Need some ideas for my onboard hot water setup
- Thread starter roamingaz
- Start date
Robert Bills
Explorer
I am curious how/why you chose your particular heat exchanger. (# plates, why flat vs. a cylinder, etc.) How much does your particular unit heat the shower water at normal flow rates?
JackW
Explorer
Mine is a 10-plate unit - I can't remember the manufacturer (think it starts with "S") but the surface area in the flat plate style is several times that of a tube in tube style exchanger like the Helton units. It was what was available on Ebay at the time when I needed one. Its also pretty small in outside dimensions making it easier to mount under the hood.
It very efficient in heating water - I have it plumbed into the supply line to the heater core and it does a good job with a single pass through the exchanger even with a barely warm engine. I have yet to try it out when the engine is fully up to temperature but I was worried that it could get too hot so I built my shower set-up so that I could bleed in some cold water and adjust the temperature.
It very efficient in heating water - I have it plumbed into the supply line to the heater core and it does a good job with a single pass through the exchanger even with a barely warm engine. I have yet to try it out when the engine is fully up to temperature but I was worried that it could get too hot so I built my shower set-up so that I could bleed in some cold water and adjust the temperature.
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
Plate style heat exchangers are very efficient, but they also require more pumping force to move the liquid through, both on the coolant side and the freshwater side, not so much an issue with engine side (though it could cause some performance issues with your heater core if plumbed in series), however it will require a higher pressure pump on the fresh water side, again no biggy if its part of your design. For example a Sureflo pump would be up to the task with ease. One other issue I've heard of (no firsthand experience) is plate style heat exchangers that are not up to the task of being mounted on a vehcile that sees vibrations, jumps, bounces, etc, forming cracks in a design really intended for a stationary mount on a non-dynamic application. As has been proven there are brands of exchangers up to the task.
The Helton takes the line of simplicity, the pump is built into the water pickup unit and plugged directly to a batter or 12V outlet. Its a low pressure and low volume pump, just the perfect amount for a shower or washing dishes all the while conserving water, pumping 1/4 as much as even a smaller Sureflo unit, perfect for those on a water budget.
No right answer and either can be set up to be a killer performer.
The Helton takes the line of simplicity, the pump is built into the water pickup unit and plugged directly to a batter or 12V outlet. Its a low pressure and low volume pump, just the perfect amount for a shower or washing dishes all the while conserving water, pumping 1/4 as much as even a smaller Sureflo unit, perfect for those on a water budget.
No right answer and either can be set up to be a killer performer.
overlander
Expedition Leader
Jack, I see how you have it in a Defender. Remind me of the port direction. The way your picture shows it's hooked up, is the flow going from heater element to exchanger, or vice verse? I can't recall which side is in versus out on the defender heater, but I would like to be able to use my heater temp control in addition to having a parallel code line all running to a mixer, that way I can stabilize the hot size when the shower gets stop-started continously. My exchanger and pump are on the way for my install.