Does your Motorhome have Electric heating?

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Might seem like a daft question, but, when on EHU , and not wanting to use the gas fire and blown air ducting, we occasionally use a portable blown air heater to take early morning or late evening chill off in the van.
This then got me wondering.
Do vans have an electric blown air heating facility as well, or can they be fitted.
Our water boiler is gas only ,due to van age, but am aware that these can be both electric and gas, and wondered if such was available?

 

[Reallyretired]

If you want electric heating option buy a small oil filled radiator, 500w should do it

I cant see 500w being a lot of use for heating a cold van. Might be OK to maintain a temperature though if the weathers not too cold. The Truma electric option is 1.8kw and thats pretty inneffective.

 

[stuartholmes]

Me and my missis are both 76 and we just cuddle up together

Come come now, 76 yr olds can do much more than 'just cuddle up together'!!

 

[funkyfunky]

Come come now, 76 yr olds can do much more than 'just cuddle up together'!!

We might do but I forget.

 

[headlight]

Metered ehu is on the increase so gas is a cheaper option if refillable. If anyone is still using Calor bottles then maybe not.
The electric option on the Truma boilers is not brilliant for heating if the weathers cold.

I have actually found my electric Truma heating fine the couple of times I have used it.
The 1KW setting and blower fan on number 1 setting kept my van at 21c overnight while the outside temperature was minus 8c.
Being the older type Truma I also find it uses very little electric for the fan, number 1 setting only taking 0.25 amps per hour and number 5, the highest fan setting, taking about 1.5 amps an hour.
The fan is also quiet.
I only use the electric option a couple of times a year as I am rarely on EHU so mostly use gas.

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[funflair]

We have electric option with the Alde heating but only on mains hook up, we also have a heat pump/air conditioning unit running off the inverter and this will raise the vans air temperature quite quickly, it starts off consuming 1.5 kw but giving over 3 kw of heat, as it warms up it quickly drops to 500 watts or less.

It's a Dometic Freshjet 3000.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don't have refillable Lenny, but then i spend a lot of time in Miorocco where you cannot get refillable gas and the 13kg bottles are less than £4

Where have you been hiding Tommy?

 

[stuartholmes]

We have electric option with the Alde heating but only on mains hook up, we also have a heat pump/air conditioning unit running off the inverter and this will raise the vans air temperature quite quickly, it starts off consuming 1.5 kw but giving over 3 kw of heat, as it warms up it quickly drops to 500 watts or less.

It's a Dometic Freshjet 3000.

I'm not at all jealous!!!

 

[L' Hobo]

I have actually found my electric Truma heating fine the couple of times I have used it.
The 1KW setting and blower fan on number 1 setting kept my van at 21c overnight while the outside temperature was minus 8c.
Being the older type Truma I also find it uses very little electric for the fan, number 1 setting only taking 0.25 amps per hour and number 5, the highest fan setting, taking about 1.5 amps an hour.
The fan is also quiet.
I only use the electric option a couple of times a year as I am rarely on EHU so mostly use gas.

I used to spend a lot of time in Sweden and, to them, it's more about eliminating draughts than excess heating.
My advice would be, spend the money on insulation and, perhaps the heating the OP has will be sufficient?
+ Insulation rarely gives any electrical problems.

 

[Trevor Wbm]

Looks good to me! Where does to cold air come from, is that the purpose of the little white ring near top of your second photo?

Yes, I've disconnected the end of the warm air pipe fed by the gas fire and taped the pipe off (that's the red bit). The vent pointing to the drivers seat is now the 'intake', although I suspect enough air would get in around the locker door and other gaps.

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[MGDavid]

We've a warm air blower system that runs on either electric (EHU) or gas. The problem here is with Wife No 1: she doesn't like:
a. Being cold; and
b. Having Emmerdale Street and Coronation Farm being interrupted with a noise (ie air blower systems and me talking/farting/snoring/breathing).
So we got a small convector heater; the advantage here is it doesn't make a noise, unless being thrown at me for breaching her noise abatement rules, and we don't get that sudden drop in temperature when the blower stops blowing.

make sure you use more rigorous selection criteria for wife #2 !

