Westfalia and custom onboard hot water systems

[VeeDubDaySpa]

Link

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North American Hightop Installer/Distributor
Current stock (5)
Hot Water Systems
_______________________________________
90 Syncro NAHT Vanagon RHINO
86 "Syncro" Van DIAMOND
87 Syncro Hightop WestyCamper ROCKY (for sale soon)
79 bay window OLIVER

[VeeDubDaySpa]

Original post has been completely edited to simplify and add new developments.
_________________
North American Hightop Installer/Distributor
Current stock (5)
Hot Water Systems
_______________________________________
90 Syncro NAHT Vanagon RHINO
86 "Syncro" Van DIAMOND
87 Syncro Hightop WestyCamper ROCKY (for sale soon)
79 bay window OLIVER

[defunk3D]

Stoked to be working with you on this, love your solution to this enviable creature comfort
_________________
defunct
(adj.) no longer existing, living, or working correctly

defunk3D
(epic) here to keep classic vehicles existing, living, and working correctly, and then some

www.defunk3d.com

[VeeDubDaySpa]

Here are some detailed photos of the Westfalia Kit install using the GLIND heat exchanger and the TV-15 "Anti-Scald" valve. This design will heat water either in an "on-demand" style as you need it AND can heat the whole tank while driving using the digital temp controller.

In this pic, the wiring for the pump and recirculation valve has been prepped, two holes down through the floor have been drilled and the pex plumbing has been ran behind the kitchen to plumb to the sink and shower hook up box:

Using pex, these two pipe sets were easy to customize and fit perfect with extremely reliable connections:

starting with the hot side, the pex is put into position and fits perfectly. The hot water comes in thru the floor, and has a provision up to the "anti-scald" valve (not pictured) and also tees to the back corner where you can see the blue recirculation valve which sends hot water back to the tank:

The blue pex system added as well which draws from the tank, to the pump, to the GLIND heat exchanger and also has a provision for the cold side of the "anti-scald" valve.

View of the tank, insulated with prodex. The wire is for the sensor on the Temp Controller. I have had a sensor fail in the past so having connections at the tank make for an easy replacement. The red fittings match the OG ones really well and can accommodate 1/2" and 3/8" hose. Also, as a pex friendly alternative, are the commonly used 1/2" black bulkhead fittings(not pictured)

This next pic shows the marine hose added and the to and from tank lines plumbed in. Step by step it all comes together very smoothly:

In the new design, the pump is the only thing mounted to the divider board. This design has proved to be incredibly valuable, as getting into the system for maintenance or accessing the shore power system is very easy. (It was tested with likely the toughest test possible. After finishing this system and the customer enjoying it for a while, she decided the next thing on her list was to have the whole 110v system in her van overhauled, so I removed all outlets and all wires and updated, accommodating for a Xantrex Freedom XC 1000 - and the water system was easy to work around! )

Here the "anti-scald" TV-15 valve has been added and plumbed in, other connections being made as well:

Here all connections are made and this is also what it looks like in "service mode" by removing the screws for the divider board and removing the pump swivel fittings and the electrical connector. Very easy to do:

Here everything is installed in normal working mode. The system all fits in areas in the van which aren't generally used anyway so it takes up 0 space in the van. Fully out of sight. the only thing carried is a small mesh sack with the shower head/hose/mount. This is the true beauty of this particular hot water solution.

View from underneath:

View from behind the fridge cabinet of the shower valve:

plumbing to the sink:

For more pics of the system, such as the temp controller and DeFunk3D controller mount and the system in use, see the original post of this thread.

Thanks and happy camping!!
_________________
North American Hightop Installer/Distributor
Current stock (5)
Hot Water Systems
_______________________________________
90 Syncro NAHT Vanagon RHINO
86 "Syncro" Van DIAMOND
87 Syncro Hightop WestyCamper ROCKY (for sale soon)
79 bay window OLIVER

[Alaskaberrys]

Great set up, thanks for posting the details and showing how it works.

We’re currently stripping our ‘91 westy down for a re-paint this winter and will definitely be thinking about installing your system when we rebuild.
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'91 Westfalia, Bordeaux Red Pearl 2.1L 2wd Auto
'91 T3 Syncro Doka, Escorial Green 1.9L TD AAZ “Gremian” (to provoke, irritate, exasperate, vex...)

