12 volt pipe heaters

[jjvan]

Hi, The kitchen water pipes run along the back of the van and are in a cupboard. When parked up in freezing conditions the pipes froze and the push-fit joints parted. We are thinking of attaching some 12 volt "tape" to keep the pipes warm to prevent freezing. There is not enough space to fit insulation. Has anyone used this heater tape, and have you any recommendations. Thanks

 

[Minxy]

Is this when the van's in use or just when you're not using it?

 

[jjvan]

It happened a day into our last holiday, overnight (winter and very cold). Heating was on tick-over, but icy cold in the cupboard (the pipes run behind drawers, so not practical to leave them open) - and the dogs would have a field day !

 

[Speve]

Why not get some pipe lagging the grey polystyrene is good and easy to cut and fit you can get it in most builders merchants or fleebay.

 

[Minxy]

Do the hot and cold pipes run next to each other? If so you could try putting the boiler on and then once hot run some hot water through the pipes on a night time to put some heating into the area that way, or you might just have to 'risk' the dogs and leave the cupboard open to allow the heat in and move the stuff the dogs might raid somewhere else, or put some mesh across it to stop them getting at it ... although that could be considered cruel if they can see and smell it but can't get at it!

Would you be able to get some thin insulation behind the pipes or push on some of the foam pipe insulation?

Just had a quick look on Ebay and came up with these:

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[Lenny HB]

Why not "T" into the heating system and feed one of the small 30mm heating pipes into the cupboard.

 

[Minxy]

Why not "T" into the heating system and feed one of the small 30mm heating pipes into the cupboard.

The only problem I can see with that is the cupboard would get too hot, even if there was a flap on the outlet so it could be closed it would still let some heat through ... not good if food is in there but if the food etc could be moved elsewhere then an option although it could prove faffy/difficult depending on the MH in question.

 

[Minxy]

A good site to check the power draw here:

http://energyusecalculator.com/watts_volts_amps_ohms.htm?

 

[SandraL]

Heater tape does work well. Difficult to find in 12 v. If fitting check you have enough battery capacity to run it. Likely to be perhaps 10 hours overnight? Even at 1.5a ? Draw that would be 15ah a night. Use your own calculations to suit.
I would suggest diverting some blown warm air in that direction. Uses gas for warmth and 12v for fan.

 

[jjvan]

Thanks for the suggestions. Tickover heating is electric, we only use gas when off-site. Not viable to heat the cupboard as it is our only food store . The pipes are right next to the exterior bulkhead and we can't even get thin bubblewrap behind them, can't divert the pipes as the rear kitchen taps are at the back right above the pipes.

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[SandraL]

If you are always on mains hookup then why not go for tape pipe heater? Probably easier to find in 240v version though.
For us we rarely use mains so need the blown air.

 

[Minxy]

I've found this ...

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[tonyidle]

If you have an old electric blanket (or buy a cheapo) and strip out the element you can use it as a low wattage pipe heater on 12v. It's consumption on 12v will be one twentieth of its consumption on mains so a blanket rated at 80W will work at 4W on 12v. It sounds (and is) very little but it takes very little to prevent freezing. Use only half the element length and the wattage doubles to 8W. Use the remaining half to wrap again, connect in parallel, and you have 16W. A small amount of insulation with a low-wattage heater wire will help immensely - wrap the pipes as one using the stuff sold to put behind household radiators cut into strips. It's thin but a very good insulator.

 

[Lenny HB]

The one that Mel found takes 1 amp per meter. Could put it on a timer so it comes on for a couple hours a couple of times during the night & day.

 

[mitzimad]

just remember not to leave the trace heater on with no water in the pipes it will melt it

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[bubble63]

sounds stupid but.........
we used to use inspection lamps to keep ice of vulnerable items
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just put a suitable bulb in, i.e. try a 40w then move up or down as required
OBVIOUSLY you have to use an old fashioned type bulb, the sort that gets warm
but its cost effective, cheap and works

 

[SIFTA SAM]

As this is not a permanent problem, why not consider temporary externally fitted insulation, but only if you are 'parked up' for several days?