Wanting To Keep Water Heater Watts Low In Camp

Just buy a new 3800 watt heater. LINK

Don’t really wanna deal with propane tanks

propane brother
every camp’s best friend

First, what exactly went out in the old heater? Heating element, thermostat? You can get replacement element at a lower wattage and just install it.

Second, a 4500W heater is going to draw less than 20 amps while heating, the difference in that and trying to find a 3800W heater is meaningless to the breaker panel itself.

4500 watts / 240 volts = 18.75 amps
3800 watts / 240 volts = 15.83 amps

Less than 3 amps difference. And that is only when initially heating, as the element heats, the resistance rises and the current draw drops. It may seem counterintuitive, but if you think about it for a second, that makes sense, it takes more energy to heat the element than the keep it hot.

So don't worry about the water heater being an issue for your panel or main breaker. If you are that close, your service is too small already.

Can do that, just at the expense of slower heating and will lower the first-hour volume rating.

I bought a 4500 watt and installed it Thursday, so far so good.

Also bought a 3800 watt heating element incase it trips breaker durning winter I’ll change it out.

Thanks for the replies