Date:         Tue, 1 Aug 2006 22:10:05 -0400
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Subject:      Re: [NVC] 6-volt bilge pump?
In-Reply-To:  <722cb98f0608010654k1ea532e6p6ad1104ce5cc65ce@mail.gmail.co m>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

It may do better, I have no idea how old the batteries are that are in
it.  You may find its real specs on the net somewhere.  I like the idea of
a 12v pump with a rechargeable battery you could just plug into the Westy
to recharge.  there is a nice small 5Ah battery in my rechargeable weed
eater, and also used in small UPSs.  I think it has 125 in its model
#.  About 3" cube.

Edward

At 09:54 AM 8/1/2006, you wrote:
>Thanks, Edward, for checking on that ... though for showering purposes, I
>expect I need a pump that will lift water more than 3 feet, unless I could
>somehow convince myself to be satisfied with only cleaning body parts from
>belly button level on down. A critical range, to be sure, but the uppers
>appreciate a good lather and rinse, too.
>
>I have no update to report about how Zodi, the people who make the shower,
>have responded to this pathetic design issue (see my OP, quoted below),
>except to say that they have not responded to my polite email request for
>help. If they haven't improved the design so the motor doesn't rot away
>while unused, then I guess I'll have to use a 12V submersible pump and run a
>wire to the van's power.
>
>In contrast to Zodi's lack of response, I also sent an email to
>JottoDesk.com about some bit of theirs not quite doing what I need it to do,
>and they are all over it like hot tar on a summer day.
>
>-- Rocket J Squirrel
>
>On 8/1/06, Edward Maglott <emaglott@buncombe.main.nc.us> wrote:
>>
>>Update:  It's made by Attwood, and it's called Water Buster.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>I picked up some king of little pump at a thrift store that is submersible
>>and runs on 4 D cells.  Pretty quality item.  It doesn't seem to pump very
>>much water if you ask it to pump it up 3 or more feet of verticality, but
>>that is running on the unknown batteries that came in it.  I don't have it
>>handy so can't give you the name.  Looks like its made to pump water out
>>of
>>a tub or for some similar purpose.  I'll get the name if you are
>>interested.
>>
>>Edward
>>
>>At 03:27 PM 7/30/2006, you wrote:
>> >This is probably a better question for some boating list, but I don't
>> >boat, though I reckon there is someone reading this list that does, so
>> >maybe I can get a little help with my Zodi Hot Tap shower. (
>> >http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Consumer/zodihottaptravelshower.html ).
>> >
>> >It uses four D-cell batteries to pump water through a propane-flame
>> >heating coil then out a shower nozzle. Comes in darn handy in those camp
>> >grounds where showers are not available. I can get pretty funky after a
>> >couple days and I like to smell clean for Mrs Squirrel.
>> >
>> >Anyway, I set it up this weekend and found that it no longer pumped
>> >water. Electrically everything checked out, so I disassembled the
>> >immersion pump and found that the motor had totally corroded and would
>> >no longer turn (picture available upon request). It's a pretty cheesy
>> >design and I've fired off an email of inquiry to the manufacturer.
>> >
>> >I'd like to replace their pump with a better piece. The Westy freshwater
>> >tank pump or any other small immersible bilge pump would do the job
>> >quite well. But all I can find are 12-volt models, and four D-cells put
>> >out 6 volts. I could run a line from Mellow Yellow to the shower and
>> >provide 12 volts that way, but sometimes the shower is set up 50 feet or
>> >more from the van, and I'd rather not run that much wire. Or I could
>> >replace their battery pack with some little 12 volt lead-acid battery,
>> >but that would be kind of kludgy. I'd like to find a little immersible
>> >6-volt DC pump. Ideas?
>> >
>> >--
>> >
>> >Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> >71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>> >84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> >74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>> >KG6RCR
>>
>>