Campervan Hob and Sink Installation (SMEV 9222)

A campervan hob and sink are an essential part of any campervan kitchen. In this guide you will learn all about the Dometic SMEV hob and sink combo, the most popular campervan gas hob on the market. We will look at how it compares to other models and follow an illustrated installation guide.

The ultimate guide to campervan water systems

What is the Dometic SMEV 9222?

The Dometic SMEV 9222 (sold as the Dometic HSG 2370 in some regions) is the most popular campervan hob and sink combo. Its simple, no-nonsense design and ease of installation makes it a no brainer for van converters.

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What Do You Get With the Dometic SMEV 9222?

The most basic SMEV hob sink typically comes with:

2x campervan gas hobs
A sink
A piezo ignition to light the gas hobs

However, when bought as a set online, the campervan hob and sink also comes with:

A microswitch tap
Fresh and waste water containers
A submersible 12V water pump
Fresh and waste water piping

Depending on the seller, the SMEV hob sink set may also come with a 30mbar gas regulator.

The Dometic SMEV 9222 has two reinforced heat resistant glass lids that can be lowered when the campervan hob is not in use. These can be used as an extra prep surface when cooking.

The SMEV 9222 is the campervan hob and sink I have in my build, and I'm a huge fan.

Dometic SMEV 9222 vs. SMEV 9722 and Other Stove Options

The SMEV 9722 is very similar to the SMEV 9222, and the installation is the same for both. However, there are some key differences.

The SMEV 9722 is a more compact campervan hob, so it can fit in tighter and narrower spaces. The 9722 also has a more square design, giving it a more modern feel.

Dometic SMEV 9222 vs. Induction Hobs

An induction hob can be an excellent alternative to a traditional campervan gas hob. The upsides include:

You won't need to install a gas system in your van if you have no other gas appliances
Induction is safer than gas
Induction produces no humidity compared to burning gas, which is better for your van
Induction hobs cook quicker than gas hobs

However, there are two elephants in the room:

Induction hobs run off 230V AC electricity. This means you will have to constantly run it through your inverter, which is much less efficient in terms of energy usage.
Induction hobs are very power hungry. The smallest campervan induction hobs generally have wattages of around 1500W. Even if you do have an inverter large enough to handle this, you will need some big leisure batteries to be able to support that kind of draw.

One induction hob that has caught my eye is the Tefel portable induction hob, which has a low setting of 450W.

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Most people will install a regular gas campervan hob like the SMEV 9222 rather than an induction hob. Though, with a large inverter and batteries, the induction hob could be a great alternative.

Portable Camping Stove

If you are looking for a less permanent installation that can be easily stowed away when not in use, you could consider a portable camping propane stove. The Coleman Classic 2-burner is very popular and great value. The Campingaz Chef is another very popular choice.

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Campervan Hob and Sink Installation (SMEV 9222)

Step 1: install a kitchen worktop

The first thing to do is to buy a kitchen worktop. This is a heavy-duty worktop that can take a bit of wear and tear. INTERBUILD make a kitchen worktop that looks great.

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Step 2: Trace around the template with a pencil

Place the cardboard template supplied with the campervan gas hob on the kitchen worktop. Trace around the cardboard template with a pencil.

Step 3: Cut a hole in the worktop

The next step is to cut out the shape you have just traced. Cut out the hole using a jigsaw. Drill an initial hole using a regular drill bit, into which you can fit the jigsaw blade. By the end, it should look like this:

I suggest cutting the table from the bottom so you don't scratch the tabletop with the jigsaw. If this doesn't work, stick masking tape all along the pencil line before you cut to protect the surface.

Step 4: Install the stove into the worktop

Place the SMEV unit into the cavity in the kitchen top.

There are six screws dotted around the SMEV's perimiter. You need to drill a 6mm recess at each screw fixing to allow the sink to sit neatly. Once done, you can screw the SMEV into the kitchen worktop.

Step 5: Wire the ignition

Some models of the SMEV do not come with a piezo ignition. In this case, you will need to wire the ignition to your leisure batteries. You can learn about all about wiring here.

Step 6: Hook up the gas

The next step is to hook up the gas to the campervan gas hob. You can learn all about campervan gas installations in this guide. Gas installations should be carried out by a registered gas fitter, or at the very least checked by one. Gas is very dangerous and a gas system must be fitted correctly. The aforementioned guide simply shows you how I plumbed my system.

Attach the gas pipe, which should be rigid pipe required by BS EN 1949:2021 standards, to the campervan stove gas inlet using a brass compression fitting. I used an elbow compression fitting which you can see in the image below.

Ensure you put jointing compound/pipe dope on the oive/ferrule in the fitting. Tighten the fitting hand tight and then tighten it another 1.5 times with a wrench.

Step 7: Fit and wire the tap

If you have not bought the campervan hob and sink as part of a set, you will need to fit and wire the tap yourself. Learn all about campervan water systems and taps in our guide. There are four types of taps you could install:

Pump tap
Microswitch tap
Heater tap
Regular tap

If you are using a simple submersible water pump, you should buy a microswitch tap. This is the easiest water plumbing system you can do - it pipes cold water from a container under your sink out to the tap. Most people go with this option.

SMEV hob sink submersible pump microswitch tap

Here is the wiring diagram for how to wire a submersible pump to a 12V microswitch tap; it all runs through a connector strip:

You can connect the submersible pump to the microswitch tap with a fresh water hose. You can secure it with jubilee (hose) clips.

If you are building a more complex campervan water system with pressurised hot water, you should use a regular tap like one found in a house.

No matter which tap you choose, the installation is easy enough. The tap is threaded and has a base plate that screws into it from under the SMEV hob sink. It should also come with two rubber washers which you should put on either side of the threads when installed. You could also add some sealant to the connection for peace of mind.

Step 8: Fit the waste water pipe

If you have not bought the campervan gas hob as part of a set, you will need to fit the waste water pipe yourself. To install a sink drain we need two components:

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The drain assembly is placed inside the sink from above and the backing flange is screwed into the assembly from below. Plumber's putty should be used for this connection - it is applied to the inside of the drain assembly as shown in the image below.

Using plumber’s putty to seal a drain assembly

Sometimes the SMEV hob sink comes with the drain fitting, but no drain pipe. In this case, you can attach the drain pipe (normally flexible PVC) to the drain using a jubilee clip.

Campervan sink drain pipe with jubilee clip

With your drainpipe fitted, your sink and hob installation is complete. Test the whole system for gas and water leaks, and cook a celebratory first meal.

Conclusion

You should now feel equipped to attack your own hob and sink installation. The Dometic SMEV 9222 is an excellent all-in-one option with great build quality and an easy installation. I love that it comes as a kit with everything you need for the full installation. Check out the kit here. If you're still confused, consider our gas and water systems masterclasses for detailed, step-by-step guides to the whole process.

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If you're looking for some guidance with your van conversion, you might be interested in our book, Roaming Home, or in our online course, The Van Conversion Mastery Course. You'll learn directly from our founder Shane how to convert a van into your dream home; no prior experience needed. Shane also offers one-to-one consultations, where he'll help you with any aspect of your build in a face-to-face video call. All consultations come with a free copy of Roaming Home and our Diagram Pack.

Finally, our Van Conversion Ultimate Guide lays out the whole van conversion process in easy-to-follow sections with tools, materials, and step-by-step instructions. It's the perfect companion for your van build.