12v heater?

[ToBoldlyGo]

I'd like to put a small heater 80 watts or and running off 12v and even as I write this I realise this is a bad idea because the leisure battery won't last very long. Do any of you run 12v heaters straight off a folding solar panel? I guess I charge the battery from solar then run the heater? Or is it just not practical to run a heater (like a tube greenhouse heater)?

 

[funflair]

Not practical without a massive amount of solar and a bank of lithium batteries, so I would say forget it.

Martin

 

[PhilandMena]

Quite a few Funsters have some form of heating in their van over the winter in the mistaken belief that this somehow will prevent or combat damp when in fact it's just a waste of energy and cost.
The key to avoiding damp is to have some airflow through the van and by cracking open two vents as far apart as possible is all that is needed. However, this may not be the reason you are making the enquiry so I will go further to say running heating from solar power during the winter months whilst feasible is not worth the effort. You would need a shed load of solar and no doubt a large battery bank if running the heater continuously and further to that I'm not convinced a 12 Volt heater would raise the temperature inside a camper by more than 1-3 degrees anyway. I could be wrong though.

 

[Lenny HB]

Do any of you run 12v heaters straight off a folding solar panel?

Sorry I couldn't resist, you won't want heating in the summer so for the winter you should get by with a one or two thousands watts of solar.

As Phil says why would you want to heat the van?

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

Thanks everyone. Yes this is an over-wintering thought. I had an idea that water won't condense under a certain temperature but yes I get that I'm asking the impossible. I do leave vents open, I'll just check in from time to time. When you visit your vans do you put any heating on ever? Do you drive the vehicles once you've winterised them?

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[PhilandMena]

Thanks everyone. Yes this is an over-wintering thought. I had an idea that water won't condense under a certain temperature but yes I get that I'm asking the impossible. I do leave vents open, I'll just check in from time to time. When you visit your vans do you put any heating on ever? Do you drive the vehicles once you've winterised them?

No heating on as a rule of thumb. However, I do run my heater (Webasto) once a month for an hour as a form of preventative maintenance and this has worked well for the last 9 years and my Webasto still does not need a service. I also take the motorhome for a 20 mile run once a month, again preventative maintenance. When parked up, chocked with handbrake off and winterised.

 

[Minxy]

Thanks everyone. Yes this is an over-wintering thought. I had an idea that water won't condense under a certain temperature but yes I get that I'm asking the impossible. I do leave vents open, I'll just check in from time to time. When you visit your vans do you put any heating on ever? Do you drive the vehicles once you've winterised them?

We've never ever heated our MHs over winter(or used a dehumidified which is another thing some people us) and have never had any issues. If there's a nice bright day (above freezing!) we occasionally open the vents to allow some fresher air in but prefer to have a run out in it instead as this allows air in and also gives the mechanicals etc a bit of a workout to keep them running sweet, ensures the tyres are rotated to avoid issues with flat spots/cracking and ensure everything is working correctly.

 

[funflair]

Thanks everyone. Yes this is an over-wintering thought. I had an idea that water won't condense under a certain temperature but yes I get that I'm asking the impossible. I do leave vents open, I'll just check in from time to time. When you visit your vans do you put any heating on ever? Do you drive the vehicles once you've winterised them?

You will get more condensation with heat on as warm air carries more moisture than cold air.

Martin

 

[Allanm]

If you just heat the van occasionally over the winter, you have more chance of getting condensation as warm air hits cold walls. Best bet is to leave the heating off and open all the cupboards. Vans should have good ventilation anyway with all windows and vents closed, but opening vents a little would be better.

 

[Richard n Ann]

The problem with condensation occurs after a cold frosty night, everything unheated cools down to near ambient temperature. Then sooner or later a warmer day comes along, the warmer air carries more moisture and when it passes your cold engine block it cools it and condensation forms on it. Can't see it affecting the inside of the van much, maybe dense or metal things.

I keep my bike shed above 10c so it can't get too cold during the winter nights, comes out in the spring looking brand new.

So, if you want to heat the van to prevent condensation, you've got to heat all of it inside a garage ?

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[HandyAndy]

An 80w heater wouldn't warm your big toe never mind an entire motorhome.

 

[SuperMike]

Wether it’s a good idea or not is irrelevant. 80W will draw 6.5A ishhhh from a 12V battery. unless you can replace that power at least at the same rate then it will soon stop. This time of the year, if I’m lucky and it’s sunny, then in the U.K. I will get 3A out of 400W of solar. Most of the dreary days about 1A. So, it’s just not practical.

That’s answered the question, Jim can close the thread now.

 

[Jim]

that’s answered the question, @Jim can close the thread now.

I don't close threads like this. Often the best answer comes long after the person who thought he'd already left it.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

I do this, but the bed area is a long way from the bed. We're going to remove all the bedding, I'm not sure about the lounge seats and backs.

Is the Webasto the vehicle's own heater? What wattage is it?

Mel - I think we'll make a point of going for a run once in a while, we do visit the van occasionally anyway to check the batteries. I've not had an issue with flat spots on cars, how long do they take to develop?

Allanm thanks that's something we might well forget to do!

The key to avoiding damp is to have some airflow through the van and by cracking open two vents as far apart as possible is all that is needed.

No heating on as a rule of thumb. However, I do run my heater (Webasto) once a month for an hour

 

[Campervan_man]

Eberspacher / Webasto type cheaper to buy Chinese copy 12V 'air diesel heaters' are an efficient method of heating a van.
Initially the heater pulls 9A to ignite the glow plug then once lit basically it's just a 12V fan.
Fuel= diesel
I have fitted an 8KW version in My Motorhome and they are controlled thermostatically using an LCD Controller from 8C to 35C.
As a Motorhome Technician I do advertise a fitting service on ebay. The Motorhome floor needs to be drilled, 12V feed, underfloor exhaust and inlet etc The diesel can be supplied from an auxilliary see through 5L, 10L, 15L plastic fuel tank or in some instances plumbed in to the vehicle diesel fuel system.

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[PhilandMena]

Is the Webasto the vehicle's own heater? What wattage is it?


Allanm thanks that's something we might well forget to do!

Yes! Variable dependant on heating setting. It will draw about 8-10 Amps when on full wack and that is being drawn by the fan. The heater itself is self sustaining once the glow plug ignites the fuel. We normally turn it off after about 20 minutes in the winter as the motorhome is warmed up by then and has good insulation so need to run any longer.

 

[PeteH]

Eberspacher / Webasto type cheaper to buy Chinese copy 12V 'air diesel heaters' are an efficient method of heating a van.
Initially the heater pulls 9A to ignite the glow plug then once lit basically it's just a 12V fan.
Fuel= diesel
I have fitted an 8KW version in My Motorhome and they are controlled thermostatically using an LCD Controller from 8C to 35C.
As a Motorhome Technician I do advertise a fitting service on ebay. The Motorhome floor needs to be drilled, 12V feed, underfloor exhaust and inlet etc The diesel can be supplied from an auxilliary see through 5L, 10L, 15L plastic fuel tank or in some instances plumbed in to the vehicle diesel fuel system.

RED Diesel?. / Domestic heating fuel?. only 5% vat if I remember.