Coleman Hot Water Service 12V Conversion, run it when the battery dead
Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 10:02
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Flex
The Coleman hot water service is an awesome piece of camping equipment, it allows you to have a shower anywhere when you are out camping.
However the only issue (that I have found) with the unit is the battery. More times that I can remember I've only got one shower out of the unit (as the battery died) or I have forgotten to charge the battery before heading out bush. Plus you can't run the unit when you are charging the battery.
So to solve my problem, I decided to make a power supply for the unit (as the unit runs of 6V) so I could run it off my car's 12V socket. I wanted the power supply to be integrated, as I didn't want switches to flick or extra cables coming out of the unit.
My power supply allows the unit to function like original with the extra bonus when the battery dies you just plug it in and the unit will keep on giving you hot water and charge the battery.
The power supply plugs into the original connectors inside and is attached to the case via stick on mounting posts.
I also incorporated a low voltage (12V side) shut-down so not to flatten your car battery and a detection circuit so you can't run the hot water service while you are charging the battery from the (240VAC) wall charger. (Also the wall charger can't handle the current.)
I was also toying with the idea of making some more of these if anyone is interested.
Below is pictures of the power supply installed into my hot water service:
Reply By: Garry E1 - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 23:45
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 23:45
Hi Flex, I had been looking for something to heat water for sometime. I considered the Coleman too expensive.
I came up with this NEW Stainless Travel Portable Electric Hot Water Heater Immersion Element 2500W available on Ebay for $7.95 from China. Heats a 9 Litre bucket of water in around 7 minutes. You can run this of generator. You can purchase a 12v shower head also of Ebay I think around $20. You could also use an over head bag type shower as
well.
I could believe my luck on this, better than anything else seen & is very quick heating the water
Regards
Gazza
AnswerID:
546530
Reply By: Member - mike g2 - Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 11:26
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 11:26
looks like a nice conversion, Your own circuits? hope tis is good for you and many a trip. In my mind, these types of 'electric' showers are Ok, but don't beat a good old fashioned bush shower system. there are many versions and sources of hot water-
camp fire, engine of car( radiator systems), 12V, solar, 44 Gal drum....
heat water in fire ( large pot) hang up your canvas bag, turn on tap to shower head- enjoy. no electronics or moving parts! . not affected by dust, shake-rattle-roll of rough going ( 4X4). used to use 2 buckets in Army... fill one with hot water, stand in the other, pour over and wash. bottom bucket can be recycled back for a second shot.
after a week in bush on patrols it was
heaven.
MG.
AnswerID:
546542
Reply By: oldtrack123 - Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 23:37
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 23:37
HI Flex
If A had a Coleman ,I would certainly go for it!!
PeterQ
AnswerID:
546589
Reply By: 116hynes - Thursday, Feb 26, 2015 at 13:22
Thursday, Feb 26, 2015 at 13:22
Do you have a price in mind if you were to make and sell this?
Kevin
AnswerID:
546614
Reply By: Flex - Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 08:58
Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 08:58
Crunch the numbers last night and work out if I make a batch of them the minimum order would have to be around 50 to keep the price down. Sell price would be around $80 which would include the circuit board, loom and mounts
AnswerID:
546662
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 11:40
Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 11:40
HI Flex
That sounds ok, I expected it to be higher
Why not post on some other RV forums & see the responce?
PeterQ
FollowupID:
834436
Follow Up By: Flex - Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 14:03
Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 14:03
PeterQ,
Which ones would you recommend?
FollowupID:
834450
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 16:18
Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 16:18
HI Flex
Not sure if it is allowedunder the rules of this foum but here goes
Caravanners
Grey nomads
Wiki camps
My Swag
PeterQ
FollowupID:
834454
Reply By: Jarse - Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 19:34
Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at 19:34
Good work, Flex.
I bought a 12v->6v 5A power supply off fleabay, which I fitted to the camper, then installed a socket to the Coleman which cuts out power to/from the 6v battery when the power supply is connected to the Coleman. Works a treat.
AnswerID:
546687