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ronsmithis Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2010 Posts: 53 Location: Maui Hawaii
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:38 am Post subject: DIY Solar Hot Water Heater (Photos) |
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Aloha Sambanista's
Here's a solar water heater I finished. Nice having hot water while wilderness camping. I used 4"PVC pipe that I sanded and painted flat black. It gets pretty hot and holds about 14 gallons of water. It weighs quite a bit so keep that in mind when popping the top up /down. Also fixed a vent tube up top to allow air venting without creating a vacuum. Also can just be used as a water reservior for extended camping trips.
Cheers, Ron
....Please don't hate me cause I drive a Eurovan...
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joseph928 Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2011 Posts: 2114 Location: flagstaff az.
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:55 am Post subject: hot water |
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I love this idea, have rack, now would have something to put in it. Cary more water and if need be to go 4x4 let water out. At times you can't have to much load on the roof. _________________ 1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug. |
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ranchero Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2006 Posts: 359 Location: Salida, CO
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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very nice Ron! I have been contemplating something similar. _________________ '90 Westy Syncro EJ25 (money pit #1)
'96 FZJ80 (cheap by comparison^^)
'13 Golf R. Daily driver. |
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Bruce Wayne Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2007 Posts: 1210
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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14 gallons of water is 112lbs,be very careful popping the top if that is full. nice work! |
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Corwyn Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009 Posts: 2236 Location: Olympia, Washington
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ronsmithis Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2010 Posts: 53 Location: Maui Hawaii
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:29 pm Post subject: DIY Solar Water Heater |
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[quote]14 gallons of water is 112lbs,be very careful popping the top if that is full. nice work.
You're right about that,one idea is that you can use smaller diameter PVC pipe. Less water ...less weight to lift. Last yearwhen I put the racks,cargo carrier and solar panels on I switched to heavy duty 150lb gas struts. It's still a bit of work popping the top though when it's full of water.
..Please don't hate me cause I drive a Eurovan.. |
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Farfrumwork Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2008 Posts: 692 Location: Mile High
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice.
man, when I was in Maui with my wife/kids 2yrs ago (in a rented Westy) we prasied our little solar shower bag. Feels soooo good to have a warm rinse after being in the salt water.
Cool rinse at the beach with the free showers, then a warm rinse at the van... some tropical breeze and you're set!
_________________ sold -> '85 Wolfsburg Syncro / 'Built' DOHC EJ25 (a great machine!)
'07 Legacy spec.B, road tuned stgII
'17 4x4 Sprinter, stone grey, SMB pop-top, on 33"s
"Blood stains, speed kills - Fast cars, cheap thrills - Rich girls, fine wine - I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I've lost my mind" |
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Saguache Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2009 Posts: 360 Location: Gunnison, CO
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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I've thought about doing something similar, but honestly parking in the sunshine in the summer time means living in a really hot van. Thus I'm getting good with gritty. Right now I need a hair cut and a shave, plus my smell might qualify me for full fledge mountain man status. _________________ Matt Thyer
http://zenoswagen.wordpress.com/ |
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Stígandi Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2008 Posts: 110 Location: Houston
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alembical Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2011 Posts: 16 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Ron,
That looks like a EVC as compared to a Weekender. If I am right in that thought, any reason you decided to mount the water on the portion of the roof that pops up, rather than the front luggage rack above the drivers' cabin, which seems able to handle the weight better.
Just curious. We have an EVC too and are interested in this set up, but hesitant about having that much weight on the fragile Winnebago pop tops. If we had a Westie Weekender, we would have much less concerns. _________________ 1997 EVC |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6243 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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I've tried solar type shower set ups here in Oregon. The only time I ever got warm water was in Maupin when it was already 95 outside. I just don't think that type set-up is efficient enough to heat water in the NW where sunshine is limited and outside temperatures are cooler. There's just too much heat loss and not enough solar gain. You would need an insulated tank and a circulator to heat water through a heat exchanger. Black pipes or bags just don't cut it here. _________________ 89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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I like that but my plastic top (ASI Vanagon) couldn't handle that weight. I'll just have to stick to my solar bag and I can put the van in the shade and the bag in the sun. Bought two nature like shower curtains for the outdoor back hatch! nice idea depending on the climate and sun conditions. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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