Electric underfloor heating

[34127]

Has anyone used or thought of using electric underfloor heating mats in their campervans or motorhomes. They are available in different sizes and wattages and, if suitable, would be a good way of proving a low level of heating if staying on a site with ehu. Obviously would need to choose wattage within the capability of electric supply. May also be useful when laying up for the winter if electric supply available.

 

[tonyidle]

Can they be used on a wooden floor? Most of the ones I've seen are used over tiles or concrete.

 

[pappajohn]

Can they be used on a wooden floor? Most of the ones I've seen are used over tiles or concrete.

I believe it can, but not directly over planked floorboards, and would add a couple of inches or more to the floor height due to the extra insulation required AND the new overfloor material.

All adding to the vans weight, of course

 

[Judge Mental]

Had ALDE wet water underfloor heating once...electric makes little sense to me..

 

[Ed Excel]

Have you seen what a mess wet water can make . And, with a wet system you're heating water to heat the air. Electric heating is direct, with lower losses, that's if you're comparing both systems on electric.

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[pappajohn]

Have you seen what a mess wet water can make

Its fine if you use the safe kind......

 

[geoffles]

My friend did underfloor electric heating on his boat and laid laminate flooring over it. It works a treat when hes plugged in on shore power

 

[Judge Mental]

Have you seen what a mess wet water can make . And, with a wet system you're heating water to heat the air. Electric heating is direct, with lower losses, that's if you're comparing both systems on electric.

But where do you get the 230 v all the time in a camper, plus elec being metered is becoming more common....with wet water central heating I was using cheap refillable LPG and could use it anywhere!

 

[34127]

Thank you for your comments. I don't know the implications of fitting such a type of heating and I would guess that if it is possible then there would be someone on this forum that has done it.

 

[DBK]

I think it could be done, you can get electric heating mats to lay on wooden floors but you would have to put something like 6mm ply over it so the floor would be raised a tad. My concern would be how it might cope with the vibration of travelling.

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[scotjimland]

I would guess that if it is possible then there would be someone on this forum that has done it.

Yes , you would think so, not much that hasn't been aired on here.. but to my knowledge not electric underfloor heating..

Your idea is certainly worthy of further investigation and if it's suitable for laying on top of a wooden floor then it has several benefits.. no space taken up, safer than a portable heater, an even heat around the van.. and little increase in payload.

Metered electric is becoming more popular but it will be many years before it becomes common place .. and if you are usually on sites with an EHU .. why not ..

it has my thumbs up.. let us know how you get on.

 

[Judge Mental]

Where it was really nice was in the shower room on a cold morning....nice and toasty warm. Don't think I would trust 230 v heating in that environment

 

[scotjimland]

Where it was really nice was in the shower room on a cold morning....nice and toasty warm. Don't think I would trust 230 v heating in that environment

why on earth not.. ? perfectly safe if installed correctly and protected with an RCD ..

at home we have an electric shower, as do millions of others, and and live to tell the tale..

 

[mjltigger]

I think underfloor heating is a great idea.. I'm surprised none of the mfrs have come up with it.. in fact I think the chances are there is a really good reason why they haven't.

Mind you, I am hardly ever on hook up so would be more interested in the wet water thing...which is what I am about to google

 

[Judge Mental]

why on earth not.. ? perfectly safe if installed correctly and protected with an RCD ..

at home we have an electric shower, as do millions of others, and and live to tell the tale..

Its the "IF" that worries me!

(I was a JIB registered spark in my youth )

alde wet water really easier to be built into the camper...hard to install later

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[Ed Excel]

Its the "IF" that worries me!

(I was a JIB registered spark in my youth )

alde wet water really easier to be built into the camper...hard to install later

Yeah but when you, and most of us, we're on the tools circuits relied on a bit of wire between two screws . I still think water systems cause more damage when they fail. The protection systems haven't moved on like electric has. Agree on build ability, electric underfloor also only really feasible for self build.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Probably no reason why not but you would need to bear in mind that some electric mats, especially the lower wattage ones, are designed for and intended to act as, floor warmers not primary source heating. In non technical language that means that they will make the floor nice and warm but won't be powerful enough to affect the temperature of the room.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

From memory for primary heat you need between 150-200W/m2 depending on the type of floor and floor covering. Any less that that is just a floor warmer.