On Board Water?

Thanks. If I can spare the time, I am going to diagram my idea with Viso and I'll post it for commentary, feedback, etc.

And thank to you for keeping your thread going. It's a nice collection of experience and reference material.

 

No stress. I like to look in one place instead of pin-balling around the net

 

Here is what I am thinking. My brain is pretty fried from work, but here it is...

Using a thermostat to control the recirculation makes this incredibly awesome, it takes all the manual work out of the equation. In this manner, you can arrive in camp and have warm water ready to go, no chance at scalding. And this design has the option to pump water from an infinite source like lake or stream, or to refill the tank too. If I do build this, I'll add a manual override for the pump, in case I want to use it with cold water only. I suppose further than another valve could be used to bypass the heat exchanger when filling the tank. The options are endless.

 

That's what I was thinking on a similar note. Just wanted to finish up some of the other smaller projects first before I went full on with the water

 

This looks good, but you will not have any water pressure unless your temp sensor is sending 12v to the pump (ie your water is cold)

I really dont see the problem that having the onboard tank and recirculation pumps etc. Solves? You are making things more complicated by adding ball valves electronic doodads and additional plumbing to the rear of the truck.

Imo, keep it simple. You can control the temp of the water with a mixing valve, you have water instantly as hot as you could possibly imagine, or same temp as the source. No scalding. Drop a hose in a lake, or in a water container, permanently mounted, or otherwise. ( I prefer using the 20l scepter water container) you can fill them up at a stream as you pass it in your travels, without having to hookup hoses and run pumps, or transfer and funnel it into a fancy fill spout. You can tell how much water is left at a glance, your buddies can carry their own damn water if you arent camping near alake.

What problem does recirculating the water in an onboard tank solve?

 

Making it hot to a desired temp so you do not have to have the truck on when you want hot water.

Others already put thermostats on their systems. Just didn't make it active

 

unless you want to shower 10 minutes after getting into camp, you still have to run the truck anyway. Or if you have multiple people using it, you have to run it between showers (while you wait) to reheat the water again after your resivoir is empty.

Personally, I like to shower in the morning, maybe everyone else likes to shower as soon as they make camp and never again while parked?

Turn the truck on and have instant, endless water, less parts to fail, less complex, cheaper and more efficient.....

 

Subd

 

My solution requires a thermostat for automatic temp control. I'm not concerned with it failing because the pump will have an override, basically a single pole double throw switch. Our solution also requires a tank, over three-quarters of our trips are in the Colorado / Sonoran desert. We always carry our own water.

Also, once the tank is hot, the truck can be turned off because the 12 gallon tank will have a lot of thermal mass so it will stay warm for a long time, probably insulate it too. Thinking of mounting it in the truck bed.

 

I like your idea, but not your complexity.

Here's my system. Missing the 3 way valve so far but this is basically it. The grey thing is a hydraulic check valve & the 3 way will let me bypass it in case of failure or turn it on in an idiot proof manner.



Mounted my heat exchange by battery that will be part of the loop pictured above



Plumbing in a thermostatic valve and it'll be a matter of hitting one button to turn on water pump then turn a ball valve and perfect hot water non stop, provided my source (stream, bucket etc) lasts.

 

Also, can someone tell me which of these flows what direction?


My system is simple, but will destroy something if I get the flow plumbed in the wrong direction.

 

Top is into heater core, bottom is return as stated by others. I'd use the bottom hose for the heat exchanger...If it were me I would consult factory service manual for peace of mind...

Not that you need it but I wanted to wish you good fortune on your install. Look forward to your completed project.

As far as strategy, I still do not understand how the mixing valve works for this application. I think I need to see a diagram, or someone needs to explain it plainly to me in a sequence.

A mixing valve has two inputs, one cold and one hot. It has one output to shower head I presume?

Cold line from tank or stream or lake, hot input is from heat exchanger. Right?

Temperature is controlled from manual dial adjustment at mixing valve. Okay.

How is pressure maintained on both sides of the water sources with one pump?

 

Here is a nice home made system http://www.drivenachodrive.com/about-nacho/water3/

 

Mine is not done yet. But seems they are just splitting the input source water into cold and hot with one pump using a 3 way.

Yes on the mixing valve. Hot in, cold in, and one adjustable temp out.

Pressure. Well, that's where a balance of plates and valves comes into play I assume.

Think of your house. It only has 1 mainline in. Cold. Then some goes into the hot water heater and pressure brings it up right?

 

Spencer. Any filtration?

 

Skygear. Your threads are the best. That is all. Anything I've ever dreamed about doing with my truck I just look in one of your threads and find a thousand links on how to do it. Thank you for all your internets.

 

Lol. That's more of a bad thing I need to work on my organization skills with these threads

 

On another note, ben, you plug in your truck for the engine heater ever up there? Just brainstorming on how a cold weather system like this could work. Possibly a very efficient. Low draw in tank heater with a low power and thermostat shut off. Insulated tank of course

 

Dont even have one. Never have needed to, always use good oil and just got he diehard platinum group 31 so I've got plenty of amps. Bought my truck brand new and have never plugged it in. Autostart and a blind eye at the fuel pump is my system.

 

That works. Was just curious. These 31's are monsters in our trucks. I'm still going to research the heater though. If it kept the water to just above freezing in winter without a huge draw. Say 44°, I think it would be a nice addition. And a UV purifier. Don't want ice to destroy components