What types of hot water systems are used in caravans?

Hot Water · Veteran Member

What types of hot water systems are used in caravans?

jrg · Senior Member

If the van has an ensuite there will be a heater incorporated which runs on gas or 240 Surburan Trauma and swift are 3 brands I know of .
With no ensuite its, a billy ,Kettle or solar bag to heat the water the latter requires a high tree to get under it the other 2 are sponge or a bilge pump out of a bucket.
With the solar I used to place on the bonnet when stoped to assist from the bottom the heating process.all worked ok

Hot Water · Veteran Member

jrg wrote:
If the van has an ensuite there will be a heater incorporated which runs on gas or 240 Surburan Trauma and swift are 3 brands I know of .
With no ensuite its, a billy ,Kettle or solar bag to heat the water the latter requires a high tree to get under it the other 2 are sponge or a bilge pump out of a bucket.
With the solar I used to place on the bonnet when stoped to assist from the bottom the heating process.all worked ok

thanks jrg, much appreciated, i will look into electric i think.

skins · Senior Member

There's another one called Atwood, not as common in Oz as the others but they are there. Its popular in America. Works on gas, 240 AC & 12 volts. However my new van that has this Atwood model & itdoes not work at all. Says a lot for the heater

Santa · Guru

We have a 14 litre 240 volt/gas Truma, very happy with it. smile

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

240v / gas here .

aussie_paul · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
240v / gas here .

Us too.

Aussie Paul. smile

aussietraveller · Guru

I have seen aftermarket replacement tap that connects to standard water supply and to a 240 volt powerpoint and gives instantaneous hot water, it could be fitted to any van.
Have not seen one for some years but would be worth checking with someone like Camac.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Diesel, waste heat from the engine and 750W electric power from the solar and inverter in a 22L storage unit.
Mostly heated from the engine as we drive and stays hot a couple of days.

Cheers,
Peter

Hot Water · Veteran Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Diesel, waste heat from the engine and 750W electric power from the solar and inverter in a 22L storage unit.
Mostly heated from the engine as we drive and stays hot a couple of days.

Cheers,
Peter

what is the electric element wattage of your 22l tank? is it just 750w? what brand?

regards,

Mark

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

This one.
www.surejust.co.uk/surecal
The wattage of the element can be chosen to suit. Ours is 750W which we can easily run when the sun is shining, but we rarely need to.

Cheers,
Peter

Hot Water · Veteran Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
This one.
www.surejust.co.uk/surecal
The wattage of the element can be chosen to suit. Ours is 750W which we can easily run when the sun is shining, but we rarely need to.

Cheers,
Peter

thanks for the link Peter, i am still learning about this topic and the various options out there.

regards,

Mark

PeterD · Guru

skins wrote:
There's another one called Atwood, not as common in Oz as the others but they are there. Its popular in America. Works on gas, 240 AC & 12 volts. However my new van that has this Atwood model & itdoes not work at all. Says a lot for the heater

What is the model number of the one with gas, 240 AC & 12 V input? I suggest the 12 V input is just for the control board.

Tony Bev · Guru

My old caravan did not have a built in water heater

I had two methods of heating water for a shower

On a cold day
I would boil a full kettle of water, add cold and hot into a designated bucket, and use a portable 12 volt shower pump

On a warm day
I would let the solar shower bag heat the water
I found that half filling the bag, heated the water much quicker, than trying to heat a full bag