Electric underfloor heating in van (1 Viewer)

mikebeaches

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We are considering downsizing from a coachbuilt to a PVC. And because we want a new van with a comfortmatic gearbox and a specific layout, it is likely we will need to place a factory order.

Looking through the various options list for a Rapido / Dreamer van it is possible to specify 230 volt underfloor heating. Obviously need a hook-up to benefit, but that's frequently what we choose.

I haven't come across electric underfloor heating in a van before.

So the question is does anybody have electric underfloor heating in their van? If so, is it any good? And I haven't yet been able to discover what the power consumption is - but suspect not a lot.

The cost is £390 inc vat. Now although a significant amount of money, and much more than a £20 fan heater or oil-filled radiator, it does have appeal. Especially as we're downsizing and need to reduce the amount of 'clobber' we carry 'just in case'.

Another advantage could be 'airing' the van in winter when parked at home, and possibly creating a frost-free zone too?

Any thoughts?

Mike
 

mjltigger

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It sounds great and when I specified our overland van for retirement I plan to have that fitted (although I'm having an inboard genny so it will be the only source of heating)

So that's the question. If you spec that what is the in motion and off site heating option? We have diesel heating right now and it is great for day trips.
 

hilldweller

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Another advantage could be 'airing' the van in winter when parked at home, and possibly creating a frost-free zone too?

Any thoughts?

Mike

Maybe better than you thought, I was told we were not insured if I use any electric heater in the van as it's none standard, electric underfloor solves this problem and better than an electric Truma because no moving parts.

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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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Maybe better than you thought, I was told we were not insured if I use any electric heater in the van as it's none standard, electric underfloor solves this problem and better than an electric Truma because no moving parts.

Thanks - that's an interesting point which I hadn't considered! :)

Oh, and I should have said that the underfloor heating would be in ADDITION to a Truma combi boiler for space and water heating. The standard spec is a Truma 4 (gas only), but we're thinking of upping the spec to Combi 6 EH (gas and electric).

We've got diesel space heating in our current van, which we like and is both convenient and frugal; but we're not too concerned about going back to gas, especially if there's electric heating back-up.

Mike
 

Easyliving

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We had underfloor heating in our first van, a 2008 coachbuilt Burstner. I wouldn't say it was any good for keeping the van warm on a cold day but the floor did feel comfortably warm and pleasant to walk on.

Paul
 

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I have only underfloor heating in my last house in Port Solent to consider never had it it a van. In the house it was brilliant; kick your shoes off and leave them downstairs and they would be toasty by the morning, and of course hot air rises so you have the benefit of the floor acting like a storage radiator. Go for it.

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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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We had underfloor heating in our first van, a 2008 coachbuilt Burstner. I wouldn't say it was any good for keeping the van warm on a cold day but the floor did feel comfortably warm and pleasant to walk on.

Paul

Paul - I assume it was 230 volt electric? Do you happen to know how much power or current it required? Watts or amps?

Mike
 

Glandwr

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Got under floor aquatherme system (hybrid of truma and alde) can be run on gas, 230v or a mixture of both. Excellent, especially on the sinuses (I find blown air dries them out ), but as has been said it's a background heat that will keep a warm van warm but pretty rubbish at heating a van from cold.

Dick

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Glandwr

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Paul - I assume it was 230 volt electric? Do you happen to know how much power or current it required? Watts or amps?

Mike
As to current, the one on our 12 year old van can be set on the control panel to 0.5kw, 1kw or 2kw hence the choice of being able to use it together with gas. I supposed you set it to suit your EHU.
 

Judge Mental

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Wet water probably a better option as van can be used of grid on gas.
had a demountable once with Alde heating plus their underfloor heating.

The best aspect of the underfloor heating was in the shower room
 

DBK

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No experience but it sounds a very good idea. You could walk around in bare feet in winter and have warm tootsies! But I think you would want to specify a secondary system like the Webasto Dualtop for use off EHU and of course hot water.

