Shower
AuthorMessageron |
Can't Back-up Straight |
Joined: Apr 26, 2003 |
Posts: 5 |
Location: stcloud, fla |
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 10:28 am Post subject: shower |
any thing new on the shower and water heater front? my wife tells me no more public showers. thanks |
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Elk |
Joined: May 27, 2003 |
Posts: 236 |
Location: Connecticut |
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 2:17 pm Post subject: |
Here's a "tankless" water heater for sale on eBay. It allows you to have a warm shower without installing a water heater with a tank (typically 6 gallons, which only provides a super short shower.) The tankless model heats water as you use it. You need to use a very low-flow shower head, though.... at .5 gallons per minute flow, camp water at 55 degrees would rise 48 degrees to a comfortable 103 degrees. If you double the rate of flow to one gallon per minute, the water heater only allows a 21 degree rate of rise, so that you would need fairly warm water to bring it up enough for a "hot" shower. This might be fine in warm climates where the camp cold water is already fairly warm (room temperature.) The nice thing about the tankless heater is that it's so compact, only eight and a half inches by four and a half inches. It needs only a cold water supply line, and the water it puts out can go directly to a faucet/shower head without a necessary mixing valve. This is because the water won't get hot enough to burn you, just nice and warm. I might put one of these units in late this or early next year. If anyone has tried them, please post a review. Pete |
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Beaver |
Joined: May 24, 2003 |
Posts: 76 |
Location: Upstate NY |
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2003 5:52 am Post subject: |
I just dealt with the water and hot water issue so here's what I did. I started with a new 25 gallon tank on wheels meant for waste (tote-n- stor), but I am using it for clean water, it's new so... It was about $80 on sale at B&R; RV supply. The next step is a 12 volt diaphragm pump with a built in pressure switch ($75) that turns on the water flow when the faucets are open and shuts it off when you close the faucet. Once the flexible hose is in the camper, it splits-one 3/8 ID tubing length going directly to the cold faucet hookup and the other going to the hot water heater. I installed one of those new Atwood direct spark LP 6 gallon hot water heaters where the frdige was-this model has an on-off switch inside, nice feature, we shut it off during the day and run it in the AM and PM only. The heater was installed where the fridge was since I could not fit it anywhere else and we were just using that spot as storage. With the heater in place there, we still have some storage. The hot water out from the heater goes to the hot faucet hookup. I located a particular type of RV faucet that has a built in diverter valve which is meant for a handheld shower. It has a pull up type valve on the top of the faucet that directs the flow to the shower. I attached a quick disconnect fitting to this output so I can easily disconnect the shower hose and attach something else, maybe a sink sprayer for doing the dishes? I ran the shower hose with the other side of the quick disconnect (that also has a nice automatic shut off valve built in that prevents flow and drip when the fittings are not together) out the camper throught the hatch that once was used for clean water input into the camper. The hose goes out here and has about 20 feet of slack to play with. The shower head is a low flow type with it's own built in shutoff valve. Last month I picked up an outdoor shower enclosure from Sportsmans Guide (20 bucks) that was discussed in this forum, just dig for it - it has to be there. To use it you simply adjust the water temp in the camper at the tap, pop up the diverter valve, and go outside to shower now using the on-off valve at the shower head to control your flow. The system provides about 1.2 gallon per minute which is adequate-plenty of pressure too-about 25 psi. You can get more flow with a higher output pump and 1/2" ID tubing, but I like the lower flow as it makes the water last longer. If I go to a place with hookups, we can simply hook up and enjoy the increased flow. This works out nicely since the pump output is connected directly to the water input fitting at the side of the camper. The pump is placed outside and underneath the camper and has a 12 volt plug for power. The system works really well and we are testing it out again next week-Adirondacks-HERE WE COME!. I have to say that the hot water is awesome since we can keep our 2 kids alot cleaner (that's relatively speaking of course) and doing the dishes is now as cinch. LONG answer here, but I hope and other folks can benefit-I gave this layout alot of thought and I hope other can benefit maybe. PL |
Last edited by gristle on Sun Aug 03, 2003 8:15 am, edited 2 times in total |
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Vesely Prodigy |
Joined: Apr 20, 2003 |
Posts: 1132 |
Location: Auburn Hills, MI |
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2003 7:51 am Post subject: |
Excellent job Gristle! How about photo's of it? We'de love to see them. |
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Beaver |
Joined: May 24, 2003 |
Posts: 76 |
Location: Upstate NY |
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2003 8:18 am Post subject: |
FiremanPeteWill do Tim, I'll be using the gallery for pics as soon as I master the details of getting pictures in, my first try was dismal failure, but I was at it for a couple of minutes only and had to run. I'll shoot for this week.
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