Hot Water in the Camper

The right water heater for every situation

Whether for washing up or personal hygiene, hot water is a comfort we don't want to do without when camping. For several years now, hardly any large motorhomes have been sold without a water heater. The combined Truma Combi heating/boiler systems can be found in the majority of modern motorhomes, and high-priced vehicles are sometimes equipped with the Alde Compact heating system, which also prepares hot water.

In caravans the hot water situation is somewhat more mixed: the two systems from Alde and Truma mentioned above are also used here, but not as often as in motorhomes. Instead, some caravans are factory-equipped with a therme or a boiler.

And then there are the compact camping vehicles, such as panel vans, camping buses and mini-campers. Hot water is not standard in this class of vehicle. There are two reasons for this.

1. A boiler or therme takes up a particularly large amount of valuable storage space in a compact camping vehicle.
2. The demand for hot water is rather low in compact campers. Because there is often no shower in the camper and washing up is rarely done in the camper.

Hot water thanks to the solar shower

The black water bag is one of the oldest and certainly best-known camping accessories. Its function is simple and, at least in sunny regions, very effective. The black foil heats the water up to 50 degrees in about three hours. You can take a hot shower directly under the suspended bag or you can transfer the heated water into other containers. The solar shower is not suitable for heating coffee or tea water. For one thing, the temperature is not sufficient for this purpose; moreover, the plastic bag is not food-safe. Here you can find the solar shower and other camping showers in the Berger online shop.

Immersion heater (12 volt) heats water

The operation of the immersion heater is quite simple. When connected to a 12-volt power source, the metal spiral heats up and thus heats the water. The immersion heater works most effectively when you hold it directly in a cup of water. The power of the immersion heater is too weak for vessels with larger capacities. Here you can find the immersion heater in the Berger online shop.

Hot water in the kettle

If you only need small amounts of hot water, a kettle can also be helpful. However, most kettles can only be operated with 230 volts. You cannot operate the unit without connecting it to the mains or a powerful inverter. There are also kettles for operation with 12 volt electricity. However, these are relatively inefficient and often need 15 minutes until the water begins to boil. Here you can find various kettles in the Berger online shop.

Therme as a water heater

Truma has developed the therme especially for use in caravans. This is because this water heater heats the domestic hot water with the help of the hot air from the Truma S heater. To do this, the 5-litre therme is connected to the warm air hoses of the heater. If the heating is not in use in summer, the therme can be operated with an integrated 300 watt heating rod (provided there is shore power). Here you can find water boilers and thermes in the Berger online shop.

Boiler heats hot water

A boiler heats hot water using gas or electricity. Boilers are available in different sizes with a capacity of 5 to 50 litres. Often, appliances are used that can be operated with either gas or 230 volts. However, Elgena also offers electric boilers that only require 12 volts of battery voltage. Depending on the operating mode and energy source, heating to 70 degrees takes at least half an hour.

In motorhomes and camping buses, the Elgena boilers of type M or ME can also be integrated into the cooling circuit of the engine. Thus, the water heats up during the journey via the engine heat. Here you can find various boilers in the Berger online shop.

Elgena boilers are particularly interesting for self-builders, as they are available in numerous sizes. These include the particularly compact pressureless small boiler KB3 with a capacity of 3 litres and an empty weight of only 1.2 kilos.

Truma offers its boilers in two different sizes with a capacity of 10 and 14 litres respectively, whereby the larger of the two boilers can only be operated electrically (230 volts). Operation with 12 volts is not intended for Truma boilers. Instead, you can heat the 10-litre boiler with gas. Therefore, the Truma boiler is particularly suitable for motorhomes and caravans that are equipped with a gas system.

Conclusion: Optimal solutions for every hot water demand

In sufficiently large camping vehicles, hardly anyone will want to heat water exclusively with the immersion heater. Nevertheless, all the water heaters mentioned have their raison d'être. Especially those travelling with a mini-camper (e.g. VW Caddy) often have to improvise. And the simplest solutions often prove to be the most efficient.

The choice between therme and boiler depends on the type of heating and the amount of water consumption. For caravans with S-heating, the therme is a sensible and relatively inexpensive addition. However, if you want to take a hot shower, the capacity of the therme is simply too small and you should choose a boiler with a volume of at least 10 litres.