Optimus international - a water heater?

[AdamK]

Wondered if anybody could help...
I've just recently purchased my 1987 hi top Autohomes Karisma. Loving it so far! in the cupboard under the hob (immediately behind the driver's seat) is what seems to be a water heater. I've had it hooked up to the gas and fired it up, but before i left it running any longer i figured i'd better switch it off, since it doesn't seem to have a water feed to it, so i didn't want to burn it out. There is an overflow pipe down through the floor, and there is a clear water pipe, but it strangely loops round from bottom to top, and there doesn't seem to be any evidence of a water feed elsewhere. It certainly works, but i don't know how! Am i right in thinking this is a water heater?
I have taken some photos of this unit, which i'll post if need be. If anyone can offer any help, i'd be most grateful.

Thanks

Adam

[AngeloEvs]

It is a water heater and you should have a control panel for firing it up. Some models also had a thermostat. It should have two polythene water pipes, one to the Hot/Cold dual tap and one that feeds water to the tank. There is also a manual water valve at the bottom of the heater (which is damned impossible to get at!) to drain the water off during the winter. If the pipes are missing then check to see if you have a dual function tap as this may have been replaced with single 'cold only' tap and the original pipes removed. I removed mine when I discovered the tank was lagged with what appears to be white asbestos and the protective skin around the asbestos had deteriorated. Pretty sure that mine had a water pressure switch in one of the cupbaords so that the tank could never get dry whilst the gas was on but whether that was a standard fitting I have no idea.

[AdamK]

Many thanks AngeloEvs, much appreciated. I'll look into it, not big deal if it's not useable anyway i guess, but a bonus if it would. Thanks again,
Adam