Vandwellers Forum

caper58 · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:27 am Post subject: My new hot water shower

I built a heat exchanger/water tank for my van which uses the water from the engine to heat my shower water and it cost me about $40 total. With this addition alone, my quality of life has improved tremendously, so if anyone is interested, I would be happy to explain how to build one.
Here is a link to the explanation and pictures....
http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com/WH/

Here is the water heater/tank

and I use an aquarium tank sensor to monitor the water temp in my tank. Once my desired temperature has been reached, I shut of the engine water to the tank. It takes about 5 minutes of driving to get the water from cold to 105 degrees which is perfect for my next shower.

_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

caper58 · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:04 am Post subject:

I don't know why, but I seem to be obsessed with trying to build the perfect vandweller's hot water heater. I built the one above for the van, built another one for Snap-on truck and now I am working on still another one. This one will will be heated by solar, engine heat, propane or 120 AC.... that should about cover all of the possibilities. Rolling Eyes

On the snap-on truck I have 2 Fafco swimming pool solar panels mounted on top to heat the water and an "el Sid" solar recirculation pump to keep the water moving through the panels. This really works well when there is sun but I got to thinking (that dangerous) what if there is no sun for a few days... so I figured I needed also propane heat, then there's the engine heat I could use if I was driving and if I happen to find electricity to plug into... then I need a heating element added.

So I found a beer keg at the local flea market that had insulation already molded around it. I have welded in a heat exchanger pipe for the propane, put in an 120V element and now I'm working on the engine and solar inputs. Sooooo..... just call me nuts and hand me my sign......
_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

David Hair · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 2:16 am Post subject:

OK How about a little more detail on the engine,propane and eletric portions of this water heater.
Thanks
_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

caper58 · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 3:24 am Post subject:

I'm not real good at explaining my contraptions but here goes...

Engine - I have setup 10' of 3/8" tubing shaped into a coil inside the tank which will act as a heat exchanger to route the engine coolant (via a valve) through the tank and back to the engine (similar to the plumbing of a heater core).

Propane - If you notice the one side of the tank that has the two 2-1/2 opening, this is actually a 2-1/2 tube that just goes in, makes a U turn and right back out. I will put the propane flame into the hole near the bottom with the hole at the top acting as the exhaust side for the flame to the outside.

Electrical - The electrical heating is done by an 120VAC element from a standard water heater, I have drilled and tapped the tank to allow for installation and I will use the standard 59T stat to control it.

Solar - The solar panels will pickup water where the cold water supply line enters the tank and return the water back to the hot water pickup point, which with the help of "el Sid" pump, will recirculate the tank water continuously through the panels. I have a separate 59T stat for solar. I am also considering adding a 12vdc relay on the propane and electrical sides so I can have control from drivers seat.

OK, now if thing really ends up working, I am differently going to add it to the "Neat gadgets for the vandweller" list. Laughing

_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

arthurwwebb · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:37 am Post subject:

Wow
_________________
I'm not old, I'm Vintage!

caper58 · Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:44 am Post subject:

Worked on the tank all day but I got it installed and somewhat tested, had 2 small leaky fittings even with the use of teflon tape so I redid them with 3M 5200.

Well it worked great off of electricity (120VAC) and the solar perked right along during the day getting the water to 128 degrees before the stat changed state. I have lowered the stat temp to around 120 but will need to recheck. Tomorrow I should be able to complete the propane connections and then get to work on the engine hookup.... but it starting to look like this thing just might work Hmmmm..... Rolling Eyes

Opppss, forgot I am headed to a car auction tomorrow morning so I might just end up with a new project pretty soon. Twisted Evil

_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

arthurwwebb · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:02 am Post subject:

Wheee! Big Fun!
_________________
I'm not old, I'm Vintage!

David Hair · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:05 am Post subject:

OK, It's time for an update on the water heater. You already have me looking for a beer keg like that and I'm not even looking to do solar.
_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

caper58 · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:52 pm Post subject:

You got me, I guess I have been a little relaxed on the updates so here goes. The beer keg idea (which is in the SnapOn truck) has been the best idea yet because I have almost unlimited hot water if the sun is out and about 20 minute showers if I use the engine, 120VAC or propane for the heat source.

This water heater idea shown in the first pictures (which is in the E150 van) contains about 6 gallons, I have used it for over a year without any problems and it provides enough hot water for good shower but since moving into the SnapOn truck, I haven't used it in a few months. In fact I am going to sell the van in the next couple of months, I just have two many vehicles. Embarassed

I can not say enough about being able to take a good shower when you van-dwell..... it just makes for a great day! Wink

_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

David Hair · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks caper58,
Now if you just knew where to find another one of the keg's like you found.

_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

caper58 · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:07 pm Post subject:

David, I go to the flea markets all of the time so I will snag the next one I find..... that way we can meet up and swap stories, I have followed your posts for a very long time and you possess a wealth of knowledge.
_________________
1996 Ford E150 Hi-top
1990 C6500 converted Snap-on truck
2003 Honda VTX 1800C motorcycle

"I'm pretty sure it can be done,
but has anybody figured out how to do it?"

Conversion pictures at: http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com

PYSCHOWard · VanDweller Joined: 11 Oct 2009 Posts: 147 Location: NW, PA

Few things can compare to the feeling of a Hot shower, well maybe a couple things, congrats on making it work.
_________________
I Didnot Escape, I'm on a Weekend Pass.
If the house is a Rockin,Don't Bother Knockin, Just come on in (SRV)

97 Dodge 2500 Shorty
The Rock N Roll Train
1100 Honda Shadow

David Hair · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:41 am Post subject:

Well Caper58, Let me know the cost when you find one. I have never seen a keg with the foam jacket before. Thank you for looking.

_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress

Lester Hendricks · Newbie Joined: 05 Aug 2010 Posts: 2 Location: Upstate ny

David, have you or anyone else heard more about this? My iPhone doesn't let me open the pictures or the description in the origional posters link. The van I just bought has rear heat, and I would like to possibly use the heat exchanger idea, but need more specific details .
Thanks,
Les

David Hair · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:41 am Post subject:

Les,
Caper58 has a web site that you need to get to a computer to go see. He has the total conversion of his Snap-On tool truck. A hundred or more pictures. If you can't see it on your phone it's worth going to a library to check out. Here is the link.

http://www.travelingdowntheroad.com/

_________________
David Hair
2000 Astro AWD
1989 Dodge B-350 Hi-Top shuttle bus in progress