Have any of the forum members used one of those small air heaters to warm up the van when not on mains power? I have seen those small air heaters that one uses in a bathroom in winter and thought about plugging it into an inverter on chilly nights and mornings when not connected to mains power.
My concern is that they may be battery killers. I have one house battery and about 120 of solar. It is just one of those small heaters that I would like to use.
dabbler said
06:48 PM May 20, 2019
Anything with an electric heating element is a battery killer. I suspect most people install a diesel heater.
Whenarewethere said
09:37 PM May 20, 2019
Our little bathroom heater is 2200 watts. That would be about 180 amp if running off 12 volts. You would need a massive battery bank to run this for a few hours.
A good quality domestic 2.5kW air conditioner is up around 600% efficient which would be a far more economical use of battery resources.
Possum3 said
10:37 PM May 20, 2019
D Maxer, I agree with others fan heaters would be a battery killer, but they are OK if 240v and you are on external power source. Don't forget the good old stand by's of Flannelette sheets, feather doona's and hot water bottles.
DMaxer said
08:31 AM May 21, 2019
Thanks for the replies. I usually just use the air conditioner when on 240 mains power to give the van a bit of a warm up. When I am in the cot I am ok, it is just that when the feet hit the deck on the way to the morning shower in the ensuite when not on mains power, I don't enjoy the involuntary tap dancing.
Dougwe said
08:43 AM May 21, 2019
Morn'n DM.
Mate. are ya getting soft as you get older
If on 240v why not use a small fan heater or maybe even a oil column heater. The column heater you could leave on low all night if ya hafta.
I bit the bullet during the build of the aluminium tent and had a Truma gas heater installed with the control next to the bed. Cos I am soft in my older ages
Whenarewethere said
11:03 AM May 21, 2019
Use a SIGG aluminium bottle in a large woolen sock as a hot water bottle, they don't leak. 2 or 3 if needed!
Have you got insulation on the windows overnight. You will loose 6 watts per square metre per 1°C difference in temperature.
-- Edited by Whenarewethere on Tuesday 21st of May 2019 11:04:32 AM
Whenarewethere said
11:05 AM May 21, 2019
How good it the floor insulation?
DMaxer said
12:28 PM May 21, 2019
The insulation is good and when on mains power the cold never worries me as I just give the air con a blast. The problem only arises when I free camp in cold areas during winter when there is no mains connection and I am on battery power.
Oh well, back to the tap dancing. Thanks for the replies.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Tuesday 21st of May 2019 12:28:59 PM
Whenarewethere said
12:33 PM May 21, 2019
Even the rubbish air conditioning installed are about 250% efficient. Get that set up with batteries & solar. Then once that issue is sorted out, replace the AC with an efficient system.
bluecat said
09:11 PM May 24, 2019
A good pair of slippers work well if the floor is cold
Whenarewethere said
01:01 PM May 25, 2019
If you can get away with passive things like slippers, insulation, carpet, extra blanket or doona, hot water bottle/s & covered windows, less things to break down & less expense!
Likewise in summer, feet in a bucket of cool water can get you through those hot days. Plenty of ice packs kept in the fridge overnight to put around your neck.
Have any of the forum members used one of those small air heaters to warm up the van when not on mains power? I have seen those small air heaters that one uses in a bathroom in winter and thought about plugging it into an inverter on chilly nights and mornings when not connected to mains power.
My concern is that they may be battery killers. I have one house battery and about 120 of solar. It is just one of those small heaters that I would like to use.
Our little bathroom heater is 2200 watts. That would be about 180 amp if running off 12 volts. You would need a massive battery bank to run this for a few hours.
A good quality domestic 2.5kW air conditioner is up around 600% efficient which would be a far more economical use of battery resources.
Thanks for the replies. I usually just use the air conditioner when on 240 mains power to give the van a bit of a warm up. When I am in the cot I am ok, it is just that when the feet hit the deck on the way to the morning shower in the ensuite when not on mains power, I don't enjoy the involuntary tap dancing.
Morn'n DM.
Mate. are ya getting soft as you get older
If on 240v why not use a small fan heater or maybe even a oil column heater. The column heater you could leave on low all night if ya hafta.
I bit the bullet during the build of the aluminium tent and had a Truma gas heater installed with the control next to the bed. Cos I am soft in my older ages
Use a SIGG aluminium bottle in a large woolen sock as a hot water bottle, they don't leak. 2 or 3 if needed!
Have you got insulation on the windows overnight. You will loose 6 watts per square metre per 1°C difference in temperature.
-- Edited by Whenarewethere on Tuesday 21st of May 2019 11:04:32 AM
How good it the floor insulation?
The insulation is good and when on mains power the cold never worries me as I just give the air con a blast. The problem only arises when I free camp in cold areas during winter when there is no mains connection and I am on battery power.
Oh well, back to the tap dancing. Thanks for the replies.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Tuesday 21st of May 2019 12:28:59 PM
Even the rubbish air conditioning installed are about 250% efficient. Get that set up with batteries & solar. Then once that issue is sorted out, replace the AC with an efficient system.
If you can get away with passive things like slippers, insulation, carpet, extra blanket or doona, hot water bottle/s & covered windows, less things to break down & less expense!
Likewise in summer, feet in a bucket of cool water can get you through those hot days. Plenty of ice packs kept in the fridge overnight to put around your neck.