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Judge Mental

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No experience but it sounds a very good idea. You could walk around in bare feet in winter and have warm tootsies! But I think you would want to specify a secondary system like the Webasto Dualtop for use off EHU and of course hot water.

Tell me about it..have been up in Sweden in minus 25 deg..... snug as a bug in a rug
 
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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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No experience but it sounds a very good idea. You could walk around in bare feet in winter and have warm tootsies! But I think you would want to specify a secondary system like the Webasto Dualtop for use off EHU and of course hot water.

The standard heating is a Truma combi 4 (gas only), in addition to the electric underfloor heating. But we're thinking of upgrading it to a Truma 6 EH (electric & gas).
 
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Paul - I assume it was 230 volt electric? Do you happen to know how much power or current it required? Watts or amps?

Mike

In a house/building if it's primary source heating then you work on 150 watts/sq m. In a motorhome with far less actual space to heat I imagine you could get away with less.

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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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In a house/building if it's primary source heating then you work on 150 watts/sq m. In a motorhome with far less actual space to heat I imagine you could get away with less.

That's rather what I thought. But to be honest I've no idea what to expect in terms of heat generated - will if make a significant difference to the 'room temperature', or will it simply be a case of warmer on the feet? Either way, I think it's probably worth a punt. There are plenty of occasions when a little gentle background warmth would be appreciated, but I realise it's not going to sensibly heat up a freezing van.

Mike
 
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That's rather what I thought. But to be honest I've no idea what to expect in terms of heat generated - will if make a significant difference to the 'room temperature', or will it simply be a case of warmer on the feet? Either way, I think it's probably worth a punt. There are plenty of occasions when a little gentle background warmth would be appreciated, but I realise it's not going to sensibly heat up a freezing van.

Mike

If it's a proper primary source kit then you won't need anything else. It has to be fitted properly, what's underneath it is just as important as what's on top of it.

The thing you need to be aware of in a motorhome is that if you go that route and you're ever anywhere with no, or not big enough, EHU then you have no heating.

Personally I would recommend an Alde wet system instead.
 
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As to current, the one on our 12 year old van can be set on the control panel to 0.5kw, 1kw or 2kw hence the choice of being able to use it together with gas. I supposed you set it to suit your EHU.
hya we have the same system in our hymer, if the ehu is weak we set it on low and it just goes in and out on the thermostat and the biggest bonus is no sound.. unlike the fan blow heater. i would have it again if i could afford it.. works just as well on gas or both

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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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Problem is, I don't think the Alde wet system is available in a PVC. (n)

So we'd have to rely on the Truma for serious warmth.

But I appreciate you point concerning the current available at the EHU - we're used to juggling our appliances dependent on power available. In our current van we carry 2 electric hotplates - one rated at 1,500 watts and the other at just 500 watts. Additionally, we have two electric kettles - a large one at just 1,000 watts and a small one at 600 watts (not to mention a 3rd kettle that goes on the gas!). Also have a Remoska at 400 watts. Two oil-filled radiators - 900 watts and 600 watts - and a fan heater rated at either 1,000 or 2,000 watts. Not forgetting the fridge and the battery charger and all our tech stuff... As I said, we need to downsize and cut back on all the kit!
 
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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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It's available anywhere you want it if you're happy to pay for it.

Well yes.. and no? I've no idea if it can be retro-fitted, but Rapido, for example, don't offer it as a factory option on their PVCs. Nor any of the other size-able main-stream converters, as far as I know.

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Well yes.. and no? I've no idea if it can be retro-fitted, but Rapido, for example, don't offer it as a factory option on their PVCs. Nor any of the other size-able main-stream converters, as far as I know.

Perhaps not in brochures but if you're factory speccing a van and want it then ask the question. If they really can't do it then there should be a good reason why not.
 
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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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I think as a mass producer of modestly priced PVCs they want to keep production relatively simple.

For example, the standard heating on offer is a Truma 4 gas only combi boiler. They offer an option to upgrade to a Truma 6 EH (electric and gas). I asked (out of interest) if I could specify a Combi 4 EH gas AND electric, and the answer was no, only the one alternative upgrade.
 

