Off-grid heating question

[garry55]

What do others do when camping off-grid (no EHU) in weather conditions where it rarely gets above 0 degrees (like now) and need to use the heating system? If I don't use the frost stat protection feature the water could potentially freeze overnight or even during the day. If I use the frost stat, the diesel heater will fire up when needed to heat the water. Problem with this is that the heating system is under one of the lounge sofa's, which makes up half the bed, so I'm pretty sure the noise from the heater's exhaust and the constant trickling of water would keep me awake most of the night.
Do most of you use gas-fired heating systems, or just not bother going away in cold / freezing weather?

 

[MisterB]

some people use diesel heaters, whilst others will not go somewhere if they cant access EHU,

 

[Richard n Ann]

We used to come back through France this time of year and there were a few -4°c mornings, we never used the heating and the water never froze, I think you'd need a -10 morning for that. Was a bit chilly getting up in the morning and putting the gas kettle on, that was my job

Cooking dinner always warmed the van up in the evening and if we weren't moving off straight away in the morning the gas heating would have to go on

 

[LesW]

We use our Truma gas heating when off grid, it works very well indeed.

 

[Raul]

We keep our diesel heater on minimum overnight, when temperatures outside dip bellow -4-5C . At 0C and above, we turn it off when go to bed, but leave the gas heating on thermostat to kick on at 15C inside.

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[RogerIvy]

We’ve been out down to -10 no problem. Just leave the heating on. No hookup required.

 

[PeterCarole29]

The use of heating also depends on the insulation of your van wether its bearable during the night not to have the heating on

 

[Pausim]

The diesel Truma D6 Combi heater should be no noisier than the gas version. I take it you have a diesel heater of another type. Freezing up could cause more problems than a bit of noise in the night so I would choose to stay warm.

 

[Two on Tour]

Use earplugs if you find that your heating disturbs you while you sleep.

 

[dunnah01]

Eberspacher/Chinese diesel heaters are bloomin noisy for your neighbours so I don't use ours after late evening

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[JockandRita]

Do most of you use gas-fired heating systems

Yep.
I wouldn't dream of not having the heating on through the night in these below zero temperatures.
It's what the boilers are designed for, and are safe to leave on at night, as the products of combustion are flued to the outside.

If I had a diesel heater, I'd be using it myself.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Lenny HB]

We never use heating overnight there is enough laten heat in the van.

 

[JockandRita]

We never use heating overnight there is enough laten heat in the van.

Skinflint.

I detest getting up in the morning to cold ambient temperatures, so set the thermostat to about 16 - 18 x degrees overnight.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Itsmcb]

Eberspacher/Chinese diesel heaters are bloomin noisy for your neighbours so I don't use ours after late evening

If yours is that noisy you need to look at your exhaust/silencer. I can't hear mine running when inside my van so you shouldn't be able to here mine from inside yours either. Unless your one of these crazy people that sleeps with the window open in freezing cold temperatures.

 

[garry55]

Eberspacher/Chinese diesel heaters are bloomin noisy for your neighbours so I don't use ours after late evening

I don't think I will have any neighbours in the car park in this weather

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[Lenny HB]

Skinflint.

I detest getting up in the morning to cold ambient temperatures, so set the thermostat to about 16 - 18 x degrees overnight.

Cheers,

Jock.

Heating comes on in the morning on the timer so van is nice & warm for getting up and hot water for a shower.

 

[garry55]

We never use heating overnight there is enough laten heat in the van.

It's not about having the heating on - just the frost protection for the water. The van is warm enough to sleep in without the heating on as I have a 12 tog duvet and a sleeping bag! Oh - and 2 dogs on the bed as well.

 

[Lenny HB]

It's not about having the heating on - just the frost protection for the water. The van is warm enough to sleep in without the heating on as I have a 12 tog duvet and a sleeping bag! Oh - and 2 dogs on the bed as well.

I suppose it depends how winterised your van is, no problem with ours.

Plenty of ways to quiten a diesel heater Two on Tour could give you a few hints.

 

[BillandHelen]

We leave our diesel Truma heater on all night set to 18 degrees, fan on low, and leave the water heater at 40 degrees, hardly uses any fuel and van lovely and warm.

 

[garry55]

I suppose how winterised your van is, no problem with ours.

Plenty of ways to quiten a diesel heater Two on Tour could give you a few hints.

I have seen an advert somewhere for an extra exhaust silencer for the Eberspacher heater unit. I'll add it to my Santa wish list.

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[Lenny HB]

The van is warm enough to sleep in without the heating on as I have a 12 tog duvet and a sleeping bag!

Last couple of years left the summer duvet on 4.5 tog.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Oil fired radiator for overnight to retain heat but our Wallas diesel heater hob is very quiet and you cannot hear it outside. Another thing I have noticed this last few days is that it is very efficient with little or no heat wasted out of the exhaust

 

[Lenny HB]

Oil fired radiator for overnight to retain heat but our Wallas diesel heater hob is very quiet and you cannot hear it outside. Another thing I have noticed this last few days is that it is very efficient with little or no heat wasted out of the exhaust

That doesn't sound like off grid to me.

 

[Otter Spotter]

That doesn't sound like off grid to me.

Hi Lenny,
small radiator and it doesn’t stay on all the time due to the thermostat though I haven’t checked to see how much juice it used via the invertor.

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lenny,
small radiator and it doesn’t stay on all the time due to the thermostat though I haven’t checked to see how much juice it used via the invertor.

Got loads of Lithium then?

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[Otter Spotter]

Got loads of Lithium then?

No, 110ah but overnight there no other draw except the 12v Compressor fridge on ‘night’ mode.
Honestly I haven’t used the radiator more than 3 or 4 times Off grid and we drove off the following with Alternator charging

 

[Pausim]

No, 110ah but overnight there no other draw except the 12v Compressor fridge on ‘night’ mode.
Honestly I haven’t used the radiator more than 3 or 4 times Off grid and we drove off the following with Alternator charging

What powers your oil filled radiator? Usually they are mains powered which would mean not being available off grid or using an inverter which with only 110Ah would be rather limiting.

 

[PeterCarole29]

I have seen an advert somewhere for an extra exhaust silencer for the Eberspacher heater unit. I'll add it to my Santa wish list.

If you have ebaspacher yes order ebaspacher silencers but if you have a chinese heater check the diameter becacause i have found that there are 2 sizes 1 or 2 mm difference

 

[VXman]

I use our Truma Gas/electric system. Overnight I set it to 7 degrees to stop any possible freezing. It's very quiet so no problem there.

 

[Otter Spotter]

What powers your oil filled radiator? Usually they are mains powered which would mean not being available off grid or using an inverter which with only 110Ah would be rather limiting.

It’s only 650w and over night turned on half setting so I don’t think it’s using loads of power and battery rarely gets down to 70% before we drive off and it gets charged up again. I am thinking of doubling up on the battery so we stay in one place longer.

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