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My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 7:37 pm
by tony.latham
We used to have a Zodi shower... it worked great but needed D cell batteries. We switched over to a 12V pump in a bucket of hot water and it was still a bit of a production. :thinking:

But I think this one is going to be a keeper. It's a two-gallon steel tank with an added 6' hose and garden nozzle. Fill it full up in the morning, set it in the sun and give it 10-15 pumps.

Image

Tony :FNP :thumbsup:

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:38 am
by KCStudly
Hey Tony, did you make that yourself using a garden sprayer pump? If so, did you fab the tank yourself or convert it from something existing?

Looks like it should work well if the pump will put out enough volume. :thumbsup:

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:53 am
by tony.latham
KCStudly wrote:Hey Tony, did you make that yourself using a garden sprayer pump? If so, did you fab the tank yourself or convert it from something existing?

Looks like it should work well if the pump will put out enough volume. :thumbsup:


It's just a used metal weed sprayer that I painted black and added the 3/8" hose and fittings. Works great.

Tony

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 7:43 pm
by GSEE
I've been thinking about making some kind of solar shower but worry that I'll never have enough hot water to do any good. Have you found that with only 2 gallons of water and sun heating that you can take a "real" shower that is worth-while? Your real world observations would be interesting to know.

Thanks,
Gary

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:12 pm
by Socal Tom
You can feel amazing with a Navy shower after a few days of just wiping down. Wet down, soap up rinse off. That includes washing your hair. 2 gallons plenty.
Tom


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 9:18 pm
by tony.latham
GSEE wrote:I've been thinking about making some kind of solar shower but worry that I'll never have enough hot water to do any good. Have you found that with only 2 gallons of water and sun heating that you can take a "real" shower that is worth-while? Your real world observations would be interesting to know.

Thanks,
Gary


Yep. Squirt down and soap. Rinse off. What works is to turn off the nozzle until you need the water.

T

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:06 pm
by lrrowe
Basic, simple and it works. :applause:

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:16 pm
by bdosborn
That's a nifty idea. It was always a PITA to try and get the bag high enough to shower under it with a traditional solar shower, this solves that problem nicely.

Bruce

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 4:15 pm
by GSEE
Thanks for the good feedback -- I'm off to the workshop to start building it. 8) 8) 8)

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 4:50 pm
by KennethW
A clear plastic wind guard box might really heat things up. (clear bag)

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:39 am
by alicamping
Great looking shower. Very inventive. I've always got by on the black plastic ones but they do wear after a couple of years. Yours looks like it will last for decades. You've inspired me to put together something similar. Big thumbs up!

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:21 pm
by jondbar628
Tony been here since '13. Very Experienced. One of the Wise Ones. Listen to his words, grasshopper. (not spoofing)..........jd

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu May 30, 2019 1:06 pm
by Staryder61
Bump , Bump ;) to keep this one going.. Great idea :thumbsup: :applause: Thanks, Tony
Have been looking for a shower to do and just found this post...

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Thu May 30, 2019 1:36 pm
by Tomterrific
No weeds growing on Tony! :-) That is a very nice idea. While I don't mind stinking, the wife feels otherwise.

Tt

Re: My new solar shower.

PostPosted: Sat Dec 23, 2023 11:12 am
by cdnred
tony.latham wrote:But I think this one is going to be a keeper. It's a two-gallon steel tank with an added 6' hose and garden nozzle. Fill it full up in the morning, set it in the sun and give it 10-15 pumps.

Image

Tony

Tony, sorry for resurrecting this old thread but found this to be a fabulous idea for a shower. I'm sure there would be big market for something like this should you decide to sell it. Are you still using this same shower today,.?

I know this post is about 7 years old but would have a pic or explanation for what type of fitting you used for attaching the hose to the tank. I didn't notice the hose connection in the pic that you had posted. Did you need to modify the tank by drilling out a larger hole for the fitting or did you use the exist tank nipple as it is..? I was planning on buying a 2 gal plastic tank garden sprayer that I planned to modify as a shower wand. These metal tanks like you used are hard to find in like new condition..

Thanks in advance
Helmuth