Elgena Nautic Therm water heater, 15 l, 230 V / 330 W - pressure-resistant boiler for motorhomes, caravans and boats

The Elgena Nautic Therm, 15 l, 230 V / 330 W is a pressure-resistant water heater with a capacity of 15 litres, designed for motor and sailing yachts, motorhomes, caravans and food trucks. Unlike small low-pressure heaters it withstands a working pressure of up to 3 bar, so you can connect it to a submersible, foot or hand pump as well as to a pressure pump, with several taps. The tank is made of acid-resistant V4A stainless steel and fully insulated, so the water stays warm for a long time. You set the temperature steplessly with the knob: F is frost protection, I about 35 °C, II about 50 °C, III about 80 °C. The indicator lamp lights up while heating. The heater is made in Germany by Elgena of Munich.

Key features

• capacity 15 l, dimensions 45 x 30 x 30 cm
• electric element with thermostat, power supply 230 V / 330 W
• thermostat with stepless control and frost protection (F)
• working pressure 0-3 bar, for pressure and submersible pumps
• V4A stainless steel tank, fully insulated
• Ø 10 mm connections for pressure hose

Power supply and heat-up time

The 230 V / 330 W heating element draws only about 1.5 A, so the heater works even on a very weakly fused campsite or marina hook-up, together with other appliances. It comes with a 1 m cable and a Schuko plug. The manufacturer states about 60 min to 55 °C with the 660 W element. The 330 W element has less power, so heating takes correspondingly longer, but the load on the hook-up is minimal.

How to connect the water

The heater is pressure-resistant and can be fitted as original equipment or added later to any cold water system with hoses. Use 10 mm pressure hoses suitable for drinking water and secure them with stainless steel hose clamps. If the system pressure exceeds 2 bar, fit a pressure reducer set to max. 2 bar between the pump and the heater. With a pressure pump the original Elgena 3 bar safety valve, fitted to the water drain, is mandatory. The valve outlet must never be blocked, and you can connect a hose to it that leads outside or to a tank. For the version with an electric element (type E) the manufacturer includes the safety valve set with winter drain and mounting bands. Insulating the hot water line further reduces heat loss. To stop hot water flowing back into the cold line, you can also fit a check valve in the inlet, although this is not necessary in every system.

Installation and first start

The heater must be mounted horizontally only, never vertically, with the supplied mounting band. A storage box, the space under a seat or a locker are good places, as close as possible to the taps to limit heat loss in the hoses. After making all connections, switch on the pump and open the hot tap. The heater is full only when water flows from the hot tap. Only then connect the power.

Everyday use

• set the required temperature with the knob, the thermostat switches the element on and off by itself
• the indicator lamp lights up while heating
• thanks to its design the tank stays full even when the water tank is empty, so the element does not run dry in normal use
• fully heated and mixed with cold water at the tap, you get two to three times more warm water than the tank holds

In winter: frost protection

You have two options. First: leave the heater connected and turn the knob to F. The thermostat keeps the water above freezing and uses very little power. Second: drain the heater through the drain valve (ball valve). If the water does not run out, open the taps so that air can enter the lines. Always disconnect the power before draining, because an element switched on without water will blow the temperature fuse.

Overheating protection

The element has a temperature fuse that disconnects it if it is switched on without water. The fuse must then be replaced with an original Elgena fuse. So always fill the heater first and only then connect the power.

Related Elgena products

• Elgena Nautic Therm, 15 l, 12 V / 200 W - pressure-resistant heater, same series
• Elgena Nautic Compact, 10 l, 230 V / 330 W - smaller, compact pressure-resistant heater
• Elgena Nautic Compact, 10 l, 12 V / 200 W - smaller, compact pressure-resistant heater
• Elgena 3 bar safety valve set - 3 bar valve, T-piece and drain valve, mandatory with a pressure pump
• Elgena temperature fuse - spare part after dry running

Technical data

Manufacturer

Elgena, Margaretenplatz 2a, 81373 München, Germany.