Outdoors

Car-powered shower puts users in hot water

Car-powered shower puts users in hot water
The Geyser System in use
The Geyser System in use
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The rate at which the Geyser System pumps water can be varied from .06 to one gallon per minute
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The rate at which the Geyser System pumps water can be varied from .06 to one gallon per minute
The Geyser System can also be used for tasks such as washing dishes
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The Geyser System can also be used for tasks such as washing dishes
The Geyser System in use
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The Geyser System in use
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If you're dirty and sweaty from performing an outdoor activity, it's understandable that you don't want to drive home that way. Wouldn't it be nice if you could take a hot shower first? Well, the portable Geyser System lets you do so – depending on how you define the word "shower."

First of all, there are already portable showers that allow outdoorsy types to clean up, although the ones we've seen heat their water either via the sun, or by being plugged into a portable generator. By contrast, the Geyser utilizes a built-in heating element that's powered by the user's car's 12-volt DC power supply.

The user starts by adding one US gallon (3.8 l) of water to the Geyser, either before they head out or from an onsite source. They then plug the Geyser into their car's outlet, and switch on the element. Within a claimed 15 to 35 minutes, depending on the initial temperature of the water, it heats that water to 95 ºF (35 ºC).

Once they're ready to get wet, the user then switches the Geyser over from Heat to Pump mode. This, appropriately enough, causes it to start pumping the heated water through its attached hose and into a sponge at the end, which is used for washing up. The rate at which it pumps can be varied from .06 to one gallon per minute.

The rate at which the Geyser System pumps water can be varied from .06 to one gallon per minute
The rate at which the Geyser System pumps water can be varied from .06 to one gallon per minute

Three onboard thermostats regulate the water temperature, and let the user know when it's heated. There's also a water level sensor that provides a warning when the water's getting low, and then proceeds to switch off the heating element. Additionally, a lid sensor automatically shuts off the element if the lid isn't securely fastened.

It should be noted that the Geyser doesn't have a battery, so it needs to remain plugged into the car or a separate deep cycle battery while operating. Also, in order to keep the car's battery from being drained, the vehicle needs to stay running while the water is being heated.

If you're interested in getting a Geyser System, it's currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign. A pledge of US$195 will get you one with a single replacement sponge, with delivery estimated for next January if everything works out. The planned retail price is $295, with extra sponges going for $4.50 a pop – or less, if bought in multi-packs.

The system can be seen in use, in the video below.

Source: Kickstarter

Success In Our Kickstarter Campaign!

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5 comments
5 comments
paul314
There's a whole engine compartment full of waste heat, but no...
KungfuSteve
Paul314 is correct. Not only that... but leaving the car running for 30 min, to power this thing... is horribly inefficient, wasteful, and expensive. You could get better results heating from the Engine, in less than a quarter of the time. Also... a decent solar method, could probably be devised, that does not require much time... and only needing power for the water-pump itself. (which also Could be foot-pedal based, if desired)
When I got health issues, lost my job, lost the place I was staying... I was forced into sleeping / living in my minivan. Cleaning up was the hardest part of it all. Trying to use public restrooms was extremely difficult, for example... to wash ones hair.
That said.. I also didnt have a ton of extra money to spend on 30min of gas, to heat a porta-shower, either.
c4jjm
I agree with Paul314, at the MSRP of $300 you could easily just bypass the inlet for the radiator and you would have hot water nearly instantly (assuming the car was already at operating temp)....and this system has to have the car running anyway?! No thanks. Now if they instead created a mobile version of an instant HW heater...now that would be worth 300....and it would not be terribly difficult to do, you could drop a pick-up tube into a bucket/container/body of water...it runs into a heat exchanger, through a pump...then out to a little hand held faucet....simpler, easier, cheaper, more efficient....
ljaques
Expensive, inefficient, breakable?, and I wonder if they're even repairable. // What I do like is the concept of the water-lubed sponge over a stream of water. That part is quite efficient and good. // This type of unit would be great at a cabin which already has solar hooked up to it. // Not being rich, I'll wait for the $25 knockoff next year. Until then, I may stitch up a terrycloth sponge gizmo to go with my hanging solar shower unit.
guzmanchinky
I use an Aquacube in my van camper. Works really well for years now.