LPG Instant Hot Water Systems On Ebay

[Deleted]

Hi everyone,
Been lurking for a while but this is my first post and it’s a winge or warning if you like.
Doing a complete rebuild on an old Millard and doing a lot of searching I couldn’t find any warnings about these things. These are potentially deadly on a van. www.ebay.com.au/itm/Instant-LPG-Portable-Gas-Hot-Water-Camp-Shower-Heater-4WD-Caravan-Horse-Dog-Wash-/262129606067?hash=item3d08245db3:g:biQAAOSwd0BV5llQ

I bought one and hung it on the side of the van for a 15min test run, the heat this thing throws out from the burner is unbelievable between the unit and the alloy on the van it started to melt the paint. I wasn’t that fussed at first because I was pulling the sides off for refurb anyway but the real damage was underneath. It had melted the polystyrene insulation(should have taken some photos), I was shocked at the damage then thought well that makes sense from the heat that was coming off it but latter on I thought thank god there was no 240v wiring behind the spot I placed it !! I might not be writing this now.

Yes, there are warnings on it but the sellers are advertising these things as mountable and they defiantly are not unless it was on a block/brick/asbestos filled wall. They would melt (or worse) a shower tent in seconds.

“300mm clearance on sides and BACK of unit”, hidden in the manual not listed on the sellers ebay pages. So just be aware of how you intend to integrate this thing into your usage keeping this in mind, separately mounted away from the van is the only way.

[Deleted]

I have seen those on eBay mounted inside vans where the old "proper" instant HWS were.
Obviously had never been used,van was still intact.A firebomb waiting to happen!
Cheers
hughdeani

[78466noM]

I have purchased one of the gas hot-water heaters but have always intended of of mounting it on A frame with a couple of batteries below fully vented to air and gas bottle opposite side with gas fuse.
The biggest problem with mounting them inside beside a gas leak is carbon monoxide poisoning you don't see it and don't smell it

[pisces51]

Very similar units branded as "Smarttek6" are widely advertised on Gumtree (see here ). Showtime special price is around $279 versus the RRP of $299.

I see on the Ebay listing that 680 of those units have been sold. Quite a good money-spinner, hey?!

cheers,
Al.

[Deleted]

I only hung it off a screw on the outside of the van to give it a run and see how far the hose would reach, I would have never known what it did behind it if I hadn't taken the side panels off. The only response from the seller was "didn't I read the manual ?" but if you read his description there is nothing on there about don't mount this thing, it is actually the opposite.

[snoops]

I hang mine off a pole up the front of the A frame - a few feet from the van as I too found the heat these things throw out is scary. With it up front like that, I have no issues with it and for a couple of hundred dollars and 4.5Kg it has improved our free camping beyond belief now we can have hot showers.

I've got mine set up so I can either use it from the main tank, or from a 10 litre container we can fill from a river, etc so we don't use our drinking water on extended stays.

[Mustang]

I boil the kettle!!!

[snoops]

Used to do that, but I've gone soft now I have the hot water service.

[tasmillard]

Bringing this thread back, I am on the lookout for a gas HWS. After reading numerous threads, the general consensus is to buy something that has the Aus approval. Many evil-bay items, even tho the same brand etc, may not meet Aus standards and therefore be an issue re safety/legals.

I am currently interested in the Joolca Hottap item, good reviews so far but more importantly every thing I read was about top notch after sale service.  Anyone has one of these units?  Note that I DO NOT intend to install this as a permanent fixture, it will be setup so that I can connect it to the hose that runs into the bathroom but the unit and gas bottle will be outside.  Once used, ill pack it up into storage.  This means I can also use it when going away without the caravan, perhaps tenting it :S

[snoops]

I like that unit and some of the accessories too. When my EBay cheapy craps itself, I'll be on the lookout for something better like this too,

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2016 18:43:02 GMT 10 tasmillard said:

Bringing this thread back, I am on the lookout for a gas HWS. After reading numerous threads, the general consensus is to buy something that has the Aus approval. Many evil-bay items, even tho the same brand etc, may not meet Aus standards and therefore be an issue re safety/legals.

I am currently interested in the Joolca Hottap item, good reviews so far but more importantly every thing I read was about top notch after sale service.  Anyone has one of these units?  Note that I DO NOT intend to install this as a permanent fixture, it will be setup so that I can connect it to the hose that runs into the bathroom but the unit and gas bottle will be outside.  Once used, ill pack it up into storage.  This means I can also use it when going away without the caravan, perhaps tenting it :S

Pre motorhome we just used a solar bag and a elcheapo $20 12v bilge pump shower unit if no solar boil the jug and add cold water to a bucket to your preference and use the little shower in fact we still use it in the motorhome when in remote areas where water is scarce and needs to be conserved Link here
unit www.ebay.com.au/itm/CAR-WASH-PORTABLE-AUTOMOBILE-12V-SHOWER-SET-WATER-PUMP-FISHING-PICNIC-CARAVAN-/171040975659?hash=item27d2d62b2b:g:Hk0AAOSwZQxW3IiY