Overview of the Bobilbits water heater

[@markyw04]

Seen this on David McLuckie’s Channel when he tested it, he gave a great review, I’ll be purchasing one as soon as my vans completed! simple & cheap way to heat water!!! 👏

[@3dmixer552]

You clearly have never stayed in a camper van during the summer. It can be very hot inside and even want to run the heater to get a shower. Do yourself a favour and by a small on demand propane water heater for nearly half of the price of this kit.

[@justharryjohnson7250]

I have a video coming out soon for an independent instant hot water and heats 25 litres of water in 8 mins. It runs on deisel and you dont need to heat the air either. Brilliant bit of kit.

[@stevencampbell1603]

This is a very nice system, price point looks good as well... I'm looking to build my own system though, though to use an air/water intercooler 4x6 or similar sized as it is a self contained system. Wondering if it would be as effective. Love the automatic tank heating feature, very nice...

[@Olly3pow]

Hi Ed, just wanted to say this is an awesome little product! I hope it catches on! I will definitely be ordering one once I upgrade to my bigger van! Happy New Year!

[@HannahMehdi]

Hi Ed, Just ordered our Airoterm 2D and planning to get Bobil. Should I change it to 4K now unit or would the 2K would be plenty for a 12L tank

[@chblabah]

Quick question, how, in terms of efficiency, does this setup compare to something like the Elgena Nautic Compact Air?

[@bobilvans4205]

Significantly better. Our heat exchangers have 60 tubes with copper conductors joining each tube. Hence why our product gives specific warm up times for diesel heating-none of these products give an accurate diesel warm up time because they’re so pathetically slow, they haven’t got the surface area to conduct the heat into the water.

[@chblabah]

@@bobilvans4205 that's very interesting, thanks for the quick answer! Regarding the setup, I've got a 100L fresh water tank, pressurized with a Marco Pump. I assume I would just add a separate tank for the warm water, that's filled from my larger tank? I assume that if I don't mix the water (as with the Elgena boilers), it's more efficient because you don't need to reach those really high temperatures.

[@kavemanify]

Hi, what was the reason for settling on the 120mm with the 80mm - any reason you wouldn't go for a dual 120mm setup and extract even more heat for a shorter water heat time?

[@AlwaysVanAdventure]

So quite simply I want this. I think this is an absolute game changer. I have quite a complicated setup in mind. Only because I want to give myself numerous options. Who is best to speak to about my up coming project. ?. Thanks.

[@bobilvans4205]

Drop us an email! [e-mail]

[@AlwaysVanAdventure]

@@bobilvans4205 definitely will do

[@ThePyleDriver]

Love it! I've got a Propex HS2000 with the 60mm duct and it appears supported by your 2K options - do you sell and ship to the USA? Thanks!

[@bobilvans4205]

Hi there, yes we do ship to USA - just select your country at checkout!

[@rtcuy5614]

First of all, I think your idea is great and the price that you´re offering is very fair too considering all that is included and what it accomplishes. My only question would be regarding the pressure drop that the heat exchanger will bring to the heater, specially since Aitronics or similar have a direct combustion chamber and I would think they are for that reason quite sensible to loads in their output that could even affect the combustion. On the other hand, Airtronics and air diesel heaters are used with longer hoses in large sailboats (for which they are also designed for) so if connecting your system right at the output, and with no further distribution down water from the heat exchanger it should be ok? I have tried (unsuccessfully) to get the pressure drop charts for these types of exchangers, but was curious what was your opinion? anyways, congrats on the super simple and effective system and I wish you all the success!

[@bobilvans4205]

Thanks for your feedback! We did some tests on how much the het exchangers affect the airflow and at full power (5.5Hz) the air speed drops from 9.8m/s to 9.4 m/s with the big heat exchangers, to 7.8m/s with the bumper and to 8.1m/s with the small heat exchanger only. So it does make a difference, however what I can't compare this to is the effect of a long length of ducting, which I would imagine would have a much greater effect on the flow. That will be the next investigation!

[@rtcuy5614]

@@bobilvans4205 Nice, yeah it does not sounds like a lot of pressure drop (based solely on the speed) at least for the big exchanger. I would say a couple of meters of corrugated tubing with corners and grills could be that or more. Thanks for your response!

