Hot water in California Ocean - its easy and possible - without loosing warranty

[Robert-ert]

I've gone through many solutions, read hundreds of posts and now I know having water in California Ocean is simple and inexpensive
(especially if you have the possibility of a 230V 660W power supply).
Additionally, we don't irreversibly interfere (we don't damage anything, we don't drill, etc.) with a car under warranty.
What do we need?
- A little courage, basic skills, and basic tools (a 7mm socket wrench on a long handle will make life easier)
- Ideally, space in a closet, which is sometimes taken up by a factory safe-box (and if it's not there, there's no way to even reach it)
- An Elgena boiler, available in 3 or 6 liters, preferably a combi version (12V 200W / 230V 660W) - it easily fits 6 liters and is as shown in the photos
- Hot/cold water mixer solenoid valve for boiler - Truma
- A suitable 2m hot water hose with a 10mm internal diameter, e.g., FAWO
Cost is about 550 Euro and about 4h of your time
and you have about 15 liters 38-40C water enough for 2 showers - in shower and in the sink.

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[Wannabecamperman]

I've gone through many solutions, read hundreds of posts and now I know having water in California Ocean is simple and inexpensive
(especially if you have the possibility of a 230V 660W power supply).
Additionally, we don't irreversibly interfere (we don't damage anything, we don't drill, etc.) with a car under warranty.
What do we need?
- A little courage, basic skills, and basic tools (a 7mm socket wrench on a long handle will make life easier)
- Ideally, space in a closet, which is sometimes taken up by a factory safe-box (and if it's not there, there's no way to even reach it)
- An Elgena boiler, available in 3 or 6 liters, preferably a combi version (12V 200W / 230V 660W) - it easily fits 6 liters and is as shown in the photos
- Hot/cold water mixer solenoid valve for boiler - Truma
- A suitable 2m hot water hose with a 10mm internal diameter, e.g., FAWO
Cost is about 550 Euro and about 4h of your time
and you have about 15 liters 38-40C water enough for 2 showers - in shower and in the sink.

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Cześć Robert! Looking at your photos, this seems very similar to the boiler we had in a Ford Nugget camper we rented once. A very innovative solution - well done!

 

[wildslammer22]

I've gone through many solutions, read hundreds of posts and now I know having water in California Ocean is simple and inexpensive
(especially if you have the possibility of a 230V 660W power supply).
Additionally, we don't irreversibly interfere (we don't damage anything, we don't drill, etc.) with a car under warranty.
What do we need?
- A little courage, basic skills, and basic tools (a 7mm socket wrench on a long handle will make life easier)
- Ideally, space in a closet, which is sometimes taken up by a factory safe-box (and if it's not there, there's no way to even reach it)
- An Elgena boiler, available in 3 or 6 liters, preferably a combi version (12V 200W / 230V 660W) - it easily fits 6 liters and is as shown in the photos
- Hot/cold water mixer solenoid valve for boiler - Truma
- A suitable 2m hot water hose with a 10mm internal diameter, e.g., FAWO
Cost is about 550 Euro and about 4h of your time
and you have about 15 liters 38-40C water enough for 2 showers - in shower and in the sink.

View attachment 140625

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Excellent! I’d love to know how you have done this, power etc

 

[sidepod]

Am I missing something? at 12v it'll eat a leisure battery so it needs to be run whilst driving? If there is 240v available then chances are you're on a campsite so use their showers?

 

[Mehdime]

I’d be interested to learn more as well about of it works in practice. It’s not really usable on a campsite unless it’s a nudist site (even then, I’m not sure people would be impressed with you soaking the pitch with soapy water).

But can be handy for wild camping. Certainly useful there for washing dishes in the sink. But how long does it take to heat up those 6 liters and how much battery does it use up?

 

[Robert-ert]

Am I missing something? at 12v it'll eat a leisure battery so it needs to be run whilst driving? If there is 240v available then chances are you're on a campsite so use their showers?

yep 12V while driving only, but 230V also on "wild camp" for example from ecoflow

 

[Robert-ert]

How to power up it while camping "wild" ?
- leisure battery only when driving - BUT when water gets hot 75C as this boiler can do ! it hold (just add some additional insulation, as I did - on the picture) for many hours.
I have 36C after 12h in my test.
- 230V - much better and faster, but... you need additonal power supply - in my case its Ecoflow Delta 2 + Ecoflow 800W alternator charger - solution described on this forum

Give me a bit of time will prepare full tutorial how to do it

 

[sidepod]

So you also need to carry around an enormous heavy lump of extra battery?

