Looks good Janette. Just wondering if the attachment in the third photo, second link comes with it
It is a great idea though and would probably hold enough water for a quick shower.
jetj said
11:59 PM Nov 25, 2013
I have seen a number of people with large pvc 100ml similar home made one. It is painted black with a tap and attached to a roof basket or racks. Easy to attach a hose.
liddle said
12:39 AM Nov 26, 2013
My first thought is that it would be very difficult to get to a higher hiace van roof to fill it and pump it up.
I would love to see other ideas about solar showers
Terra Domus said
03:11 AM Nov 26, 2013
Thankyou all for your input. the web sites were the one that I had seen awhile ago. Doesn't look like they have reached our far flung shore yet.
I reckon I might as well have a go at making one, all it can do is leak a bit, if so......BIG windscreen Washer,
Thanks again
Russell
brian said
03:17 AM Nov 26, 2013
The real question is..Is it worth the effort and cost for the heat obtained?
Here are some calculations that I did some time back to give you an idea of just what temperature rise you could expect to achieve with the black pipe on the roof idea:-
1. Every metre length of 100mm diameter pipe will hold 7.25 litres of water.
2. Approximately 30% maximum of the surface area of that pipe will be exposed to direct sun at any time.
3. Therefore the surface area of the pipe exposed = pi x diameter x 30%, = 3.142 x 0.1 x 0.3, = 0.0094 sq metres for every metre length of pipe exposed.
4. Maximum solar insolation is approximately 1000 watts per square metre.
5. Therefore the maximum power input to the pipe per metre length would be 0.0094 x 1000 x 1 = 9.4 watts.
6. It requires 1 watt applied for 1 hour to raise 1 litre of water by 1 degree Centigrade at sea level, so 9.4 watts will raise 7.25 litres by 1.3 degrees for every hour that you have maximum sunshine.
This assumes maximum heat transfer, no wind loss, no re-radiation, no shade, and maximum sunshine for the entire time, none of which will actually occur concurrently in even perfect conditions, and especially not if you are travelling.
If you start with water at 18 degrees C at 10am, you will have water at somewhere less than 25 degrees by 3pm, after that it will cool rapidly.
Having too many showers at this temperature is sure to affect your sex life.
Better to boil a pot of water, add it to a bucket of cold, and use a solar shower pump.
SnowT said
08:00 AM Nov 26, 2013
When we camped we had a system that heated the water.. a Heat exchanger that we dropped into a fire..
That water went into a 85lt Caravan tank on the roof of our shower Block..
so as the fire was going most of the time we had Hot water all the time..
Juergen
jetj said
08:10 PM Nov 26, 2013
Thanks for the figures Brian. I think the real thing had a flatter shape exposing more area and was metal again more effective than a home made pvc pipe.
Gerty Dancer said
09:19 PM Nov 26, 2013
The black shower bag that we use to heat water in the sun works well on the roof or bonnet of the car.
jetj said
12:32 AM Nov 27, 2013
Gerty,
I also find the shower bag effective in good weather.
Hello Team. I hope you are all dodging the thunderstorms.
A little while ago someone posted information about a Roof Rack mounted Solar Shower, tried searching but no luck.
I think is was available in the USA. Any info would be appreciated.
Happy and Safe Travelling
Russell
Hi Russell
I am also interested and look forward to any answers
Not sure if this is the one.
http://www.gizmag.com/road-shower-car-top/29085/
Here is another site, looks the same though.
http://www.roadshower.com/
Looks good Janette. Just wondering if the attachment in the third photo, second link comes with it
It is a great idea though and would probably hold enough water for a quick shower.
I have seen a number of people with large pvc 100ml similar home made one. It is painted black with a tap and attached to a roof basket or racks. Easy to attach a hose.
My first thought is that it would be very difficult to get to a higher hiace van roof to fill it and pump it up.
I would love to see other ideas about solar showers
Thankyou all for your input. the web sites were the one that I had seen awhile ago. Doesn't look like they have reached our far flung shore yet.
I reckon I might as well have a go at making one, all it can do is leak a bit, if so......BIG windscreen Washer,
Thanks again
Russell
The real question is..Is it worth the effort and cost for the heat obtained?
Here are some calculations that I did some time back to give you an idea of just what temperature rise you could expect to achieve with the black pipe on the roof idea:-
1. Every metre length of 100mm diameter pipe will hold 7.25 litres of water.
2. Approximately 30% maximum of the surface area of that pipe will be exposed to direct sun at any time.
3. Therefore the surface area of the pipe exposed = pi x diameter x 30%, = 3.142 x 0.1 x 0.3, = 0.0094 sq metres for every metre length of pipe exposed.
4. Maximum solar insolation is approximately 1000 watts per square metre.
5. Therefore the maximum power input to the pipe per metre length would be 0.0094 x 1000 x 1 = 9.4 watts.
6. It requires 1 watt applied for 1 hour to raise 1 litre of water by 1 degree Centigrade at sea level, so 9.4 watts will raise 7.25 litres by 1.3 degrees for every hour that you have maximum sunshine.
This assumes maximum heat transfer, no wind loss, no re-radiation, no shade, and maximum sunshine for the entire time, none of which will actually occur concurrently in even perfect conditions, and especially not if you are travelling.
If you start with water at 18 degrees C at 10am, you will have water at somewhere less than 25 degrees by 3pm, after that it will cool rapidly.
Having too many showers at this temperature is sure to affect your sex life.
Better to boil a pot of water, add it to a bucket of cold, and use a solar shower pump.
That water went into a 85lt Caravan tank on the roof of our shower Block..
so as the fire was going most of the time we had Hot water all the time..
Juergen
Thanks for the figures Brian. I think the real thing had a flatter shape exposing more area and was metal again more effective than a home made pvc pipe.
Gerty,
I also find the shower bag effective in good weather.