[@Toob41]

Genius invention! Why does the inlet temperature in your demo only get to 56 degrees when the air heater outputs over 100 degrees hot air?

[@bobilvans4205]

Only because the plastic adaptors act as a barrier, slowing down the heat transfer. Leave it long enough and they would eventually measure 100 degrees plus.

[@rixi]

Nice, very nice idea. I have only one question, what happens with the water that remains on the exchanger when the pump is switched off? I mean, the temperature of the water there will raise a lot or not? Because as you said, air comes out from the diesel heater arpox 110-115degrees and this air goes through the exchanger so I’m guessin if the water there can boil. Thanks

[@pamthevan7340]

It should thermo cycle on its own providing the heat exchange unit is lower down than the water tank.

[@garrygibson1855]

Hi, great system! Just installed mine! Question... can the diesel heater turn it's self on and off with the control unit? I have the new display with the 2 screens together, cheers

[@bobilvans4205]

Which heater?

[@garrygibson1855]

Hey, sorry it's a Chinese diesel heater. Same control panel as in this video,

[@bobilvans4205]

@@garrygibson1855 all you can do is to get the rotary controller the solder some wires to the off switch then loop that through one of the relays. So in a word, no.

[@nomadicam]

So great!

[@Magic-Smoke]

Hi Ed, At 4:00 the inlet air temperature is 34 C but the outlet temperature is 52.5C - what am I missing here? Was the heat exchanger already warm from a previous run? Thanks :)

[@edbarrow9663]

The inlet air temperature isn't really an accurate description, the plastic holder for the sensor acts as a barrier for the heat transfer to the sensor so its really detecting the plastic temp rather than the actual air temp. The air temp would probably be more like 60-70 degrees.

[@Magic-Smoke]

@@edbarrow9663 Brilliant! I knew I was missing something - Thanks :)

[@robbief1]

Great Idea - But what do you do in summer? Do you just dump the excess hot air out the van (Some kind of splitter?)

[@bobilvans4205]

Yep-we sell an air diverter for that exact purpose!

[@robbief1]

@@bobilvans4205 - Yeah; the double heat exchanger seems very efficient, so you're really not loosing much. Besides, it's only two months of the year here in the UK that you might wanna do that :)

[@gadois8674]

Hi I like this system. I also want to take advantage of engine heat and have a full tank of hot water when I arrive somewhere i.e. in a Calorifer heated to 85 degrees. I was looking at the options for when I will be static. How can I best combine the two? Twin Calorifier fed by glycol mixture/tank from Bobils exchanger (a bit inefficient?) or other?

[@gadois8674]

I have just seen your response to my Calorfier question in another of your videos - thanks IS there a max temp for your PVC tanks?

[@timmy5521]

Hi, my water pump kicks in automatically when the pressure drops. Would cold water entering the hot water tank make the temperature drastically drop or would the heater be able to keep up during a shower?

[@ETH92]

You can't pressurise the hot water tank so you would need separate pumps to get the cold water in and the hot water out.

[@expedtech7241]

Trying to decide if there's value in fitting a 12v timer to the system so it comes on 30mins before I get up so it's not heating a tank of hot water all night needlessly 🤔. What do you reckon? They're only a tenner from that we'll known auction site.

[@justharryjohnson7250]

The cheap deisel heaters let you do this anyway. And they also come with a remote.

[@expedtech7241]

@@justharryjohnson7250 yeah my diesel heater has a timer, but what I mean is a timer on the water heater. So the water only gets turned on in the night before you wake like a convention water heating system.

[@stevenhs8821]

Anyone have a guess how this setup would hold up to a marine environment, a sailboat?

[@timtrewin1396]

How do I cope in the summer when I need hot water I have to turn the heater on?

[@bobilvans4205]

You do. Don't forget that 80% of the heat ends up in the water, not in your van. You can suck the rest of the heat from your van using a maxxfan or just opening a window. Its really not a big deal, especially as your water will be hot in 15 minutes!

[@silasmentzer9639]

Can you drain the heat exchangers to prevent freezing when not in use?

[@bobilvans4205]

Yes you can-just take the mounting screws out, turn them over, lift them up and the water will flow back into the tank.

[@rogerjune48]

Link to product is broken

[@YorkshireCampers]

Hi, is this system capable of reaching temps of 60c to kill bacteria?

[@bobilvans4205]

Yes, easily. It can take the water all the way to 90 if you have a metal tank!