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

We had something similar in an eriba caravan 20+ years ago.
The memory generates 2 questions:
1. How is easy is it to drain down for winter?
2. When you forget to drain it down what damage will the leak do?

 

[Robert-ert]

So you also need to carry around an enormous heavy lump of extra battery?

hahahahahah
There are no free lunches in life, there is always a cost to something...
if you traveling not staying for few days in one place - 12V will do the job without "heavy lump"

 

[Robert-ert]

We had something similar in an eriba caravan 20+ years ago.
The memory generates 2 questions:
1. How is easy is it to drain down for winter?
2. When you forget to drain it down what damage will the leak do?

1. easy - 1 minute job just take the boiler out - two clamps and is out
2. It depends on how you protect yourself - I have the boiler in a tight "foil bath" with the 10l capacity so no problem at all

 

[hlobban]

Looks like a nice solution, I would be interested in seeing the Tutorial when you get a chance do do it.

 

[ejmoore]

A simpler & cheaper method that we use:
Boil a kettle of water, put it in a bucket, top up with cold water. Scoop it over yourself using a plastic mug. Much better than a feeble shower.

We bought a £25 'utility' tent for privacy, and stand on a tray thing* to catch the water.

*one of those gardener's planting trays made of groundsheet fabric that pops together at the corners to form a tray

Cheap, quick, effective & takes up very little space. If you want a longer wash, use two buckets!

 

[sidepod]

. If you want a longer wash, use two buckets!

Brilliant. Sums this thread up perfectly.

 

[myvanrodney]

I deliberated over hot water but ended up concluding It's all too much of a faff for me. But i totally understand the purpose in designing solutions and building them. Sometimes it's not what you achieve, but the fun, challenge and satisfaction of the journey! .... i love camping!

 

[jezza]

I've gone through many solutions, read hundreds of posts and now I know having water in California Ocean is simple and inexpensive
(especially if you have the possibility of a 230V 660W power supply).
Additionally, we don't irreversibly interfere (we don't damage anything, we don't drill, etc.) with a car under warranty.
What do we need?
- A little courage, basic skills, and basic tools (a 7mm socket wrench on a long handle will make life easier)
- Ideally, space in a closet, which is sometimes taken up by a factory safe-box (and if it's not there, there's no way to even reach it)
- An Elgena boiler, available in 3 or 6 liters, preferably a combi version (12V 200W / 230V 660W) - it easily fits 6 liters and is as shown in the photos
- Hot/cold water mixer solenoid valve for boiler - Truma
- A suitable 2m hot water hose with a 10mm internal diameter, e.g., FAWO
Cost is about 550 Euro and about 4h of your time
and you have about 15 liters 38-40C water enough for 2 showers - in shower and in the sink.

View attachment 140625

View attachment 140626

Hi would be very interested if you could let me know where you got hold of the little storage panel you have over the small kitchen window.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi would be very interested if you could let me know where you got hold of the little storage panel you have over the small kitchen window.

they were, I believe, available from the Forum shop. It replaces the pull out screen.

 

[PeterMcAlea]

A simpler & cheaper method that we use:
Boil a kettle of water, put it in a bucket, top up with cold water. Scoop it over yourself using a plastic mug. Much better than a feeble shower.

We bought a £25 'utility' tent for privacy, and stand on a tray thing* to catch the water.

*one of those gardener's planting trays made of groundsheet fabric that pops together at the corners to form a tray

Cheap, quick, effective & takes up very little space. If you want a longer wash, use two buckets!

You know what, this is actually perfect! Keep it simple and embrace the experience. Thank you for this. Love it! : )

 

[Peter84]

I don't understand the negativity in this post. Surely it's not for everyone but TS had done a nice job and is willing to share! So hopefully he'll share his tutorial here

 

[Robert-ert]

I don't understand the negativity in this post. Surely it's not for everyone but TS had done a nice job and is willing to share! So hopefully he'll share his tutorial here

I will soon... but just after vacation

 

[Robert-ert]

Hi would be very interested if you could let me know where you got hold of the little storage panel you have over the small kitchen window.

Im also doing many 3D projects for California.
This is not for commercial use - but its free for private use - so you can print it all for yourself
Check here:
California 3D projects
all are My projects from scratch - all Im testing and using in my California.
If you have printer - print for yourself if your friend has a printer - ask him for gift