australia:hot_water
hot water and showers for campers
Introduction
whilst commercial caravan parks and some National Park camp grounds do offer hot water and hot showers, most camp grounds do not offer this and for those who are camping near their vehicles for more than a few days in the colder areas of Australia, a portable hot water system and shower may be desirable
the systems with built-in water heaters are very convenient but come at a not so insignificant size and weight which may just be too much for those in a car only.
NB. 1kg LPG propane provides 49MJ thus for most of these hot water burners, this equates to just under 2hrs of max. heat output per kg of LPG
this is to outline the various options and pros and cons of each
Portable gas hot water systems
these require propane gas to heat the water and depending upon the model, it may use cannister propane and/or connection to propane bottles
they generally include an automatic piezo burner starter which allows it to start as soon as you turn the pump on and you can generally select the output temperature
if not connected to a water mains (some will connect), you will need a 12V power supply and 12V water pump
water pump rates may vary from 2L/min to 8L/min depending upon model
others will require submersing the pump at the end of a supplied hose into a water container
most have shower heads which incorporate an on/off switch
examples in 2021 in Australia
Kickass 8L system
connects to a LPG gas cylinder via G1/2 inlet and uses up to 28MJ/h
G1/2 threaded water intake connection with connector for garden hoses
need to also buy a 12V self-priming water pump (eg. Kickass 6L or 12L/min pumps) if not connecting to a water mains
G1/2 water outlet connector plus 1.5m shower hose and shower head
LCD water temp range 0-50degC
2 x D Cell Batteries
490 x 300 x 150 mm, 5.3kg $AU219 without the pump
the Thermomate Outdoor system appears to be same or very similar
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brass snap on fitting for gas
garden hose plastic snap on fitting for water, includes 3 way garden hose splitter so can connect to shower hose and sink faucet at same time
LPG gas cylinder connection; 27,000-BTU (28.4MJ/hr) burner;
up to 6L/min max 50°C
includes the $AU69 Joolca Ensuite Plumbing Instant-up Shower Kit (I presume this is the equivalent replacement kit)
no pump in the essentials kit - need water mains supply
$AU399 plus $AU79 for the optional carry bag if you don't go for the Nomad kit
HOTTAP Outdoor kit includes easy clean 2 stage water filter so you can use water direct from a river and IPX3 rated pump self-primes to 1.8m and can push water up to 30m up an incline from a stream to camp) $AU519
HOTTAP Nomad kit is the Outdoor kit plus a sturdy plastic storage container which doubles as a kitchen sink with faucet $AU599
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4.3L/min flow (up to 6L/Min with a 6L/min pump); Pumps up to 10m with maximum 3m rise
heats to 35°C above ambient to 55°C Maximum; 28 Mj/h max; 3/8“ SAE gas fitting;
2m hoses;
2.5m 12V DC cable with alligator clips; 2 x D Cell for Ignition;
garden hose input connector;
30L x 15W x 37H cm ; 4.5kg; $AU299
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similar to Lite but larger and heavier and can heat to 42deg above ambient
30L x 15W x 44H cm; 5.3kg; $AU349
6Lpm pump version is $AU379
Companion Aquacube Digital
built-in pump but no mains water option so need a 12V power input (5m cig lighter cable supplied)
uses 468g BOM cartridge at 412gm/h at 100% output (52°C max or 30°C above source water temperature)
2m shower hose giving 2.5-4.5L/min
2.5m water pump hose
245(L) x 310(W) x 300(H) mm, 6kg $AU479, $AU309 on special plus opt. carry bag $AU45 on special
Companion AquaHeat Rechargeable Lithium
Coleman Hot Water On Demand H2Oasis Elite (incl. lithium battery and USB out)
heats water up to 30°C above ambient temperature, reaching a maximum of 50°C
powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (12V DC and 240V AC charge adapters included), also operates on direct feed power and has USB ports to charge most USB compatible devices
can use one Coleman Lightweight LPG bottle to heat up 150L water
quick connect brass fittings for gas
8ft non-kink silicone hoses with quick connect fittings and for connection to garden hose
flow rate 2.3L/min and can run for 80min on a full charge
can be a bit finnicky to use apparently
47cm L x 17cm W x 36cm H 8.5kg $AU549 but $AU299 on clearance sale - presumably new model coming
shower delivery systems without heating included
gravity feed system
there are many plastic bag type reservoirs with a shower spray outlet at the bottom
Sea To Summit Pocket Shower with Cord
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Companion Deluxe 20L Portable Solar Shower
USB powered pump systems
12V lithium powered water pump system
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3.7V 2200mAh lithium battery gives 60min use (charged via USB charging port takes 2-5hrs)
removable filter
1.8m hose plus suction cap to mount on your vehicle's window
just drop the pump into the water and press the on switch and you get 2.5-3.5L/min flow
$AU49
recirculating water shower tent and 12V pump
australia/hot_water.txt · Last modified: 2021/07/16 21:45 by gary1