Simple hot Water Systems

[Texjbird]

If I'm able to keep and set up the Aliner by myself one of things on the " I NEED/WANT IT LIST" is a a simple and ez for me to use hotwater system.  I just googled PORTABLE HOT WATER SYSTEMS and my eyes quickly began to cross.

Does anyone have any experience or recomendations?  I think there is a area where I can rig a simple shower by cutting and hingeing part of a counter top to fold back and then put a tub area there underneath.  This way I'll still be able to use the portable counter top cabinets after they get here by moving them to another spot when I shower.

A shower build kind of like U Tuber Slim PotatoHead did in his Aliner.  Only I can't be lifting buckets of water up to countertop level.

Any ideas/info will be appreciated 

Jewellann

[rvpopeye]

My water heater in the class A died once and I heated a big kettle of water on the stove , put it near the shower , scooped up some hot water in a plastic bowl , added some cold water to the perfect temp and dumped it over my head ....lather , rinse , repeat.

I used that setup for a couple of months .

[Ballenxj]

First, let me say that it's hard to beat a good RV propane powered water heater. They are very efficient.
Having said that, I found this system quite interesting. Basically, you get an old electric water heater sans elements, screw one of these in and hook to a 12v power source. Don't mind the crappy video quality, the message is good I thought.
Video is just under 11 minutes, so I hope you guys can see it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGCMwsDY...e=youtu.be

[sternwake]

My system for hot water requires heavy lifting and gravity, and is mostly used for post surf rinsing.

I use a 45 watt 12v DC heating pad under a 5 gallon shower bag in a reflectix cocoon, with perhaps some more insulation(clothing) draped atop. It consumes about 30Ah of battery power to take water from 65F to 100F over at least 6 hours, and will require about 6 to 18Ah to maintain 100F overnight depending on ambient temps and just how much insulation I have draped over it.

I've considered using different 12v heating methods such as these:

https://www.amazon.com/Sedeta-heating-cu...eat+heater

But these are pretty low wattage, i'd rather have higher wattage for quicker heating times.

Yesterday i bypassed the battery and hooked a 100 watt solar panel directly to 45 watt heating pad. It consumed 73 watts. Both bag in sun and 100 watt solar panel in sun, and with heating pad underneath shower bag, it should warm significantly quicker than either one alone.

Heating enything with 12v is going to use a significant amount of battery power, but if one has excess solar capacity, heating water is how I like to use the excess. And gettingout of 58 degree ocean water and rinsing off with 100F water from a bag I threw on my roof, is a very appreciated luxury.

I would however be happier with 112f water. Above 114f and it is is too hot. 100F is good enough, but I'd appreciate 12f more.

[Blacktank]

the pump he used has plenty of power to pump from a container on the floor,no need to lift it on a counter
his electric heating element was interesting,i would want something a little more robust than the plastic jug he used though
a propane stove gets water up to temp pretty good

[TedOnWalkabout]

We don't use the hot water in the trailer when we're boondocking unless we use it for showers. And we don't shower in the trailer until the day we go to dump the tanks and fill up again with fresh. Which was 24 days this last time.

Instead, we put a kettle on the stove and do what humans have been doing for millenia, ewer and basin baths, with me washing my hair in the kitchen sink. The rest of the time, we use baby wipes-a lot of them.

And we hit gyms and I go to my son's apartment for lunch, a shower and laundry, about once a week.
Ted

[TrainChaser]

Ted, I know a lot of people use baby for cleansing, but I am curious as to how many packets you go through in, say, one week (per person)? And do you find certain brands better than others?

[TedOnWalkabout]

We use the Costco flushable wipes (though we don't flush them). We used the other ones until one day we threw one in our campfire and it took 15 minutes to burn. I can imagine that in landfill. By buying them by the case, I don't feel so guilty about using many.

Anyway, remember that I'm a nurse, so I am neurotic about cleanliness. Also I'll use much more if I've been working and perspiring here in the desert. Usually about 6 or 8 wipes at least. I start face, chest, shoulders, anything I can reach and go down. Then I do the nether regions. First front, then back. A half dozen times. Then my legs and feet get their own set of wipes because they get so dusty camping. Afterwards I wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Ted

[Texjbird]

First, let me say that it's hard to beat a good RV propane powered water heater. They are very efficient.
Having said that, I found this system quite interesting. Basically, you get an old electric water heater sans elements, screw one of these in and hook to a 12v power source. Don't mind the crappy video quality, the message is good I thought.
Video is just under 11 minutes, so I hope you guys can see it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGCMwsDY...e=youtu.be

On one of the videos that popped up on the same screen someone used a screw in element in a hole cut thru a PLASTIC TOTE [of all things] a made a elec water heater!   

TJB

[Ballenxj]

First, let me say that it's hard to beat a good RV propane powered water heater. They are very efficient.
Having said that, I found this system quite interesting. Basically, you get an old electric water heater sans elements, screw one of these in and hook to a 12v power source. Don't mind the crappy video quality, the message is good I thought.
Video is just under 11 minutes, so I hope you guys can see it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGCMwsDY...e=youtu.be

On one of the videos that popped up on the same screen someone used a screw in element in a hole cut thru a PLASTIC TOTE [of all things] a made a elec water heater!   

TJB

That would probably work too. Let you imagination be your guide. Wait, I forgot whom I was talking too.  
The small under counter water heater he was demonstrating can probably be found most anywhere for cheap, and would be a good fit in tight spaces. You wouldn't have to plumb it for propane either, just the normal in and out for water. I would probably wrap extra insulation around it as well.