Solar Shower

[Optimistic Paranoid]

RoadShower

The use of a radiator pressure cap as both a fill area and a pressure relief valve is a clever idea . . .

Regards
John

 

[SoulRaven]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RL-Flo-Master-2-5-gal-Deck-Sprayer-1125D/100382513

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

The sprayer would work, but has some disadvantages too.

It only holds about a gallon, you need to be stationary to set it out in the sun, and it probably helps if you don't wander off while it's heating or you're liable to come back and find it's wandered off, too.

A rooftop setup like the RoadShower holds 5 gals, making it better for a couple, it will heat water while you're driving down the road, and if you bolt it down with tamper-proof hardware, it won't walk away while you're off doing other things.

At $300 it's a bit pricey, but a handy guy or gal could probably build something similar for a third of that.

Regards
John

 

[Zil]

It would be easy to have water too hot to use for shower.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

A potential problem with any solar shower, I would think.

Just off the top of my head, I'd say only fill it 2/3 full. When you are ready to shower, pull the radiator cap and stick a thermometer in to check the temp. If it's too hot, add cold water as needed to get the temperature you want.

Regards
John

 

[LeeRevell]

That was my thought seeing the bikinigirl using it straight from the tank! ;-)

 

[SoulRaven]

That deck sprayer is 2.5 gal. And if you cut the wand down to an inch it can wash yourself and your dishes on one fill plus it is portable and the cost factor of $20 is a bonus. For $300 one would expect a manual pump to be included in the design.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I didn't think it was that big. I stand corrected.

As for the RoadShower, it has a Shraeder valve so you can pressurize it with a cheap bicycle tire pump, assuming you haven't got an air compressor for your tires.

Regards
John

 

[highdesertranger]

remember these only work if it's fairly warm out. winter is coming, neither of those work in winter. highdesertranger

 

[Bdog1]

You can get cheap stick-on temp.strips, designed for aquarium tanks.

 

[RVTravel]

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/gear/shower/

 

[Zil]

That pump up could be left on the seat parked in the sun in winter to have hot water.

 

[Geodoc]

Then again, there's always the Simple Shower - actually designed for the van dweller.

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

$300 bucks for a pvc pipe with a schrader valve and radiator cap !!! No thank You. That 2.5 gal flo-master sprayer can be pressurized up to 40psi FYI.
KinA

 

[LeeRevell]

$300 bucks for a pvc pipe with a schrader valve and radiator cap !!! No thank You. That 2.5 gal flo-master sprayer can be pressurized up to 40psi FYI.
KinA

My Father put a Schrader valve in the side of one of his garden sprayers. Just have to take care with the pressure.....

 

[Kisatchieman]

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/gear/shower/

While looking at the duckworks shower I remembered this is the site where I buy my Resp-O-Rator dust filters. They're located in the Misc. Tool section. The filters are designed for us guys with beards, who can't use a standard paper dust mask because of a poor seal against our hairy faces. The ROR has a mouth piece very similar to a snorkel, so all air is inhaled thru the hepa filter by way of your mouth. Works great for woodworking, mowing grass, or any place where dust is a problem. Sorry for temporarily highjacking the thread.