A man and his dog won’t let sand come between them with clever Aussie 12v/240v water heater

Graeme Gherashe uses Duoetto hot water to refresh Ms Bobbie

If you and your dog like the feel of sand between your toes – but not the mess it makes afterwards in your recreational vehicle – then Australian water heater innovator Aus J Hot Water Solutions may have just what you need.

Aus J’s 12v/240v portable water heater is allowing RV enthusiasts like Sydney and South Coast beach nomad Graeme Gherashe and his inseparable boxer Ms Bobbie to splash about wherever they like, when they like, without having to plug into mains power to clean up afterwards with a hot shower, or rely on ‘van parks.

“It is a great freedom to be able to get out onto the beaches and the wide-open spaces, but not so much fun if you bring the salt and sand back into the vehicle. My dog thinks she owns the space, and the entire bed. She has first dibs, so we both need a good washdown before we go inside,” said Graeme, a veteran of the 1970s panel van days (his was purple) before the advent of more spacious and luxurious modes of RV travel such as his VW transporter obtained from Campervans Australia, which Australia’s largest range of affordable campervans for sale and has been operating locally for more than 30 years.

When Graeme was finishing the vehicle for his latest day trips and interstate roamings with Ms Bobbie, he heard about the Duoetto MK2 10-litre water heater that Aus J Hot Water Solutions was selling locally and internationally. The clever Australian-designed water heater was finding markets among RV, caravan, camping, and marine yacht and powered boat owners, as well as being used in work vehicles and 4wds used to tow RVs including caravans to remote places where they wish to maintain optimum cleanliness and comfort.

The 12v/240v Duoetto

The tough, compact and durable water heater offers selectable temperatures between 30-75ºC (86-167ºF) on 240v and up to 70°C (158ºF) on 12v so people can shower, wash, clean and enjoy abundant hot water whether mains power is available or not.

The latest Duoettos – which typically retail for under $A400 ($US270) – feature automatic sensors to allow switching to 12V when mains power is not available, enabling the Duoetto to deliver ample hot water in remote areas such as campsites or on boats where mains power is unavailable, which it often is in large areas of major RV, marine and work vehicle markets, says Aus J Managing Director Mr Jay King, who designs the water heaters himself and ensures production to Australian and international standards of toughness and quality .

Mr Gherashe says the thought that has gone into the design impressed him – “The Duoetto is easy to install – I was going to get it installed for me, but with some advice from Jay, the job was straightforward. If your plumbing and electrics are in place, it’s pretty simple – but still not hard even if they are not.”

“Jay is very easy-going and helpful – he gave incredible service and help in the installation. I am very happy with the final product,” said Mr Gherashe, who located the Duoetto under a fold-down lid in a cargo space at the rear of his RV.

Graeme Gherashe’s and Ms Bobbie’s neat Duoetto installation, which fits snugly beneath a fold-down cargo space lid

Duoetto MK2

The Duoetto MK2 has a number of upgrades on the previous version, designed to give the new water heater even greater longevity than the original, which has become OEM equipment on major campers in Australia and in export markets including South Africa and the US because of its functionality and reliability in service over a wide range of use and climatic conditions. Upgrades include:

The Duoetto MK2, which is especially suited to caravans, equestrian transport, campervans, yachts, motorhomes and a huge range of recreational vehicles and work vehicles, including those used by mining and oil and gas explorers and workers on remote sites.

“Readily available hot water is a real luxury when you’re on the road for a long time, or off it in 4wds, or out on the water. It doesn’t matter if you are a family group or a worksite team, hot water is a blessing,” said Mr King.

The Duoetto MK2 comes with internationally recognised Australian WaterMark accreditation, which means that it passed tests and requirements regarding its suitability for supplying water for human consumption. These tests encompass taste, smell, toxins and corrosive effects on plumbing and pipework.

Drawing a miniscule 4.2 amps at 240V (1000w) and 25 amps at 12v (300w), the 409 x 262 x 267mm Duoetto MK2 retains the strengths of its predecessor, including:

Aus J ( www.ausj.com.au ) offers a range of innovative gas and electric water heaters with models for domestic, commercial and recreational applications, including a 240v 10-litre Aqueous water heater designed to provide homes with near-instant hot water and reduce the wastage by having the heater located under the sink.