[Dave JP]

Hi All,

Just thought I'd share this with you - any suggestions / comments how this could be used better 

Have recently purchased a submersible low volt hot water heating element, (similar to that used by farmers to stop their animals water troughs freezing over), though this you can plug into the cigarette lighter of the van. 

I've screwed it to a standard 25 litre barrell cap and I set it in a full barrell of water, before I set off to a job.

It takes approx 25 minutes to warm the water up to a decent temperature (not ideal for everyone), I then use this to fill up my backpack - hey presto - a hot / well pretty warm water backpack !

I then swap it over to another full barrell as I drive around and heat this up as I drive. Seems to work pretty well presently. Though still a bit concerned that a leaky barrell may cause me to electrocute myself as I drive 

Had a flat battery yesterday though  . May have to sort a second battery for it

Cheers, Dave.

[martindrz400]

noticed heating the water this way sometimes alters the tds (from the elament)

[Dave JP]

Still reads 000, though I do know if the element in the heater cracks you can get problems. Will keep an eye on it !

100's of cows are electrocuted each year, through cracks in the electrical insulation material of the heating elements - though these 'trough warmers' do run at 110v.  Shocking........  :