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rugercpl
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# Posted: 27 Jul 2012 09:24am - Edited by: rugercpl
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I'm a new off grid cabin owner....trying to wrap my head around options for a hot shower.
My favorite idea is an on-demand electric hot water system with enough solar power to run it, but I have a feeling I'd need A LOT of battery power for that and the cost for that many batteries and solar panels and maintenance would not warrant a hot shower for a recreational-use cabin. maybe there are solar electric hot water tanks that use less electricity and require only a small to midsize system to run....that can be turned on and off upon arriving and leaving the cabin?
On-demand propane is an option, although I don't love the idea of being dependent on bringing in propane tanks but they are available nearby for exchange.
I've seen hose buried in compost piles, black hose on rooftops absorbing sun, solar water bags...... all of these are possible for me but less desirable and not an option in cold months.
I should mention that until I drill a well, and install a bathroom I'll be showering outdoors on a deck, and by pumping collected stream water from container, or possibly rigging gravity fed pressure on a simple stand or ladder. Gray water will be dealt with accordingly.
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VTweekender
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# Posted: 27 Jul 2012 09:47am - Edited by: VTweekender
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You are correct about running on--demand electric water on a solar system, big draw.
The on-demand propane run on those little canisters of propane unless you buy the optional hose to go to a propane tank, which you can carry a canister in easily. About 5 short 5 gallon showers to a canister, they work great, but buy an extra rechargeable battery for it to have handy as they don't last as long as they say.
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TomChum
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# Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:26am - Edited by: TomChum
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if you want to use electric to heat water you will have to use hydroelectric power (micro-hydro). I bet propane costs for a shower will be about $20/year (for recreational use of a cabin). You can't 'save' $$ by avoiding propane. I like the hobby aspect of avoiding the energy industry products (and home depot too). But the bottom line is - propane is the most efficient in money and effort. You could try heating with a metal pail over a campfire, that's pretty quick, all you need is 95 degrees, and its an easy start. Or you can set a coil of pipe in your campfire.
I'm building a shower house *** NOW *** so am working hard on these things (but not electric!).
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 27 Jul 2012 04:25pm
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I'm building a shower house *** NOW *** so am working hard on these things (but not electric!).
Me too and it is almost done!
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 27 Jul 2012 05:16pm
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I did make a shower with 12 volt camper demand water pump out of a camper water tank. We just add teakettles of hot water from the cook stove 'til warm to the touch.
Lately though we just take saunas.
Owen
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TheWildMan
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# Posted: 28 Jul 2012 04:15pm
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2 methods, i have a 5 gallon bucket painted black to heat by solar, or a stock pot to heat on the stove (depends on time of year and weather), i use a 3 gallon pump sprayer i got at a garden center, fill with hot water, pump to build pressure, and shower, i can pump to increase pressure as needed, and the tank lasts 20 minutes.
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rayyy
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# Posted: 28 Jul 2012 05:07pm
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I have a 12 volt RV water pump set up on a 300 gal water tank.You could use a 55 gallon barrel or a 5 gallon bucket.The pump is hooked up to a 12 volt deep cycle battery.The water pump feeds the Eccotemp L5 (on demand hot water heater.)That is hooked to a propane tank.Could be a 20,30 or 100 pound tank.The shower wand that comes on the heater has a shut off valve built right in.Works really well.You have nice hot water in about 3 seconds.
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camp crooked
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2012 11:50am
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For many years I used a small homemade allum tank with a 1/2 pipe and a shut off valve to a shower head off of a solar shower.I would heat up water on the stove and put it in the tank. I had brackets mounted on the ceiling and would slide the tank in. Wet myself down shut water off. lather up and rince. About 3-4 gal per shower.
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TomChum
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2012 12:01pm - Edited by: TomChum
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I've been using a 5 gallon sunshower. I put the bag out in the sun all day, but as it happens the bag's cooled somewhat by shower time. So then we add some boiling water from the stove to bring it back up to 95 - 100 degF.
I've found that 5 gallons can get 2-3 people good and clean, head to toe, including all the nooks and crannies. This is with 3 soap downs. Upper body, then head, then lowerbody. It's been hinted to me that not everyone can go 2 or 3 days without. And that going without for a few days is the precurser that makes a "2-gallon shower" = "luxurious". So they say.....
Heres my sunshower over a pallet in the woods. I use a pulley to hoist it up.