 

[MGDavid]

Most proper Motorhomes (e.g. British ones, not weird Hymers ) usually have both Electric and Gas options for Room Heating, Water Heating and very often Hobs as well.
My own is selectable between Gas only, Electric Only with 500W, 1000W & 2000W, or combined for Room Heating; and Gas only, 850W Electric only, or Combined for Water Heating


I think if you are using exchangable bottles rather than refillable, Electric is likely cheaper generally. Most vans don't have Refillable systems.

And even WITH refillable, not cheaper if the EHU is a set price it isn't

I was away for 5 days around a week ago. non-EHU pitch so ran on Battery power and Gas for Heating. But after 3 days gas seemed low - and switching to the Calor would be much more expensive than refillable - so moved to an Hookup pitch for one night. Set fee per day, so as well as using Electric for room heating, used electric for water heating and recharged batteries. Think you can tell which day I plugged in
View attachment 742621

(FWIW, I worked out that the Watts I drew would be covered in the set EHU uplift charge based on the current typical per kW charge)

Only in the UK; on the mainland exchangeable gas bottles are far cheaper than in UK, I use Intermarche and it's approaching half the price of Calor. Like Lenny both my LHDs have been continental spec which usually means gas only.

 

[Littlewheels]

Currently got Truma D6 but it’s functional as any blow air system is,but once you have had Alde nothing compares, l will definitely not buy another MH without it’s got Alde.

 

[KD]

Our Truma works on electric, gas, or both (they call it "boost")

 

[Reallyretired]

Currently got Truma D6 but it’s functional as any blow air system is,but once you have had Alde nothing compares, l will definitely not buy another MH without it’s got Alde.

An interesting fact, new to me anyway, is that according to my hymer manual, the Truma boiler needs replacing after 30 years but the Alde one after only 10 years. Possibly of significance to owners of more mature motorhomes.

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[Ian99]

We have the Truma system with selectable 900w / 1.8 Kw electric only option of we want to save gas. However that impacts the hot water system and the Boost hot water won't work if you're on full electric.
When we were in Braemar over New Year, it was -8 by night and -4'c by day; we also made use of a 500w small electric oil radiator which made a huge difference as the van space is quite small. We placed it in the loo and were able to hang damp jackets ' gloves etc on rubber suction hooks above it on the bathroom wall. Really worked out well.

https://amzn.to/3oO6szn

 

[Littlewheels]

An interesting fact, new to me anyway, is that according to my hymer manual, the Truma boiler needs replacing after 30 years but the Alde one after only 10 years. Possibly of significance to owners of more mature motorhomes.

Perhaps, However, Alde do offer an exceptional service facility and there appears to be so many Threads on here about Truma problems. The Alde being a Wet system is far superior to Truma but that’s my opinion.

 

[Steve-N]

At risk of being being pedantic, I think the the Truma elements are rated at 900 watts and 1800 watts (rather than 1 kw & 2 kw).

I have a Whale "expanse" blown air heating system, it is electric or gas (or both at same time) the electric is 750/1500/2500w in selectable stages.
Water heating is a separate unit and the same dual system.

 

[Hoovie]

Only in the UK; on the mainland exchangeable gas bottles are far cheaper than in UK, I use Intermarche and it's approaching half the price of Calor. Like Lenny both my LHDs have been continental spec which usually means gas only.

Motorhome fun.CO.UK.

By default a UK focused forum.
Also, it may be hard to accept to folk here, but actually most UK motorhomers DON'T ever tour in Europe (OR have refillable systems).

 

[Reallyretired]

Motorhome fun.CO.UK.

By default a UK focused forum.
Also, it may be hard to accept to folk here, but actually most UK motorhomers DON'T ever tour in Europe (OR have refillable systems).

I dont know whether thats true or not, where are the figures, certainly looking at this forum a lot of foriegn touring happens. I might have a go at a survey on here.

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[Hoovie]

I dont know whether thats true or not, where are the figures, certainly looking at this forum a lot of foriegn touring happens. I might have a go at a survey on here.

