Heating

[Innkeeper]

Hi
Were wild camping in Spain so batteries charge with the sun. But it's also getting cool of a night so
Was thinking we may start using heating (gas) but just talking to some one and they say "we would need to watch the electric as the heat is pump blew round by fans. So if we have a few over cast days may run out of power.
No used the heating except for a test so any ideas is he right
Rob

 

[tonka]

If you have the ALDE wet heating then it does use a pump to send around the water.
So there will be some power use as the pump is operating, a quick look on the ALDE website seems to suggest that it uses 1amp at 12v so not a massive amount at all and its wont be running all the time once up to temperature..

In my previous Autotrail that had blown air ie a fan,, The fan used around 2amps and often i did not use it to help preseve batteries. However that was in UK use.. If your in spain you have more chance of getting better solar charging.

 

[Lenny HB]

You don't say what type of heating you have but if it's a Truma Combi it's a myth that they take a lot of power.
They draw about 5-6 amps on start up with the fan running full chat, once the van is up to temp they draw less than 1 amp.

 

[PhilandMena]

Yes he is ! WE have the Webasto diesel heater in our camper and it can use up to 8 Amps just to circulate the heat. Once the glow plug has ignited the fuel, it's self sustaining and uses hardly any energy but the fan is a killer. However, what we have found when we use it in the winter is that we only need to run for 20-30 minutes and the camper is as warm as toast. We then switch it off and this does us fine. Once under the duvet, no van heating required and in the morning when I get up I put the heating on again for 20-30 minutes and again the camper is warm and my other half can rise and shine.

 

[Innkeeper]

You don't say what type of heating you have but if it's a Truma Combi it's a myth that they take a lot of power.
They draw about 5-6 amps on start up with the fan running full chat, once the van is up to temp they draw less than 1 amp.

Yes it's a Truma system

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jaws]

Myth or not we found the Truma blown air system in the Miller used a lot of battery
In the end I bought a catalytic heater as used in lorry cabs and attached it to a convenient wall ( in our case the outside of the shower )
Plumbed it in to the gas and it kept us toasty on cold nights

 

[vwalan]

i use catalytic heater as well . great bits of kit.
bit like instantaneous water heaters . simple work and dont let you down.
might have a vent or slightly open a window to keep air flow.
bit like life modern things can be too complicated and arent as good as old fashioned ideas.
glad jaws is warm, bet he got a real nice heater.

 

[Jaws]

i use catalytic heater as well . great bits of kit.
bit like instantaneous water heaters . simple work and dont let you down.
might have a vent or slightly open a window to keep air flow.
bit like life modern things can be too complicated and arent as good as old fashioned ideas.
glad jaws is warm, bet he got a real nice heater.

Fraid that heater went along with the Miller.. But our Autotrail has got blown air and or a normal 'fire' too. Otherwise it would def be another catalytic jobby !

 

[Lenny HB]

Myth or not we found the Truma blown air system in the Miller used a lot of battery

Depends on how good the insulation is in the van also the CP Plus controller controls the fan much better and you get less current draw overall.

 

[Jaws]

Depends on how good the insulation is in the van also the CP Plus controller controls the fan much better and you get less current draw overall.

Weeeeellllllllllll . Whilst you are dead right the Miller was bloody good and the cat heater kept us warm even on the lowest setting..
ut every van is a bit different so I could only go on my personal experience

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Innkeeper]

Looking like a new blanket and early nights. ??? think Les will just go for the extra blanket ?

 

[daveinspain]

Myth or not we found the Truma blown air system in the Miller used a lot of battery
In the end I bought a catalytic heater as used in lorry cabs and attached it to a convenient wall ( in our case the outside of the shower )
Plumbed it in to the gas and it kept us toasty on cold nights

Do you have a link please, Jaws - I´ve been looking for a gas heater for our Rapido for the winter nights, as the Truma takes way too much power to use overnight, which us what we need.
Back in our caravanning days, our balanced flue Carver heater could be used on gas or electric or both, and with our without the fan - perfect for non hookup camping. Sadly, when Truma took them over, they discontinued this heater.

 

[Jaws]

Do you have a link please, Jaws - I´ve been looking for a gas heater for our Rapido for the winter nights, as the Truma takes way too much power to use overnight, which us what we need.
Back in our caravanning days, our balanced flue Carver heater could be used on gas or electric or both, and with our without the fan - perfect for non hookup camping. Sadly, when Truma took them over, they discontinued this heater.

I got both of mine off of eBay second hand
This is the make that I had in the Miller

Riviera Minicat Catalytic Gas Heater. Campervan Heater. Minicat Midicat | eBay

A rare opportunity to buy a used Minicat heater. <br>These are getting very hard to come by. <br>Riviera Catalytic Gas Heater. Campervan Heater. Condition is Used. Minicat heater. <br>Was removed from a campervan two weeks ago. <br>Good working order. <br>Can be used on butane or propane...

rover.ebay.com

Just set a search on fleabay with an alert so when they come up, you will know...Paid £40 a go for mine
Set the search critea for 'catalytic' 'catalitic' and any other weird spelling you can think of cos it is the misspelled ones that go cheap !

 

[daveinspain]

Thanks a lot, Jaws .

 

[busby]

Yes he is ! WE have the Webasto diesel heater in our camper and it can use up to 8 Amps just to circulate the heat. Once the glow plug has ignited the fuel, it's self sustaining and uses hardly any energy but the fan is a killer. However, what we have found when we use it in the winter is that we only need to run for 20-30 minutes and the camper is as warm as toast. We then switch it off and this does us fine. Once under the duvet, no van heating required and in the morning when I get up I put the heating on again for 20-30 minutes and again the camper is warm and my other half can rise and shine.