I've been working on a new shower house, and will probably use the sunshower there too, then get a propane heater set up before the winter, for truly luxurious showering. Where everyone else get luxury but I take on the hassles of ensuring water supply pressures, draining the waterpipes, buying new heaters after someone let it freeze......
By doing a search for "shower" there's already 15 topic titles on this forum, and much more if you search the messages too.
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groingo
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2012 01:08pm
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I don't, haven't for years, when needed I just heat some water and sponge down or run out and jump into the creek (scares the hell out of the fish)!
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Borrego
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2012 02:12pm
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Having tried all of the above, and getting no real great results from any, and really needing a good shower after a day in the desert, we settled on this.... an Ecotemp propane heater: http://www.eccotemp.com/eccotemp-l5-portable-tankless-water-heater/
It is hooked up to a 20 gal tank and has run for 2 seasons now without refills. I built a tool shed 4 x 8 ft near the trailer we use while building our cabin, and found an old tub to put behind it. Covered the back wall with FRP, found an old trailer shower head and voila! Hot or cold showers (depending on the season), can't be beat, looking up at the mountain while washing away the day's dirt....
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Bzzzzzt
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2012 05:06pm
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We have a generator that we use to power one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/MARSHALLTOWN-Premier-742G-Bucket-Heater/dp/B000BDB4UG
It will heat up 50° water to 95° in a 5 gallon bucket in about 30 minutes. Works for plastic buckets.
We set up a make shift shower with a fountain pump that pumps up to a shower head. It pumps out of the a 5 gallon bucket of pre-heated water. We cordoned off a section to shower in with 2 cheap wal mart shower curtains that we tacked to the corner on 2 sides and then suspended the rest with rope from the ceiling. We bought a mason's trough that is 24"x36" to catch the water. We set up a water proof switch run through a GFI receptacle that allows the person in the shower to turn the water on and off conveniently.
5 gallons of water is not enough to take a 30 minute hot shower, but if you just want to get clean it works well enough. Our cabin is not finished on the inside and this is a temporary set up but it works rather well.
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larry
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2012 08:22pm
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we looked into the on demand water heater and after reviewing the warenty we discovered that the warenty was void with well water due to disolved mineral deposits causing failer quickly! so back to the water tank.
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TomChum
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# Posted: 5 Aug 2012 10:53pm - Edited by: TomChum
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Here's a couple pics of shower systems that might be interesting for cabin-ers.
The Zodi looks like it just heats a pot of water then hand-pump it to pressurize and squirt yourself. If the Zodi is that simple then maybe that's the way to go for hard water?  Simplicity has its value. It's pretty easy to ensure that the ZODI is drained for the winter!
To run the L5 without a pump requires a watertank 46 feet above the heater to get the minimum 20psi. (20/.43 = 46) I don't know how to assess whether minerals will be a problem. Probably not suitable for commercial usage with hard water but I bet for cabin-ing you can take a LOT of showers before the boiler gets fouled.
...........I just ordered the L5 as Borrego mentioned!  As a kit with a 12v pump and a screen-filter.
Only problem I foresee is I don't know how I'll hide it..... 
ZODI Outback system, $155. Completely self-contained, no wires and easy to drain.
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EccoTemp L5 (1.1GPM) and a 12vDC Flojet pump, and screen $175
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Thughes
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2012 02:45am
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We are off-grid, with everything on propane. We are very fortunate to have plumbed water from a gravity fed spring. We have a gas water heater below the cabin to heat the water. The joke in our family is that the shower in our humble cabin is better than our shower's at home!
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rayyy
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2012 07:12am
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I like your shower,Tom.But I'm afraid the critters of the forest would be gathering to have a good laugh!
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wakeslayer
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2012 03:40pm
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As far as minerals voiding the warranty, they sell chemicals to clean them out. That said, when I thought I had a claim with Takagi, that was never brought up. I have used my TK-Jr. for 7 years and never had a problem with it.
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bldginspector
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# Posted: 17 Aug 2012 10:55pm
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Ive used a Coleman on demand camper's shower for several years with good results. Takes propane canister and doesn't use a lot of propane. Battery that operates the pump holds charge for at least 10 showers, I've never run it down. Now that I have a piped water supply from a tank up hill, I got the servo accessory that turns the water on and off as you turn the controls on and off, so I no longer need the pump.