I have no doubt the proportion will be a fair bit higher here. However most motorhomers never use forums either!
and no, got no figures or proof, but social media (that includes forums) users form a small proportion of the general population, and the proportion reduces on the older age demographic - so combine that with the general motorhome user being older ....

 

[Reallyretired]

Im not sure there is any logical connection between foriegn touring and use of a forum, there is no obvious interdependency.
Certainly I would expect the more aged motorhomers to travel abroad more, if only because for a longer period its much cheaper than the UK obviously for a short stay the ferry etc cost is much more significant.

 

[Reallyretired]

Survey set up here

How many members only tour UK ? Survey

A statement has been made that most motorhomers only tour in the UK. It may be true or not, I havent a clue. We have a lot of members though so could be fairly representative if enough votes are cast.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Im not sure there is any logical connection between foriegn touring and use of a forum, there is no obvious interdependency.
Certainly I would expect the more aged motorhomers to travel abroad more, if only because for a longer period its much cheaper than the UK obviously for a short stay the ferry etc cost is much more significant.

To throw a spanner in the works , but I have a motorhome used solely in the UK, but do travel as frequently as I can, for longer trips,abroad, and do fall into the slightly older(?) Category, preferring to fly or sail, staying in
hotel, apartment or cabin.

 

[IanF]

Gas ,electric,diesel and if I'm really cold and extremely lucky friction!

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[DDJC]

Also, it may be hard to accept to folk here, but actually most UK motorhomers DON'T ever tour in Europe.

Really? I am surprised, and more than a little sceptical. Have you a source for that data?

I do UK once maybe twice a year, but I much prefer Europe. UK is not motorhome friendly and Europe is. The weather, roads , wine, food, scenery and fewer surly campsite staff.

And yes, I do have 50% of my gas as refillable

 

[stuartholmes]

Really? I am surprised, and more than a little sceptical. Have you a source for that data?

I do UK once maybe twice a year, but I much prefer Europe. UK is not motorhome friendly and Europe is. The weather, roads , wine, food, scenery and fewer surly campsite staff.

And yes, I do have 50% of my gas as refillable

Now that people need GB stickers again we can survey the back of every camper/motorhome (I presume the term was used all-encompassingly) & count how many do or don't have them...
My guess is non-EU numbers win.
Somebody else can worry about whether the have to go more than once to qualify.

 

[Hoovie]

Back to the actual topic .....

Might seem like a daft question, but, when on EHU , and not wanting to use the gas fire and blown air ducting, we occasionally use a portable blown air heater to take early morning or late evening chill off in the van.
This then got me wondering.
Do vans have an electric blown air heating facility as well, or can they be fitted.

Slightly weirdly, I got delivered today possibly what you are talking about, but can be used OFF-EHU as well

12V Blown Air Electric Heater w/Bluetooth by David, on Flickr

I'll be fitting this over the weekend, probably in the place I was contemplating fitting a Diesel Heater

Our water boiler is gas only ,due to van age, but am aware that these can be both electric and gas, and wondered if such was available?

 

[DDJC]

Back to the actual topic .....

Slightly weirdly, I got delivered today possibly what you are talking about, but can be used OFF-EHU as well

12V Blown Air Electric Heater w/Bluetooth by David, on Flickr

I'll be fitting this over the weekend, probably in the place I was contemplating fitting a Diesel Heater

Have a small one of these, but only for the awning.

I did ask a workshop whether they could redirect a blown air heating duct to create a new point on the outside of the van, using the Truma kit (pic attached). Sadly, they felt it was beyond them.

Interested to hear if anyone has ever had one of these fitted.

 

[Lenny HB]

Our Truma works on electric, gas, or both (they call it "boost")

I think you need to read the instructions.
Boost is for the hot water and it turns off the heating it takes the water to 62° rather than 60° then turns off.

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[Lenny HB]

Have a small one of these, but only for the awning.

I did ask a workshop whether they could redirect a blown air heating duct to create a new point on the outside of the van, using the Truma kit (pic attached). Sadly, they felt it was beyond them.

Interested to hear if anyone has ever had one of these fitted.

I rember them for caravans to warm the awning, what a waste of space.