The Mini line is Stiebel Eltron\'s 120V plug-in electric tankless — under-sink units that plug into a standard outlet. No electrical work, no electrician, no permit needed in most jurisdictions. For distant hand sinks where adding hot water would require running a hot water line from the main water heater.
The lineup
- Mini 2.5-1 — 2.4 kW, 120V 20A
- Mini 3-1 — 3.0 kW, 120V 25A
What Mini can and can\'t do
What it can do
- Hand-washing temperature (warm, not hot) at a sink with low-flow aerator
- Eliminate the long wait for hot water at a distant sink
- Provide some hot water to a powder room or rarely-used fixture
- Function as a coffee station hot water source
What it cannot do
- Provide shower temperature water (insufficient capacity)
- Serve multiple fixtures simultaneously
- Maintain output temperature at high flow rates
- Substitute for a real water heater on a whole-room install
Specs
| Model | kW | Voltage | Activation flow | GPM at 50°F rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini 2.5-1 | 2.4 | 120V 20A | 0.30 GPM | ~0.5 GPM (warm) |
| Mini 3-1 | 3.0 | 120V 25A | 0.30 GPM | ~0.6 GPM (warm) |
Install
- Standard 120V outlet — verify outlet is on a dedicated or lightly-loaded circuit
- Under-sink or in-cabinet mounting
- ½" plumbing connections
- Single shutoff on inlet recommended
- Low-flow aerator (0.5 GPM) at the fixture matches Mini output
Tip: pair with low-flow aerator
Mini\'s warm output is limited by kW. A 1.5 GPM aerator overwhelms its capacity — water flows too fast for the Mini to heat. Install a 0.5 GPM aerator at the fixture (~$5) for noticeably warmer hand-washing temperature. This isn\'t a workaround; it\'s the intended use pattern.
When Mini is the wrong choice
- Shower applications — use DHC 8-2 or 10-2
- Kitchen sink with dishes — Mini can\'t keep up; use DHC 6-2 or larger
- Multi-fixture room — use DHC or SHC mini-tank
- Hand sink with bowl-fill or shower-spray applications — too much flow
Warranty
- 3-year heat exchanger
- 1-year parts
- Labor not covered
Bottom line
Mini is the simplest possible electric tankless install — plug it in. Right for hand-sink applications at distant fixtures with low-flow aerators. Wrong for any application requiring shower temperatures or multi-fixture demand.