That's a really good price at Cabela's - thanks guys.

On 7/7/07, Tom Rowsell <tom@geoexploits.com> wrote:
>
> It's about half price at Cabelas too:
>
>
> http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0038862517356a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=zodi&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=zodi&noImage=0
>
> See Doug Alcock's page here:
> http://doug.alcock.googlepages.com/westyshower
>
> Tom
>
> On 7/7/07, Sam Conant <samcvt@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > Jake,
> > The Zodi was listed as a clearance by Campmor a month or so ago, and
> they
> > may still have some.  I'd go to their www site, and search their
> archives
> > for the Zodi and see if they still have some in stock.  The price was
> > reasonable.  I bought one to augment my solar hot water bag systems for
> > the
> > sailboat and Westy
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 12:38 AM
> > Subject: Re: Heat exchanger for hot showers
> >
> >
> > Darned expensive compared to the Zodi hot water system that goes on top
> of
> > your propane stove, seems to me.
> > And you'll have to start & run the engine for some time to create enough
> > heat for a shower.
> >
> > The Zodi looks to be more economical to run as well as to buy but I
> don't
> > have one yet so I can't give you a review.  Still working on the
> > house.......
> >
> > On 7/6/07, Troy <colorworks@gci.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > check the archives. no, really. ;)
> > > > there was a guy in the early days of the vanagon list (can't recall
> > his
> > > > name right now) and he built a system under the rear seat of his
> > camper.
> > > > used the rear seat heater to provide the coolant ... which flowed
> > > through
> > > > some copper coils inside a water tank. he had some sort of
> thermostat
> > > that
> > > > shut off the flow of coolant to the coils if the water got too hot.
> he
> > > > used it for the sink and had some sort of hookup to run a hose to
> the
> > > rear
> > > > hatch (which held the shower curtain when the hatch was up).
> > > >
> > > > seems like the guy's name was dave something or other. had pictures
> > and
> > > > text on a web site.
> > > >
> > > > hope it helps. good luck!
> > > > joel
> > > >Thanks Joel:
> > >
> > > Here's that link your referring to:
> http://www.syncro.org/HotWater.shtml
> > >
> > > And then a response I sent to one other person who emailed me.
> > >
> > > <<Yes, I have the link for that particular set up. That would require
> > > using
> > > the onboard 13 gallon water, which is not something I was interested
> in
> > > doing. The link I provided appears to be an "on demand" system, that
> is
> > to
> > > say as long as you have adequate water supply, (stream, lake,
> etc)  you
> > > could have endless hot water on demand. That's a lot different than
> > > heating
> > > up the onboard water. The key is the type of heat exchanger. There are
> > > propane units available such as the one I have (Coleman) and I believe
> > > there
> > > is another company that puts out something called the zodiac, which
> > works
> > > on
> > > a similar principle. The Coleman actually works quite well on a picnic
> > > table
> > > with a 5 gallon jug, but it is kind of large and bulky and takes up
> > > precious
> > > space. Anyway, as I said I'm intrigued by the challenge more than
> > anything
> > > else. In my own experience, there seems to be plenty of places
> available
> > > along the way to get a hot shower for cheap, and the Coleman works
> great
> > > at
> > > picnic side for dishes, etc.>>
> > >
> > >
> > > Another drawback to heating the onboard water is it promotes bacterial
> > > growth. An "on demand" --heated as needed system--is what I was trying
> > to
> > > accomplish. That particular heat exchanger I provided the link for
> > > (http://www.hotcampshowers.com/new51788.html) seems to do just that.
> > > Basically, the criteria for this would be to figure out volume of
> water
> > > needed (gallons per minute) versus the required rise in temperature.
> > > Generally the greater the increase in temperature, the lower the flow.
> > For
> > > example heating water from 40� to 100� may only result in 1/2 gal. a
> > > minute
> > > (GPM) versus  going from 70� to 100�, which may result in 1 gallon a
> > > minute
> > > or better. The Coleman I have is basically a 1 gallon per minute, but
> > > slows
> > > down quite a bit if you try to crank the water temperature to say 160
> > > degrees. I know just enough about this to get myself into trouble;) I
> > was
> > > hoping someone else might be more knowledgeable about this than I am.
> > > Sounds
> > > like I will have to do a Google search and compare specs on the
> various
> > > heat
> > > exchangers available out there.
> > >
> > > If anyone else cares to chime in about this, I'm all ears.
> > >
> > > Troy
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jake
> > 1984 Vanagon GL
> > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> >
>

-- 
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com