I've made our shower an external one so the heater hangs on the inside of the rear door so when opened its actually outside and a shower tray slides out from the back of the van and a shower curtain hangs between the open doors on all four sides to keep the van dry and your dignity intact from the rest of the world. Just use a quick release gas fitting at the back of the van and you can disconnect the heater when you don't use it. Its a much safer way to do it and means you don't loose a large space inside the van to a shower.
Thanks for the explanation. I'd never thought about the build up of carboxyhaemoglobin in the body due to its half-life, even with low concentrations of CO in the air. Now I know 👍
I have one fitted in my van , it's sealed from the living area with a flue and ventilation. It amazes me how much people hate them , they're actually allowed to be fitted in canal boats, British waterways and environment agency accept their continued installation. Guess common sense fitting and using is needed which isn't abundant in this country.
I wonder if there's a way to rig these up so that you hang the actual tank outside when in use but can control it from the inside? So you still have your nice inside bathroom and the convenience of one of these heaters without the danger? Or I was thinking a sealed chamber on the back of your bathroom that is vented in the roof?
Been looking for exactly this! Thank you for taking the time to make this video- it perfectly explains what we all needed to hear👍🏻 wish I had saved more and got a Rinnai or likes but I didn’t so I will keep mine outside!!!
I'm considering using a 4.4 KW tankless mini instant electric water heater for my van, to go all electric and avoid gas all together. does anyone know if this is a bad idea or good idea if i have a big enough battery storage?
You would need to be very careful about the specs of the batteries you would need to be able to provide the nearly 400 Amps at 12 volts or 200 Amps at 24 volts it would need. Plus a good quality 5kw inverter isn’t going to be cheap.
@@ExploreVanUK I guess the goal isn’t necessarily a tankless. But a fully electric van set up. What would you recommend for an electric water heating system?
Personally I don’t think I’d consider it viable, unless you are in a country with consistent sun all year. Then I’d look at using excess solar power to maintain the water temperature in an insulated tank, with a suitable immersion heater. Or you could cut out the electrical need with a solar water heating panel. But you would need to be conscious of the risk of legionaries diseases and ensure the water is kept at a safe temperature. In my opinion in a temperate country the only real options for heating space or water off grid consistently all year round are LPG, Diesel or heating from the Engine.
@@ExploreVanUK thank you for advice :) I live in Spain and am planning to have about 400ah battery, 400w solar with a ISOTEMP water heater that’s run off of the engine heat. But yeah it’s a real cog in the works. If I should just revert back to gas. I really like the idea of full electric off grid.
If heating off the engine using your isotemp? I don’t understand the need for an instantaneous electric heater? Isotemp also do a 12v stored water heaters so if you are confident you would have the solar input to cover that would be an option.
Hi - in my totally non-professional opinion I would say that was a good way to do it. I'm not sure how they would stand up to be shaken around during travel compared to the ones specifically designed for use in a vehicle, but it would tackle some of the issues.
I have done this on my shepherds hut and it works perfectly. Now embarking on a campervan conversion and going round in circles deciding on best how water solution. The idea of creating an external cabinet for a tankless heater is very appealing as these heaters are so well priced, easily swapped out every few years and easy to hook up. I can see the constant movement in transit being a potential issue but won’t know til tried 🤷
@@RobCowan-hr1iy it's not complicated, cut a hole in the side of your van, make separate vents for intake and exhaust. Box it off so it's sealed from the interior, put the TWH in that box, . Basically just a poor man's Truma RV heater.
Thanks Keith - I wasn't going to post this one on the FB group as I imagine many will find it from the CO video - but feel free to pop it on if you want to.
Great video! Although these heaters are a daft idea to fit in a van, unfortunately they have 2 key features that mean people will fit them despite the danger. - cheap - simple
