Hot water in Camper - diesel route?

[Mick Edwards]

Hi all,

As my conversion is coming to an end with most of the big bits done I need to look at getting hot water to the taps of the sink and shower. So would like to pick ones brains please.

1st of all, I will not use gas as it to me is another source of fuel that I have to look at. I currently have an Eberspacher night heater waiting to go in and thinking is it worth considering looking at getting a hot water diesel eberspacher as well? any pros/cons with this method?

I have a wood stove to heat up water this way, however I don't think using a stove in summer months for hot water is going to work considering it may turn my camper into a sauna

Mick

 

[ellisboy]

Hello Mike! Gas probably be your cheapest route here,what do you use for cooking? An ebber water heater will be rather expensive,unless you can source a complete second hand unit,I'm not quite sure how that system works.Have you the room for a gas locker,or maybe an underslung tank,depending on your budget.Im building a van at the moment and have gone with an underslung tank,you can check it out on my build blog.

:cheers: Stephen.

 

[Mick Edwards]

Hello Mike! Gas probably be your cheapest route here,what do you use for cooking? An ebber water heater will be rather expensive,unless you can source a complete second hand unit,I'm not quite sure how that system works.Have you the room for a gas locker,or maybe an underslung tank,depending on your budget.Im building a van at the moment and have gone with an underslung tank,you can check it out on my build blog.

:cheers: Stephen.

Hi,

I tend to be following the seasons with my self sufficent lifestyle when I can kick it off the ground. I do have the mini gas cooker for 1pot mess tins for the rainly days and kelly stove for hot water for summer use. Winter use I have a wood burning stove with oven and 5 hotplates on it (she is a beast)

I would like to stay clear from gas as per my green ideal's to be honest and saves on insurance and the threat of gas explosions etc - its only me at the moment so the case for wild camping for hot water is to keep me clean and brews etc. Am a bit of a wizz with technical know how so can rig up second hand units well (got myself a non working ebber air heater for £125 and new controller for £30 and she is all working well) could do the same for a ebber water one or even a Westro one from a rover 75/zt or BMW's (if a scrappy will let me in their yard to look for one)

just thinking of the pro's and con's at the moment

 

[ellisboy]

Well in that case, there's usually lots of bits on eBay , part kits etc. I bought my D2 ebber off there,havn't got to fitting stage yet.

 

[vwalan]

hi .many build a tank around the chimney open top to tip water in. tap at the bottom to get it out . be ok in winter .burning diesel surely goes against the green image you are trying to use.
not exactly green having a motor home though hee hee .
i would use an instantanious gas water heater .cheap works and easy to fit and use . either have it in a sealed to the inside locker or as a friend as done fitted to the outside in a sheet metal cupboard . just looks like a box stuck on the back of his camper.

 

[Mick Edwards]

hi .many build a tank around the chimney open top to tip water in. tap at the bottom to get it out . be ok in winter .burning diesel surely goes against the green image you are trying to use.
not exactly green having a motor home though hee hee .

Too true hehe... but one needs diesel to move around I suppose but in future am hoping to look at the Veggie oil route, but not yet until I can get myself sorted and don't fancy a expensive bill for veggie works yet until I can sell my bricks to get fulltime

Not seen the chimney tank way but idea sounds interesting.. but I suppose its the same as the kelly stove in a way. hummm some thinking to do still.

 

[vwalan]

yes very similar .some use the stainless beer barrels cut a hole in the bottom .same at the top .even make a lift up flap for a lid .slip the wood burner chimney through it .and away you go. must use disimilar welding gear . or use a stainless chimney i suppose for that bit . could be a removable bit. see it alot in the traveller vans . also have a look on the boat side they use small diesel cookers and i have seen a disel water heater that came off a boat . was a pressured fuel system .

 

[n brown]

those flue tanks were quite common on the canal barges,just a length of galv flue with a tank around it,built square to fit in a cupboard.bet theres still some around in the canal boatyards. or pull the heat from your engine cooling system

 

[groyne]

I have a wood stove to heat up water this way

Was it easy to get Motor insurance with a functioning wood stove onboard?