[VeeDubDaySpa]

Here is the standard wiring for the temperature controller with the on off switch

Red and black are power and ground-
The yellow goes back to the valve (or sometimes to a second pump)
The brown wires are to extend the length of the probe wire, these I run all the way to the tank, I’ve had one probe go bad so it makes for an easy swap, probes are cheap and common-

Can also use an $8 15’ sensor probe which I’ll likely start including in the kits, search amazon for “CrocSee NTC 10K 5 Meters”
_________________
North American Hightop Installer/Distributor
Current stock (5)
Hot Water Systems
_______________________________________
90 Syncro NAHT Vanagon RHINO
86 "Syncro" Van DIAMOND
87 Syncro Hightop WestyCamper ROCKY (for sale soon)
79 bay window OLIVER

[Royb]

I love that it uses the city water port outside, which never worked on mine.
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1991 Westy

[VeeDubDaySpa]

[Corwyn]

My system is cheaper and quite effective

_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[VeeDubDaySpa]

[shagginwagon83]

I believe I saw a system on here that uses an air heater (diesel heater) heat output to heat hot water. Does anyone know of the system?
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[VeeDubDaySpa]

[shagginwagon83]

Found it:

https://www.bobilvans.co.uk/product-page/bobil-air-xchange
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[mathieux46]

Hello,

Just wanted to report my Glind shower have been a great addition to our camping set up and have been working flawlessly for the last 2 years.

I also added a side shower from 23zero mounted with awning brackets on the rain gutter on the passenger side of the van, so it take like 30 seconds to set up the shower: unzip the shower, let it drop on it's own weight, unfold the arms of the shower, plug the shower hose, start the van, then voilà endless hot water.

The best part of this arrangement over my previous propane water heater is there is no bulky equipments consuming precious storage space inside the van while travelling.

Added bonus is everytime we use the shower, the aux battery get recharged via a DC-DC charger while the engine is idling.

Highly recommanded!

Will post picture next time I use it.

Mat

[shagginwagon83]

How long do you have to run your engine before water is warm?

I like the idea of "using the hot air expelled from your diesel heater to heat your water through the use of heat exchangers. "

Because really the only time I want/need hot water is when I am using the heater.

The Bobil advertises

[mathieux46]

Hi Brandon,

It take +/- 5 to 10 minute of idling from a cold start to get hot water (EJ25 engine ) depending on the outside temp. Once the engine temp reaches 80 celcius ( I have an 78 celcius thermostat ) then I have hot water.

If I would take a shower upon arrival from a drive then you have hot water immediatly.

Thanks

Mat

[fxr]

I'm over in the UK at the moment, and will be purchasing one of these very soon, to bring back over to CA. I'll try to remember to document the installation and subsequent verdict. I'm usually useless at taking photos, I get too immersed in the process, but this time I'll really, really try, promise... Don't hold any breath!
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[revolution337]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394066063034

I see China is now making these engine coolant preheaters that seem to operate the same way as the CDH. I wonder if you would repurpose something like this for an onboard water heater system.

Maybe it would make the water TOO hot?
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1982 Westfalia AEB 1.8t
2017 VW Golf Sportwagen
2001 Audi A4 4.2 V8 swapped
2000 BMW Z3 roadster
-Mark

[VeeDubDaySpa]

Running a coolant heater like that would be perfect along with the Glind. Fire up the coolant heater instead of the engine and then the glind can pull heat off of the coolant as needed. You’d always have hot water as long as the coolant heater is running. Also your dash heater would always be hot and can warm the van, rear heater too if you have one of those. And the engine would be preheated as well. Might as well run a radiant floor while you’re at it! I have an 8 gallon and an 11 gallon diesel tank that is the size of a spare tire, both fit in the clam shell so that would fuel all that for a long time. It’s a fun idea to play with.
_________________
North American Hightop Installer/Distributor
Current stock (5)
Hot Water Systems
_______________________________________
90 Syncro NAHT Vanagon RHINO
86 "Syncro" Van DIAMOND
87 Syncro Hightop WestyCamper ROCKY (for sale soon)
79 bay window OLIVER

[mark cervelli]

I like this. But I thought I'd share another idea:

I recently installed a Camplux on demand water heater in my rear cabinet. I draw the water out of the tank, through a Shurflo on demand water pump, into the heater and then as you can see in the picture to the showerhead mounted on the rear cabinet. The propane comes from the abandoned refrigerator line. (I have a Truckfridge compressor type fridge). I cut a hole in the top of the cabinet, above the heater and then lined the area above the water heater with 20 ga sheet metal and aluminum tape. This is to vent the top of the heater and expel hot air. The sheet metal is there as a safeguard in case of fire. I use a computer fan to blow the warm air away though, to be honest, there isn't very much heat! The Camplux is very efficient! This system works very well! I hang a shower curtain on the rear hatch for privacy. It is held in place with magnets sewn into the edge of the curtain. I mounted a switch for the on-demand water pump. Once it builds pressure in the line the pump turns off. The shower head comes with an on/off valve on the handle. open the valve and the pump kicks on. The heater senses the water flow and kicks on heating the water. Shut off the valve on the shower head and the pump stops and the water heater shuts off. (no water flow, no heat).