LPG portable hot water showers

[Superbunny]

Anyone used one? Are they any good? I'm thinking of getting the HOTTAP brand for my block off grid showering.:D:D

SB

[Chief Tiff]

If you mean the portable camping type, then I have the Coleman one and it works fine although the water flow rate isn't fantastic. You can use it with either the expensive Coleman mini cylinders or get the adaptors which allows you to hook up to normal LPG cylinders. It runs off of a 6v SLA battery which you can keep on permanent charge with a small solar panel.

[Superbunny]

If you mean the portable camping type, then I have the Coleman one and it works fine although the water flow rate isn't fantastic. You can use it with either the expensive Coleman mini cylinders or get the adaptors which allows you to hook up to normal LPG cylinders. It runs off of a 6v SLA battery which you can keep on permanent charge with a small solar panel.

Yep, I'm thinking of the LPG 9kg type about 4-5litres/min water flow with a 12v pump and solar panel for battery charge.:D:D

SB

[Chief Tiff]

Well the Coleman is very quick to warm up, almost instantaneous. It's more designed for bush camping though where you want a lower water flow rate so if you are of the "bigger boned" variety the flow may be too low for a comfortable shower.

[Opelblues2]

This i similar to what we had on the property at Calliope, Queensland, it was LPG or wood. if i was able to kep the land t was gong to be upgraded to bio-gas generated from the pig sty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlc3VKZzyYo

or this

http://www.ourterritory.com/outback/donkey.htm

[Superbunny]

I'm not complaining, but given how many have been sold according to the companies that sell them, I'm surprised how little feed back I've had as I would thought many campers would like to know more about this shower option.:D:D

SB

[KBs PensNmore]

I'm not complaining, but given how many have been sold according to the companies that sell them, I'm surprised how little feed back I've had as I would thought many campers would like to know more about this shower option.:D:D

SB

My thoughts for the lack of feedback, is that may be most of the members on here go Glamping in motels, or their caravan/motorhome is set up with a similar unit already, and SWMBO doesn't like "Roughing it".
Kryn

[Superbunny]

OK, I ordered the Hot Tap brand after so many product reviews gave it 5 stars. I'll do a mini review when I've set it up and given it a go in a few weeks.

SB

[bsrlee]

Another fairly satisfied user of one of the first model (green) Coleman gas showers. I don't own it and the owner lost the instructions so we had to find someone who had the same model to teach us to use it :B We have the 9kg cylinder adaptor, inverter battery charger and really should get a spare hose and hand piece after it got left at home one year :doh:

Last Caravan Show I saw 2 new models with more bells and flashing lights but the stand staff were pretty clueless about gas adapters and batteries.

However the shower stand from Coleman was attractive - a big tripod with a snap on fitting at the bottom for the hose and a matching fitting for the hand piece at the top, turns the portable shower into something approaching a fixed shower.

[Superbunny]

Well it all arrived well packaged on Friday and I gave it a good work out on Monday after I got all the bits I needed to make it work such as an LPG tank, gas and batteries. The Hot Tap worked straight out the box after setting up and my wife is very happy we will now get a hot shower at our block. Easy to set up easy to use, I would recommend one. The only complaint I have is the cheap battery lid could be a big improved.

I have no relationship with the company or its employees.

SB

[Superbunny]

Well it all arrived well packaged on Friday and I gave it a good work out on Monday after I got all the bits I needed to make it work such as an LPG tank, gas and batteries. The Hot Tap worked straight out the box after setting up and my wife is very happy we will now get a hot shower at our block. Easy to set up easy to use, I would recommend one. The only complaint I have is the cheap battery lid could be a big improved.

I have no relationship with the company or its employees.

SB

Now used it for two weeks at the block with no complaints, works like a charm and would still recommend it.

SB

[sacc51]

Can the water be turned off on these units without having to relight?

[bsrlee]

The Coleman units link the gas and water supply together to avoid burning out the heater coil.

As you turn the knob from 'Off' the pump starts the water, then a bit of gas and as you keep turning to full on the spark igniter starts clicking. We found that you have to keep the knob turned fully on against a spring loaded stop for several seconds to over ride a thermal 'safety' that turns off the gas if it doesn't start to heat up - a source of much frustration to us who only use it once or twice a year, I suspect a regular user would have no trouble at all.

You can use it as a cold water pump for as long as the battery lasts without using any gas.

[Superbunny]

My report after nearly 2 years use on an every day use. Still going well with no complaints, very economical on LPG and as long as the battery that supplies power to the pump is charged It works every day for showers and hot water for washing dishes. What I did is put a selector on the outlet side to divert hot water to a tub or to the shower rose. Main bits I dislike is regular inlet filter cleaning and the battery compartment lid is flimsy, on the other hand great help on the phone when I had a problem with water flow awhile back. So I still recommend this unit.

SB

[Pearo]

Since everyone is giving reviews, I should post about mine, and as a bonus my good mates unit. I have the Coleman Hot Water On Demand OASIS ELITE (grey one) and my mate has the Companion Aquacube Lithium (blue and grey).

Mine first, the Coleman. Its half the size of the Companion. IT works well, heats well never had a problem with it yet. I dont use cartridges, I use a 9kg gas bottle. When I was in the snowies drawing water from 3 mile damn in winter, i had to pre-heat the water (guessing it was less than 10degC). IF the water supply is cut, then the unit cuts out and the only way to restart it is via the control panel which is a royal pain, especially in the cold.

My mates, The Aquacube. It heats water more effectively but its double the size. IT also has a on/off switch on the shower head and will restart automatically with no intervention. If you can accept the larger unit, this is a better way to go in my opinion.

I am still happy with mine and I like the small size of it. Less room taken for hot water systems = more room for beer :)

I have recently bought a caravan though, so the coleman unit is going to see little use from here on in.

[KBs PensNmore]

You could always use it when you go flycamping?????:D
Kryn

[sacc51]

There are plenty of reviews on the different water heating systems such as Joolca, hottap, Gasland, camplux, etc on the various camping and caravaning groups on facebook. I haven't read any negative reports of them, regardless of brand.

[rsser]

Joolca would be on my shortlist based on user feedback.

[cava]

For the record, I was in discussion with one of the mentioned brands to develop and improve efficiency of their water heaters a few years ago.

Improving the temperature rise v waterflow was relatively easy, but required retooling which was not palatable cost wise to them. Hence it did not proceed.

From memory, the basic concept consisted of a multistage heat exchanger with a larger capacity pump.