Hot Water In an Aircooled Van

The Tardis factor (interiors, awnings, roofs etc)

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TheDocmeister
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Hot Water In an Aircooled Van

Post by TheDocmeister »

Part of the idea of buying our van was to wild camp much more than we manage in our caravan. However, with two young children, it would be nice to have some sort of hot water available without boiling kettles/ pans etc.
I've used calorifiers in the past - basically a heat exchanger arrangement that uses the coolant water to heat a small copper water cylinder, but that's no good with my Aircooled engine!
I have a spare Carver Mk2 water heater, but it seems a bit big - and if they were an easy fit I'd have expected to see more in vans on here. Has anybody got one of these fitted?
I've also come across this Truma water heater - the Truma Therme TT2:
http://shop.camperserv.com/pt/truma-the ... er-heater#
As you can see, it uses hot air to heat the water instead of coolant water. I do have a Propex heater fitted, but was also thinking that much like the calorifier, I could use the van's hot air system to heat the water as I drive along... Again, has anybody any experience of these?
All just ideas at the moment, so I'd be very interested to hear any other solutions that people have come up with.
1982 2.0 Aircooled CI Autohomes Kamper

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kevtherev
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Re: Hot Water In an Aircooled Van

Post by kevtherev »

I use solar power to heat my water.
I have a 100 watt panel
A 10 amp controller
220 amp hour battery
An 11 amp immersion heater.

It takes 2 hours to heat 15 litres of water to 38 degC from ambient.
Great for our (outdoor) showers after the dip in the sea
No thermostat just time it.
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)

TheDocmeister
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Joined: 04 Jun 2016, 13:18
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Location: Glasgow

Re: Hot Water In an Aircooled Van

Post by TheDocmeister »

That's just the sort of thinking I'm after!
Hosing down children is probably the main use of hot water that I foresee, although it would be nice to know there's hot water available for any sort of washing should you need it.
Where do you have your 15litre water tank housed?
1982 2.0 Aircooled CI Autohomes Kamper

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kevtherev
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Re: Hot Water In an Aircooled Van

Post by kevtherev »

It's stored in the roof until I need it.(high top)
As it is a 25ltr plastic jerry can. (lagged)

Then it sits next to the potty box while it heats up and during use as the pump is in located there.
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)

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