http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0038862517356a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=zodi&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=zodi&noImage=0
See Doug Alcock's page here:
http://doug.alcock.googlepages.com/westyshower
Tom
On 7/7/07, Sam Conant <samcvt@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Jake,
> The Zodi was listed as a clearance by Campmor a month or so ago, and they
> may still have some. I'd go to their www site, and search their archives
> for the Zodi and see if they still have some in stock. The price was
> reasonable. I bought one to augment my solar hot water bag systems for
> the
> sailboat and Westy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 12:38 AM
> Subject: Re: Heat exchanger for hot showers
>
>
> Darned expensive compared to the Zodi hot water system that goes on top of
> your propane stove, seems to me.
> And you'll have to start & run the engine for some time to create enough
> heat for a shower.
>
> The Zodi looks to be more economical to run as well as to buy but I don't
> have one yet so I can't give you a review. Still working on the
> house.......
>
> On 7/6/07, Troy <colorworks@gci.net> wrote:
> >
> > > check the archives. no, really. ;)
> > > there was a guy in the early days of the vanagon list (can't recall
> his
> > > name right now) and he built a system under the rear seat of his
> camper.
> > > used the rear seat heater to provide the coolant ... which flowed
> > through
> > > some copper coils inside a water tank. he had some sort of thermostat
> > that
> > > shut off the flow of coolant to the coils if the water got too hot. he
> > > used it for the sink and had some sort of hookup to run a hose to the
> > rear
> > > hatch (which held the shower curtain when the hatch was up).
> > >
> > > seems like the guy's name was dave something or other. had pictures
> and
> > > text on a web site.
> > >
> > > hope it helps. good luck!
> > > joel
> > >Thanks Joel:
> >
> > Here's that link your referring to: http://www.syncro.org/HotWater.shtml
> >
> > And then a response I sent to one other person who emailed me.
> >
> > <<Yes, I have the link for that particular set up. That would require
> > using
> > the onboard 13 gallon water, which is not something I was interested in
> > doing. The link I provided appears to be an "on demand" system, that is
> to
> > say as long as you have adequate water supply, (stream, lake, etc) you
> > could have endless hot water on demand. That's a lot different than
> > heating
> > up the onboard water. The key is the type of heat exchanger. There are
> > propane units available such as the one I have (Coleman) and I believe
> > there
> > is another company that puts out something called the zodiac, which
> works
> > on
> > a similar principle. The Coleman actually works quite well on a picnic
> > table
> > with a 5 gallon jug, but it is kind of large and bulky and takes up
> > precious
> > space. Anyway, as I said I'm intrigued by the challenge more than
> anything
> > else. In my own experience, there seems to be plenty of places available
> > along the way to get a hot shower for cheap, and the Coleman works great
> > at
> > picnic side for dishes, etc.>>
> >
> >
> > Another drawback to heating the onboard water is it promotes bacterial
> > growth. An "on demand" --heated as needed system--is what I was trying
> to
> > accomplish. That particular heat exchanger I provided the link for
> > (http://www.hotcampshowers.com/new51788.html) seems to do just that.
> > Basically, the criteria for this would be to figure out volume of water
> > needed (gallons per minute) versus the required rise in temperature.
> > Generally the greater the increase in temperature, the lower the flow.
> For
> > example heating water from 40° to 100° may only result in 1/2 gal. a
> > minute
> > (GPM) versus going from 70° to 100°, which may result in 1 gallon a
> > minute
> > or better. The Coleman I have is basically a 1 gallon per minute, but
> > slows
> > down quite a bit if you try to crank the water temperature to say 160
> > degrees. I know just enough about this to get myself into trouble;) I
> was
> > hoping someone else might be more knowledgeable about this than I am.
> > Sounds
> > like I will have to do a Google search and compare specs on the various
> > heat
> > exchangers available out there.
> >
> > If anyone else cares to chime in about this, I'm all ears.
> >
> > Troy
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>
