Hi Stella
In our motorhome we have a 75 litre plastic freshwater tank that sits under one of our bench seats in the dining area. Inside the tank is a 12v immersible pump that draws water from the tank to the kitchen taps/bathroom taps and shower and also the small gas boiler which is under the other bench seat and heats the water. The 12v pump runs off of the leisure battery or the EHU and the boiler runs off of our calor gas bottles, but it also has electric ignition. That's roughly how it works but there's a lot to think about with water, gas and electric and then you'll need to get rid of the waste water and have a waterproof shower tray. Maybe you could get all the parts laid in position and get an electrician and gas fitter to connect it all and check it for safety?
I would suggest an off the shelf Ring 12v Shower consisting of pump, hoses , battery pack and switch all complete. £2o or so from Ebay or Amazon. You then use this from a standard water bottle topped up from a kettle.You can also buy plastic shower tray sized to match the space in your van. To add a heated system will cost a lot more unless you can break into a existing system already fitted. You will need a good craftsman either way.
Here's my conversion of a Freedom Mcrolite washroom
I'm not sure I'm the one to answer that one Stella. We've always got by with the leisure battery and EHU and gas. I'm sure someone else on the forum can give you some clues on power supplies. i think a good quality solar panel will still store power in the winter though and I'd imagine a generator could be noisy which you might not want.
The solar panels will store but means more batteries. You can get silent generators but expensive but then good solar panels aren't either. I think I will get both just to be safe one initial out lay and it's done other than the petrol.
I'd forget the generator unless you need mains voltage electricity for some purpose other than the shower, and even then you'll find most sites will disapprove of even the "quiet" ones and if they do allow them at all will restrict the times they can be used.
As suggested, use gas for heating water and a 12v pump for the shower.
You already have a generator in your van anyway! You can fit (or have fitted) a split charge relay to the alternator circuit to top up your leisure battery (which should be securely fitted in its own compartment sealed off from your habitation area but vented to outside) once the vehicle battery has been topped up.
Hi at the moment all I have is a micro wave an x box a tv and a fridge freezer. The guy I bought it off had it all running off of a hook up the only thing that runs off the battery is the lights. I want to go off grid so need advice on power. I think I will take the advice of the gas heated water shower just not sure about the power ?
If not already done, swap your lights for LED., they cost a bit but save lots of energy. If you have space , fit an extra leisure battery.When we had a big motorhome with seven people aboard wanting showers, hot food etc etc we did use a small Honda petrol generator off grid. Usually not on a campsite and in the winter, we ran it on laybys with nobody around. We chained it to the vehicle to prevent a grab and run type theft. As said above, a lot of sites don't allow generators and/or any neighbouring campers may complain. Solar panels work on light , not heat spectrum, so if it's sunny, they will charge leisure battery in the winter. You can also buy small, wind powered generators if you are really serious about being off grid with no EHU.Try Marine Chandlers and tell them what you need it for. I would stick with 12v personally. Again, not cheap but once you have one, it just keeps "giving".
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Will another leisure battery run all that I have ? Main lights are led as he said the other ones ran out after about 3 hours. Can I ask what an inverter does ? Will I need one ?
Instead of thinking about what gadgets you would like, try thinking of how little you actually need and reduce your power requirements. You can make a reasonable 'guesstimate' at how much power you will need and then use that to see how much battery capacity you will need.
I do not recommend that you use an inverter except for low power appliances. If you want to be off-grid, go for all 12Volt gadgets.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
I could do without all I have except the tv I've seen them on a 12 volt but that can wait till later. My main concern is getting the power in. So much to learn and consider.
I'm with the person that said don't bother to fit a shower. The space is better used for storage, a bigger bed, the essential toilet etc.... Less frequent need to refill the fresh water tank too. A bowl of hot sudsy water & a flannel is all you need if you're camping off grid.
If you want to wash hair daily, there are mixer taps where the shower head can extend on a flexible tube over the washroom or kitchen sink.
I've seen shower heads mounted on the tailgate door so you're showering outside, underneath the rear door, with a curtain (or not). A bit nippy in this weather though.
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Topic: Shower in a van