[@stevenhs8821]

I'm not clear how it operates in air heater-only mode.

[@garenkarapetian709]

Hi Ed, great concept! The link in your description no longer works - returns 404 page. That being said, I don't know what your own costs are (and I appreciate that you need to charge a well deserved markup for putting the whole kit together and all the R&D that you've done), but the pricing for the kit seems a bit too steep. Just saying.

[@bobilvans4205]

Thanks for the feedback! The big difference between this kit and the current kit is the quality of the parts. Industrial brushless pumps, outlet pump included, brass connectors, better controllers, injection moulded adaptors and a 5 row heat exchanger. You can definitely put something together yourself which is cheaper but definitely won’t be as good!

[@petejones482]

Where did you get the duct from? I bought some cheap stuff off eBay and it won't screw into the housings like your duct. Thanks.

[@bobilvans4205]

Hi Pete-try pulling through ducting so it’s a bit longer, this will alter the pitch slightly and you will find it easier to screw in. Hope that helps, Ed

[@petejones482]

@@bobilvans4205 thanks for the reply but this eBay cheap stuff just doesn't fit.

[@expedtech7241]

I had the same problem. In the end I used a very short section of the duct that came with the diesel heater to connect into the heat exchanger. Then I managed to screw the ebay duct into the origional diesel heater duct. Bit of a faff but got there in the end with a decent end result.

[@laurie7251]

Newbie question. How do you control bacteria if you are taking it to 40 degrees C?

[@bobilvans4205]

It’s safe as long as you don’t store it for long. We recommend that water is heated for immediate use. If it is going to be stored for a long time then the water should be periodically heated to 60 degrees to kill bacteria.

[@laurie7251]

@@bobilvans4205 thanks

[@grumpygrandpa3640]

40 degrees is bacteria breeding heaven wouldn’t you need to clean the tank after each use if you only run it at that temp? Isn’t it safer to have the water set for 60 ? Isn’t it more beneficial to have a instant boiler so your only using what you need as and when ? So you have to heat a full tank of water each time you want hot water doesn’t seem cost effective it’s like an old fashioned immersion heater. Looking at the cost of these units on your site there super expensive compared to a gas instant boiler so why would you go this route instead ? What’s the benefit?

[@bobilvans4205]

You don’t have to stop at 40 degrees. This thing will boil water if you let it. Benefits-it is a bit cheaper, and allows you to use either less gas or no gas in your build. You can fill the tank as high as you want so you’re only heating what you need. No safety issues with bacteria. If you don’t like it then don’t buy one, I hope you enjoy your gas water heater!

[@grumpygrandpa3640]

@@bobilvans4205 how is it cheaper your unit as a stand alone is £220 or kit is £695 simple cheap gas heater is £120 as a stand alone or £287 as a kit with gas bottle ? Okay you’ll have to buy gas but your gave to diesel for the heater. Granted I get some folks don’t like the idea of gas but then how would they cook in there van. Sorry I just don’t see how this is cheaper or more cost effective. Not sure about the bacteria either plastic tanks aren’t really designed for storing hot water or are they ? What makes you water tanks different so they can store hit water I did look on the site but found no answers

[@bobilvans4205]

@@grumpygrandpa3640 Firstly a gas heater which does both hot air and hot water is significantly more than £695. If you use our kit with the Chinese heater you get hot air and hot water for about £360. We recommend Autoterm heaters as they’re the best in the business. Not sure about getting a gas heater for £120?! Not going to argue with you on KZbin, I’d rather you just don’t buy it if it doesn’t fit your needs. Nothing wrong with gas heaters. Our tanks are fine to 70 degrees. Have a great day!

[@grumpygrandpa3640]

@@bobilvans4205 I don’t won’t to argue I’m just interested I was referring to a gas boiler not a heater and boiler so yes I would need to add a diesel heater to that. I can’t find the kit for the price you just mentioned only the 2 I listed so what’s included in that one ? I’m not trying to be a dick I’m trying to get the best bang for my buck. Sorry if you don’t like my questions I’m just trying to ascertain which to buy.

[@kerbsidemotors9249]

Screw choc block🤮solder, crimp or leaver wago if you must

[@Man-go-Everywhere]

Drop the domestic AC 240 v switch and use a proper distribution rail then you have perfect…