Coleman/Primus as base for weater heater
Submitted: Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 14:02
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Member - Collyn R (WA)
Am considering using a Coleman or Primus shower heater as basis for simple general water heating in our TVan. Concept is to connect via tank and larger pump, then plumb to sink etc. Also connected to larger gas bottle.
Heater would of course be external
Would appreciate comments from anyone who has done this - there are a few comments in the archives - but nothing current.
Collyn Rivers
Reply By: Dilligaf - Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 14:17
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 14:17
I had a Primus and now have a Coleman. Primus is overall poor design and implementation. Coleman works as described and gives instant hot water quickly without stuffing around. I have our Coleman connected to a larger
water tank with pressure pump and also a quick disconnect gas fitting to a 9kg bottle that is AGA approved that looks like a Ryco air hose fitting.
To put it succinctly the Primus takes a lot of stuffing around, the Coleman you twiddle
the knob and you have hot water. Is that simple enough for you?
AnswerID:
151465
Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 14:57
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 14:57
The reason that I didn't buy the Coleman in the first place was that the accessory gas hose was not available in Australia.
But, I too must admit that I like the general portabilty of the self contained cannisters. We found the Primus to be fiddly to operate & annoying in the extreme with its over temperature gas shut off.
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405102
Follow Up By: Dilligaf - Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 15:04
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 15:04
Shaker the accessory gas hose is available in Australia and they arrived 6 weeks after the hot water systems. Coleman has a 1800 number you can phone and that is what I did when I wanted to know about the gas hoses. You can refill the Coleman canisters with an adapter you buy from the US. I use a 9 kg gas bottle with our and our friend refills the disposable gas cannisters 10 times as they recommend in the instructions that comes with the refill adapter.
FollowupID:
405104
Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 16:31
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 16:31
I can assure that they weren't available for quite some time after the HWS was released in Australia, which is why I made the initial mistake of buying a Primus.
My comment was that after thinking that it was necessary, I find that I prefer the disposable cannisters.
I mus admit that I have never heard of the refill adaptor & would appreciate more information & how much is each refill?
FollowupID:
405115
Follow Up By: Shaker - Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 16:36
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 16:36
From the Coleman website:
PROPANE FUEL - 1 PACK
Model No: 5103A164T
· All new lightweight and portable fuel source, a more convenient way to fuel a wide range of camping appliances
· Allows the user to run multiple LPG appliances without heavy cylinders
· Ideal emergency reserve when your standard cylinder runs empty
· Safe & self sealing, so you can remove whenever you choose
· Non-refillable
FollowupID:
405118
Reply By: Andrew (Whyalla SA) - Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 14:25
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 14:25
Collyn
I bought a Coleman before xmas for our High Country trip.
First thing is that its plastic and quite bulky - sorry to state the obvious. LOL
I was using it as a shower and the pump was lifting approx 1m with excellent flow.
The self ignition worked
well and gas use wasnt too bad although I havent finished the disposable gas bottle yet to be sure. It has done about a dozen showers plus a LOT of playing around with it. I also have the hose that allows it to run off of normal gas bottles but I quite like the self contained nature of using the Coleman bottles. Disposable bottles are wasteful though.
Its a good product Collyn, if its bulk can be accommodated.
regards
Andrew
AnswerID:
151468
Reply By: brett - Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 22:19
Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 at 22:19
Front to back 420mm including knob
height 410mm
width 220mm
weight with pump and no gas cylinder 9.7Kg
Yes it's bulky but works very
well, no problems with overtemp cutout as it doesn't happen till 70deg C then it automatically reignites when the temp drops. Have used
mine with a 12V pressure pump and the mains water adapter, works very
well, no problems with the pump priming and if you tweek the regulator inside the adapter you can get more flow.
Even though your not meant to refill the cylinders I have done several with no problems, the Yanks have been refilling them for years. Just
check the valve is not leaking after refill and that's it. Even non refilled ones can leak if screwed on and off many times and it has a dodgy valve. Got my adapter off EBay. Worse case is if the cylnder is overfilled the valve will vent gas, this has never hapened to me, it's no more dangerous than filling your car up with petrol. Just observe some basic safety and enjoy your 70 cent gas refill instead of $6.95.
AnswerID:
151541
Follow Up By: Member - Collyn R (WA) - Sunday, Jan 29, 2006 at 11:39
Sunday, Jan 29, 2006 at 11:39
Thank you Brett - and everyone else. Will give it a go.
Collyn
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