Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 03:07:27 EST
Reply-To: Vanadiesel@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Avrea <Vanadiesel@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Hot water system thoughts
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Hi Nathaniel,
I bought a system from R & M Specialty Products that taps into a heater line
and heats the water as it passes thru an exchanger. The kit included the
exchanger, a good quality pump, lots of lines and fittings etc.. I use it for
a shower and sometimes dishes. I suppose you could run it back to the tank or
a tank for a more efficient delivery of the hot water. One of the draw backs
is that you do loose some water waiting for the temp to stabilize as the water
that first goes thru the exchanger is really hot but quickly levels off to a
perfect temp. I'm running mine off the stock Westy water tank and have not
disturbed the hookups to the sink but have simply tapped another line into the
tank running to the supplied pump then snaked the line going off the pump thru
the cabinet, into the compartment under the rear seat and thru a hole I cut in
the floor to come out right where the heater line is. I mounter the exchanger
there and ran the line off it so it comes to an on/off hose fitting right
under where the sliding door shuts. When I want to use it I hook up my shower
hose to that fitting, open the valve and turn on the pump (I've installed a
switch in the face of the rear seat cabinet next to the sliding door). I wait
a few seconds for the temp to settle and Heaven....a hot shower! And you can
go thru the whole tank without the temp dropping.
I got it several years ago and I think it was about $200 dollars. R & M's
number at that time was 707 838 3869 and they were in Windsor, California P.O.
Box 1683.
Hope this helps.
Michael Avrea
82 Diesel Westy
Ventura, California USA
In a message dated 1/8/99 11:04:54 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
nmerrill@PARAMETRIX.COM writes:
<< Hello all,
I have been contemplating this for a while and thought I would elicit
comments from the majority...
I would like to have hot (if not at least warm) water in the westy for these
cold seasons. I am aware of the Zodi systems which look nice and functional
but they don't meet the "I built it" project requirements. Although they may
have a place in the system after all. My idea is was stolen from my mothers
Rialta (and many others I am sure). Use the engine to heat the water. I
originally thought of one of those extra "grey" water or other tanks mounted
between the beams as a separate hot water tank. The idea is to tap into one
of the long engine-to-radiator coolant pipes underneath the van. Add in a
short side trip to a copper ( or other material for possible corrosion
complications) coil which is mounted inside the tank, and then back to the
coolant pipe. Throw in some valves on the extension so it could be shut off
and there it is. I think I may go with the original westy tank after all. I
usually don't drink from the tank (drinking water usually carried separate) so
it would be fine if this water was always warm. And in the winter warm water
would be ok anyway. This would also be a great way to store some heat after
shut down to keep the interior warmer longer, 14 gallons of water holds a lot
of energy! Coolant temp is over the boiling point of water so the potential
for really hot water after a longish trip is good I think.
Any potential problems with the system? Water pump strain? material
incompatibilities? Etc,etc, Any body already done this? >>
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