As an owner of a small wood burning stove (5KW) at home, I know how much they use. How do you carry enough seasoned wood to last you?
I'd have thought a gas system would be more economical and effective in terms of BTU output, space and weight savings.

As a wood seller replied when I asked him why his wood was so expensive, he said; "Seasoned wood doesn't grow on trees, you know."

 

[AndyC]

You can get (virtually) free hot water from your engine. We have a SureCal calorifier plumbed into our engine cooling system, an hour or so's drive gives us a tank full of hot water. It can also be heated by our Webasto diesel heater.

AndyC

 

[Byronic]

Was it easy to get Motor insurance with a functioning wood stove onboard?

As an owner of a small wood burning stove (5KW) at home, I know how much they use. How do you carry enough seasoned wood to last you?
."

Answer is you don't, when you run out you start on the van furniture while hunting around for some gas fired kiln sourced artificially seasoned wood Wickes comes to mind.

Some years ago I noticed a plate affixed to German diesel heaters Eberspacher/Webasto indicating a 10 year time limit after which they are supposed to be either overhauled, whether by the manufacturer and recertified as safe, or thrown away? I'm not certain of what the options were. Might be worth looking into if you are going to install one. May not even be a requirement these days.

 

[vwalan]

for wood you look around industrial sites pick up broken pallets etc . some coun tries its easy some hard .
nobody tells the insurance company .they dont ask you dont tell.
you can just plumb a pipe into the ooling system of your vehicle and get hot water running around for heating when on the move or as a means of heating a small tank of water .bit like the hot water tank on houses . very often commercial vehicles come with a hand wash system fitted that use this system. but really you can make it all simple or as difficult as you like . a catalytic heater is easy to fit and works for heating occasionally . a kettle boiled for warming water . ideally on gas .nice and simple . wood burners keep you warm chopping the wood . and looking for it.

 

[Byronic]

The insurance cos may be greedy but the're not all stupid Alan. They usually have a clause goes something like this "Inform us of any modifications likey to have a material affect on the conditions of this policy" sure you can fight it in court but they are almost bound to have better lawyers than you.
Heat exchangers, copper pipes coiled around exhaust manifolds, woodburners all good ideas in their time but people wouldn't be hacked with the effort in installation and usage these days. You've still usually got to have the "modern" equipment as back up in any case.
Some may make a bit of a comeback in these austere cash strapped times but I wouldn't put money on it.

 

[vwalan]

i,m agreed with you .all mod cons easy to fix and fit etc .simplicity is the game .or is in my book .gas is cheap for what it gives and is compact.
i cant be bothered with wood etc . but then you know that really .
i was only answering where you can get wood . i prefer warm climates where heating isnt the thing to worry about .or condensation . i think you are the same . see you soon .unless you see me first .hee hee.

 

[Byronic]

Mod cons, what about that gas lighting you have. Quaint really, I quite like gas lighting, probably not all that efficient in light output but what is wasted, is heat, so helps with van warming. Not so good in the summer.
If I wasn't able to get away for the winter months to the warmer climes, then the van would go, just wouldn't get enough use in the UK too much hassle for a few days here and there.
No sight of your mate Dennis. Las Tablas bar didn't know. Skinny Richard asked after you, bet your chuffed!!

 

[vwalan]

yes had a tx from rich only the other day. i do have leccy lighting . just dont use it . the gas is great.you can read by it . converting lots to them these days . the best bit is they help keep midges and mosquitos from coming in . something to do with the smell of the mantle so i,m told . i shall look for dennis this winter if i get down that far . shame we dont have winters thats like spanish winters .in fact shame we dont have summers like spanish winters . what ever floats your boat. ha ha . think there are several noah,s here this year. think there might be a few water damaged special offers at this rate.
i knew it was wise to buy a house in the second highest village in the county . hee hee .we havent had the real bad floods round here . roll on november summer starts then.