What about keeping warm from getting in the van at say 6.0pm and going to bed,,that would be 6 hours for us.BUSBY?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[martin2603]

Just had my Alde fluid changed. The engineer states once up to temp the 3020 uses .80 amp. Toasty!

 

[PhilandMena]

What about keeping warm from getting in the van at say 6.0pm and going to bed,,that would be 6 hours for us.BUSBY?

I think it's all dependant on how good, or poor your motorhome insulation is. Autotrails have fairly good insulation and we have never found the need yet to put the heating on for longer. However, apart from sleeping we are rarely in the an for more than 6 hrs at a go, we normally get out and enjoy any winter sun that's available and when back in the an are usually tucked up from 9-10 p.m.

 

[busby]

I think it's all dependant on how good, or poor your motorhome insulation is. Autotrails have fairly good insulation and we have never found the need yet to put the heating on for longer. However, apart from sleeping we are rarely in the an for more than 6 hrs at a go, we normally get out and enjoy any winter sun that's available and when back in the an are usually tucked up from 9-10 p.m.

No winter sun here after 1700 hrs it's getting dark,,1800 hrs and it's pitch black,,Benicasim..Where do you find it in the evening,?..Heating on now and it will stay on until bedtime about midnight.BUSBY.

 

[PhilandMena]

No winter sun here after 1700 hrs it's getting dark,,1800 hrs and it's pitch black,,Benicasim..Where do you find it in the evening,?..Heating on now and it will stay on until bedtime about midnight.BUSBY.

You really must try Morocco BUSBY.

 

[busby]

You really must try Morocco BUSBY.

My friend is out there now,,it was freezing at night where he was last week..? BUSBY.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Blue Knight]

I think it's all dependant on how good, or poor your motorhome insulation is. Autotrails have fairly good insulation.....

Our 66-plate Autotrail had the thermal insulating properties of a string vest.

We took it up to the Durham Dales in the 3-months (Sep-Dec) we had it and it was horrible in the cold. The gas was blasting away just to achieve a bearable temperature.

 

[PhilandMena]

My friend is out there now,,it was freezing at night where he was last week..? BUSBY.

Agreed. At this time of the year it does get cold at night, but the days are glorious.

 

[PhilandMena]

Our 66-plate Autotrail had the thermal insulating properties of a string vest.

We took it up to the Durham Dales in the 3-months (Sep-Dec) we had it and it was horrible in the cold. The gas was blasting away just to achieve a bearable temperature.

Pity about that ! I trust your next choice met your expectations.

 

[Blue Knight]

Pity about that ! I trust your next choice met your expectations.

I'm not sure in all honesty. We're currently changing vans every year (British, French, German) and I'm still not certain on any of them TBH.

 

[PhilandMena]

I'm not sure in all honesty. We're currently changing vans every year (British, French, German) and I'm still not certain on any of them TBH.

Time for the big onesi me thinks.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Allanm]

We used our van all through last winter with only a few days ( in the U.K.) on hookup.
We have 2x95ah batteries and 100watts solar and the Truma Combi 6 running on gas in the evenings at about 20 degrees and all night, set to around 15 degrees and even with the TV on for a couple of hours on some evenings, we never came anywhere near to flattening the batteries.
I am assuming the current draw on the fan is very low.

 

[Campervan_man]

I have an older Truma Combi Boiler on My Dethleffs and My previous Burstner. Yes they are hungry on 12V blown air heating.
I have fitted a Chinese 8KW diesel air heater now and will only use the combi gas boiler for hot water.
I have fitted 2 exhaust silencers on the chinese heater to make it a bit quieter outside.

 

[Potty]

Do you have a link please, Jaws - I´ve been looking for a gas heater for our Rapido for the winter nights, as the Truma takes way too much power to use overnight, which us what we need.
Back in our caravanning days, our balanced flue Carver heater could be used on gas or electric or both, and with our without the fan - perfect for non hookup camping. Sadly, when Truma took them over, they discontinued this heater.

We have aTruma heater which can be used with or without the blown air. Have rallied (no EHU) in the UK over Christmas, 4 nights in the van, in below freezing temperatures, never had a problem with the battery, even when we had a Truma Combi. Left heating on lowest temp to avoid water freezing.

 

[AXO66]

Yes he is ! WE have the Webasto diesel heater in our camper and it can use up to 8 Amps just to circulate the heat. Once the glow plug has ignited the fuel, it's self sustaining and uses hardly any energy but the fan is a killer. However, what we have found when we use it in the winter is that we only need to run for 20-30 minutes and the camper is as warm as toast. We then switch it off and this does us fine. Once under the duvet, no van heating required and in the morning when I get up I put the heating on again for 20-30 minutes and again the camper is warm and my other half can rise and shine.

Yep, agree, we run our diseal heater for 20 mins or so every 90 mins on average.
i start the engine when firing up, in the (hope) expectation the glow plug and initial fan is powered from the (smart) alternator .
or we decide on an early night.

 

[tonyidle]

Just had my Alde fluid changed. The engineer states once up to temp the 3020 uses .80 amp. Toasty!

I have Alde and agree with you. I don't turn it on or off - that's what the thermostat is for. I use night set-back to drop it 4 degrees or so between midnight & 7 am but other than that it's left to it's own devices. This is my first experience of it and a replacement van (if ever) would be off my list if it didn't have Alde heating.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}