DBK

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Good point made about it being quiet. A big advantage.

Our Dualtop can run on 1000W or 2000W in addition to diesel. The 1000W setting is good enough for all but the coldest UK nights in a 6m PVC. This might give a hint on how much you need although the diesel gives the equivalent of over 6000W. However, you would need to consider how the bed(s) works. Ours slides out so you couldn't fit it underneath I guess.

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Minxy

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One thing that occurs to me is - would you have to have the floors uncovered, ie no carpets, in order to get the heat into the PVC? If so, think carefully as a solid floor is not as nice to walk on as carpeting/rugs!
 

Easyliving

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Paul - I assume it was 230 volt electric? Do you happen to know how much power or current it required? Watts or amps?

Mike


Yes, the underfloor heating was only when on hookup. I have no idea how much power it used, it was either on or off - no choice of heat settings.

I think it must be quite unusual to have underfloor heating, at least in a coachbuilt, as the chap in the workshops at the dealers said he had never heard of such a thing in 30 years in the business!

Paul
 

DBK

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One thing that occurs to me is - would you have to have the floors uncovered, ie no carpets, in order to get the heat into the PVC? If so, think carefully as a solid floor is not as nice to walk on as carpeting/rugs!
Although it might seem odd but carpets, if you choose the right sort, can be used with electric underfloor heating.

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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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Good point made about it being quiet. A big advantage.

Our Dualtop can run on 1000W or 2000W in addition to diesel. The 1000W setting is good enough for all but the coldest UK nights in a 6m PVC. This might give a hint on how much you need although the diesel gives the equivalent of over 6000W. However, you would need to consider how the bed(s) works. Ours slides out so you couldn't fit it underneath I guess.

Our current coachbuilt has a 6kw diesel heater (no electric option) and very good it is too. Convenient and frugal, if a tad noisy, especially on start up.

The layout we're after is fixed twin singles in a 5.99 metre van. I know of three that will be available in 2016 - Globecar Globestar 600L, Knaus Boxstar 600 Living, and Rapido Dreamer D58. We've looked at the Globestar 600L - liked it, but ultimately have had to dismiss it. The Knaus is still in the running - just, but the Rapido Dreamer is the favourite. It also happens to be available locally to us.

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DBK

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Our current coachbuilt has a 6kw diesel heater (no electric option) and very good it is too. Convenient and frugal, if a tad noisy, especially on start up.

The layout we're after is fixed twin singles in a 5.99 metre van. I know of three that will be available in 2016 - Globecar Globestar 600L, Knaus Boxstar 600 Living, and Rapido Dreamer D58. We've looked at the Globestar 600L - liked it, but ultimately have had to dismiss it. The Knaus is still in the running - just, but the Rapido Dreamer is the favourite. It also happens to be available locally to us.

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Nice van but inevitably having fixed beds in a 6m vehicle means compromises, such as no apparent wardrobe and zero work surfaces around the kitchen. Not for us but if that layout suits then go for it. :)
 
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mikebeaches

mikebeaches

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Nice van but inevitably having fixed beds in a 6m vehicle means compromises, such as no apparent wardrobe and zero work surfaces around the kitchen. Not for us but if that layout suits then go for it. :)

Yes, I realise the layout is not for everyone. However, it has some similarity to our existing 6-metre coachbuilt, which has a fixed French bed and a front dinette. And the kitchen on the new van is also similar to what we have at the moment. Tend to use the table if extra preparation space is required. The proposed new van has a modest size wardrobe, that has a shallow drop - it's above one of the single beds. I guess the big compromises for us will be the smaller wardrobe and a MUCH smaller bathroom - we've got a vast one-cum-dressing-room, across the back of the coachbuilt.

But we want a narrower 6-metre van, we want twin fixed beds (and we want an automatic gearbox), therefore something has to give; so we intend to see how we get on. In our camping days we were always happiest going minimalist, and now anticipating a similar approach will work for us with a new van. :)

Meant to put a link to the manufacturer's promotional pics: http://www.dreamer-van.co.uk/fourgon-dreamer-d58.php

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