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tsvoyager
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# Posted: 18 Aug 2012 01:32pm
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I use a 3 gallon pump weed sprayer. I added a lenght of hose with a shut off valve and a plastic shower head. I add 2 gallons of water to the tank and then heat up a gallon of water, add it to the 2 gallons, pump it up about 20 pumps and turn on, get wet, turn it off and soap up, pump it up again and rinse off. I've been using this set up for a number of years.
No electricity and minimum water useage. I usually use about 2 gallons of water unless I take a long shower.. 
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Bzzzzzt
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# Posted: 18 Aug 2012 11:18pm
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If you've never taken a shower in rain water you should definitely try it. It feels so good. Very very soft.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2012 09:09am
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i turn the handles on the newly installed 48" fiberglass shower, and water is coming from my new water heater via my bored well....and the grey water from the shower runs out into the woods...... and water's some trees!!!!!!...
BUT if i am not at cabin--i use my LL Bean solar shower and a pot of water on top of the coleman stove.Makes a nice warm shower!!!!!!
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SE Ohio
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2012 09:17am - Edited by: SE Ohio
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I also use the Zodi system shown above by TomChum, but with some changes. I heat the tank on my kerosene stove, and use a 12 volt bilge pump (Walmart) that drops into the tank and it is connected to a low flow shower head. Shower head is mounted in my indoor stall. A switch turns on the pump and I have hot water. Shower is of limited duration, as the tank holds 3 gallons but this has never seemed like a limitation- I always have water left over.
Tom, as far as hiding your L5 (from thieves, I presume, not the wife!) If it looks dirty and in disrepair (partially disassembled), it should remain on site.
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Angler 77
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# Posted: 21 Aug 2012 10:57pm
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Usually naked...
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AYP1909
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2012 10:48am
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Quoting: Angler 77 Usually naked...
Hah!
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AYP1909
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2012 10:52am
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I was working on a project in SE Colorado about 10 years ago and they had a black, plastic, 50-gallon drum set up on a rack about 7 feet off the ground with a wood pallet for a floor. We would fill the drum with well water every morning and when we returned in the late afternoon we had some very hot water. The smart folks would wait for their turns in the shower since the warmer water was the last to come out. Unfortunately they also risked running out of water. This was in early June so I don't know how effective it would be in early January.
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TomChum
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2012 12:06am - Edited by: TomChum
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Quoting: SE Ohio Tom, as far as hiding your L5 (from thieves, I presume, not the wife!) If it looks dirty and in disrepair (partially disassembled), it should remain on site.
Got my new L5 with a pump, and will try it maybe tomorrow. Hard for me to take a brandnew unit in a new showerhouse and make it dirty,,, but I do understand the reasoning behind making things look less salable on craigslist. I'll just take it down and put it out of sight until I think of a better way.
I would have used it today if it had batteries in the package. Tonite is 3rd nite without a shower, so I'll be going into town tomorrow for supplies and D batteries. Fingers crossed, my wife comes tomorrow or the next day! Was peeling the showerhouse roof logs today and boy am I tired.
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2012 09:30pm
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I'm sure you will enjoy the L5. I purchase the next size up 2 years ago and use it for the kitchen sink and shower at my off grid place. The 12 volt shurflo pump is a perfect fit for the eccotemp. Very happy with it so far. Only draw back is it is mounted outside so not workable in the winter. On those trips I heat water up on the stove and fill the tub!!
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 29 Aug 2012 04:57pm - Edited by: DaJTCHA
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As promised, I've attached a link to the youtube video where my shower house and water delivery system is all laid out for your review: URL
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TomChum
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# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:57pm - Edited by: TomChum
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Here is an interesting product....
A clear tube with black on the bottom, as a solar collector. You put it on the luggage rack of a car or van. Pressurized with a pump.
4 gallons (= 2 showers). Can't see the price.
http://www.roadshower.com
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And another one, from Nemo. This one packs up pretty small. It includes a foot pump. Eerily similar to Dajtcha's in how it works. Nice quality, $100.
http://www.nemoequipment.com/heliopressureshower.html
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I've gone propane with an Eccotemp L5 and 12v pump though, don't think I'll go back, except maybe when camping in the van...
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:22pm
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I use a Coleman "Instant How water" its for making coffee ASAP and I bought the optionasl shower unit for it also. I am going to build a nice outdoor semi enclosed shower stall. It will look like a real small gazebo.
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