Increasing 12VDC Shower Head Output

[Baja937]

When running off your fresh water tank and using the 12VDC Water Pump, is there a shower head available that could increase the pressure and flow when using shower? Or will you still have the weaker pulsating flow from the pump?

[Huntindog]

I have modified all of mine. They all have some areas that can be improved upon. On some, there is a small washer type thing with tiny holes restricting flow at the head inlet. Remove this for better flow. Then I use some duct tape to plug up some of the holes on the head outlet/sprayer end. Usually just stopping the center holes. This has resulted in a very strong spray with adequete volume for rinsing conditioner out of long hair... At least my DW approves it. The best part is that these mods are free. And not permanent. If you are not happy with it, then you can put it back to stock.
Note: this is my solution for boondocking use. If using FHU, with an unlimited water supply, a different solution may work better for you.

My latest TT had a new twist, The inlet restriction was made into the faucet. I used a drill bit to enlarge it. It works great.

[Old-Biscuit]

Baja937 wrote:
No pump problem...Got the Oxygenics...What a difference...Everyone is a happy camper now...lol...

Thanks for the update!

It's nice to read that things worked out

[trail-explorer]

APT wrote:
You may want to add a pressure tank to provide a more steady stream of water vs. the pulsing of the pump alone.

x2.

[Nvr2loud]

wanderingbob wrote:
Ask any firefighter , increasing pressure lessens volume ! Do ya want more pressure or more volume ?

Not entirely true. If you restrict / lessen the orifice size to increase the pressure then flow will drop. If you increase the pressure through the identical orifice size then volume will increase.

So with a trailer shower head you are correct, the higher pressure shower head will have a smaller orifice then the standard shower head and volume will decrease.

Now if someone wants more pressure and maintain or increase flow, they will need to upgrade the pump to produce more pressure to push a higher volume of water through the orifice of the shower head.

[Baja937]

No pump problem...Got the Oxygenics...What a difference...Everyone is a happy camper now...lol...

[BubbaChris]

mtofell1 wrote:
I've just come to the conclusion that until I can afford I high end diesel pusher with a never ending Aqua-Hot system, RV showers are only going to be so good. As the days go by I have less and less hair so it's only a minor annoyance to me. I imagine some of the ladies with long hair have some trouble getting done before the hot water runs out.

If you have electric hookup (and no city water), you can run the water heater on both gas and electric at the same time to get longer showers out of the system.

[Community Alumni]

The problem with increasing water flow is an increase in water consumption from the fresh tank. Personally we like to get four days or so out of a full tank with a quick showers. Really handy at races for us.

[wanderingbob]

Ask any firefighter , increasing pressure lessens volume ! Do ya want more pressure or more volume ?

[APT]

You may want to add a pressure tank to provide a more steady stream of water vs. the pulsing of the pump alone.

[beemerphile1]

Pulsating? Adjust the pump by turning the screw in the pump head.

Oxygenics shower heads are great.

[dmullen]

You will find very few who complain about the Oxygenics replacement. It works very well. My wife has long hair and goes thru a major routine every shower with it and she highly recommends it. We have a steady flow whether we have hook-ups or we are using our tank and water pump. I do not have any pulsating problems which makes me think it could have something to do with the pump? The pump in my camper is a FloJet.

[mtofell1]

Every RV I've ever had pulsates when running off the pump compared to a more steady flow when on city water. I've often wondered the same thing as the OP but then 30 seconds later the water goes cold and I have to get out anyway 🙂

I've just come to the conclusion that until I can afford I high end diesel pusher with a never ending Aqua-Hot system, RV showers are only going to be so good. As the days go by I have less and less hair so it's only a minor annoyance to me. I imagine some of the ladies with long hair have some trouble getting done before the hot water runs out.

[tommy_rv]

My wife and I tried the Oxygenics and bought one for my mother after she said she might steal ours.

[Golden_HVAC]

In my older RV, I found that the shower head was so plugged with scale, that I needed to take a paperclip and punch out the plugged holes, then I was able to get more of the holes working, and I had much better flow. The shower head had something like 30 holes, and only about 15 where working at reduced flow, when I opened all up, I got good flow!

Try a 1.2 GMP rated shower head, you can find them at most hardware stores. It is rated so that the pressure in the head is high, and it will push out the water quickly, through small holes, and give a great wash pattern.

If you do not have a large enough pump, that might be the problem too. Check with a gallon bucket. Try filling a 1 gallon container at home, with the shower head and the kitchen sink. Make sure that the kitchen sink strainer is clean too. It should full up in around 30 seconds, indicating a 2 GPM flow.

The shower might take a little longer, indicating a 1.2 GPM flow and 50 seconds to fill 1 gallon.

I installed a 5.7 GPM variable speed pump on my RV and upgraded the wiring to the pump to #12 wire. Now I get a great shower, though the pump can use 10 amps. The way I figure it, the pump can use 7 amps per hour while pumping 2 GPM, and empty a 120 gallon tank in 1 hour using only 7 amp hours, or a very small amount of power.

Have fun camping!

Fred.