the compressor to a reel in the front of the shop so I won't have to really have much access to the compressor itself.

 

[rustycloe]

These units don't work 'as advertised'. Here is the fine print -

• Durable, point-of-use hot water solution ideal for a single sink application in areas with at least 57 degrees F ground water temperature.
• Manufacture states do not use with water less than 57'F.View attachment 5017650

Maybe in South Florida you get tap water that warm.
My well water comes into the house at 40'F, and there's not enough BTUs in that little unit to heat it to anywhere near 120'F. And, to get it warm, you'd have to choke down the flow where you wouldn't have enough GPM to wash or rinse much.
I would mount an outdoor propane unit. We have one for an outbuilding that supplies two full baths with showers at the same time, and we initially considered water heater rental Windsor Ontario as a practical option for that setup.
They make smaller units, and electrical sized properly.

Patrick

Hello. I'm thinking of getting a couple of electric instant water heaters for the two hot taps downstairs. Does anyone know if you can plug them into a normal 13A socket, or do they need their own fused circuit like an electric shower?

 

[Topzide]

They'll need their own circuit. Most receptacles have other things on that circuit.
Since you need to run a new circuit for one, just run some 12 ga and get a 208 volt unit. If had one almost 30 years now and works great.

 

[ultrarunner]

The compact 240 volt under sink unit is 12 years old at work for a hand wash sink… it works perfect and pictured up thread…

I have an Instahot at home but unplugged it because I seldom used it… the previous owners used it for coffee and tea…

 

[LouNY]

They'll need their own circuit. Most receptacles have other things on that circuit.
Since you need to run a new circuit for one, just run some 12 ga and get a 208 volt unit. If had one almost 30 years now and works great.

From the best of my knowledge the only way you'll get 208 Volts in the US is from 3 phase power, single phase is going to be 120/240V

 

[DarkBlack]

Since you need to run a new circuit for one, just run some 12 ga and get a 208 volt unit. If had one almost 30 years now and works great.

95% of homeowners are going to have 240 volts, not 3-phase derived 208 volts. While most of the heaters use the exact same heaters in the 240v as their 208v marked models, people should still certainly buy and install the 240v labeled version, if that’s what their house has.

 

[Topzide]

Not the case. The 208 volt unit allows the water to heat better. Like i said, unit has been under kitchen sink for almost 30 years. Resistive heat can be used on 240 even if 208 volt unit. Compare the specs between 208 and 240.

 

[DarkBlack]

Not the case. The 208 volt unit allows the water to heat better. Like i said, unit has been under kitchen sink for almost 30 years. Resistive heat can be used on 240 even if 208 volt unit. Compare the specs between 208 and 240.View attachment 5605262

You or someone either by mistake or on purpose installed a 208v appliance, instead of the correct 240v version. Good for you, it’s worked for 30 years. It’s still an incorrect installation. You’re running past the documented tested design.
See the 14 amps on the nameplate? That’s now incorrect, because the current will be higher on a 240v circuit. They make a 240v model for a good reason.
No good licensed electrician would purposely install a 208v appliance on a single phase 240v circuit, with a nameplate that disagrees with current and voltage requirements , when the manufacturer supplies the correct 240v model in greater availability.

 

[Topzide]

Did you not see on label it says singe phase!

 

[LouNY]

Did you not see on label it says singe phase!

That's because 2 legs of 3 phase is single phase.

 

[rustycloe]

You or someone either by mistake or on purpose installed a 208v appliance, instead of the correct 240v version. Good for you, it’s worked for 30 years. It’s still an incorrect installation. You’re running past the documented tested design.
See the 14 amps on the nameplate? That’s now incorrect, because the current will be higher on a 240v circuit. They make a 240v model for a good reason.
No good licensed electrician would purposely install a 208v appliance on a single phase 240v circuit, with a nameplate that disagrees with current and voltage requirements , when the manufacturer supplies the correct 240v model in greater availability.

thank you for your suggestion

 

[Topzide]

See post #19 & #20.