12v fan heaters... any good?

[dugcati]

Have been looking at this....




on this site...
[URL]http://www.flatbatt.co.uk/Electrical/Ca ... r.html[URL]



I wondered how they rate for use whilst driving and if there are any better/more worthy ones to use

thanks

Doug

[Titus A Duxass]

Sorry mate, complete pants!

[Mocki]

you'll be better off buying extra strong mints and sucking them

[dugcati]

hmmm.. maybe if I ran 10 of them and ate some of this beforehand....

[dugcati]

Other than the propex and eberspachers (which I can't afford) are there any that are mediocre? The only other thing I thought of was looking a putting in a later Aircooled heater matrix that has a fan in it but how readily available are they?

[wee bugger]

Go all retro and get a hot water bottle and a blanket...easily keeps decent heat for about 4-6 hours - much better than one of them

[Willoughby]

Have a look at https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23985" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Carvers are good and can be picked up for buttons.

Not that great at defrosting the screen, but heats the van enough to unfreeze all windows in around 10.

K

[kevtherev]

Other than the propex and eberspachers (which I can't afford) are there any that are mediocre? The only other thing I thought of was looking a putting in a later Aircooled heater matrix that has a fan in it but how readily available are they?

OK lets get down to power.
A heater from a water cooled matrix turns out about 2 to 3Kw
A propex turns out about 1.6 to 2.5Kw of power

it's enough to make a difference in a moving van. Anything less than 1000watts is just not worth the effort in 4 degree temperatures, as the van is cooling faster than heat can be introduced.
you need to be thinking this if you make your own heating system.

First off you might consider partitioning the vans cab, perhaps with a curtain, the smaller volume will be easier to heat.

your power supply is the engine, the alternator alone will not supply enough energy to heat the cab, but it will turn a powerful fan.
so you must move hot gas or liquid in front of the fan safely.

I would try commercial vehicle (truck) breakers looking for a webasto or eber or propex.
ring up one and ask for cab heaters.

[dugcati]

Cheers Kev - The heaters work to a degree in the van I am after something that will 'top them up' so to speak

can/do you use the carver whilst driving?



**E D I T**
I did one half think of rigging something up with the oil as a heat medium ( mas the bus is Aircooled I have no water!) - using a motorbike oil cooler and fan type thing...and then thought maybe not!

[dirtygertie]

I've been thinking of installing something other than my dogs in the van to keep warm on cold evenings (i don't need it when sleeping)
has anyone used one of these?
http://www.motorcaravanning.co.uk/shopu ... _x.htm#Buy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

they are cheaper than a propex or eberspacher (sp) but are smaller than the carver heaters

as for heat whilst moving - big wooly hat, big fluffy gloves & a quilted coat that comes down to my ankles; i have also considered glueing a moon boot to my accelerator pedal

[dugcati]

Hey Karen

Like the Carver heaters I would have concerns about having a 'potential propane bomb' whilst driving - is there is some law against having a flame in a moving vehicle I wonder? I know the Eber's and Propex's have a flame but they are a heat exchanger system not direct flame in a space heater (does that make sense?)

Doug

[Willoughby]

Cheers Kev - The heaters work to a degree in the van I am after something that will 'top them up' so to speak

can/do you use the carver whilst driving?

I have left it on in error and it blew out when driving, think it depends on what way the inlet faces.

I one of the lucky ones my Aircooled heat is A1.

K

[kevtherev]

Yes dug I drive the van with the propex running
as does rich newtons Devon Aircooled.
his propex is mounted behind the dash and provides heat via a flexible pipe to either the windscreen or the van.

[dugcati]

Has anyone retro fitted a fan unit to a non-blower bus?

I am wondering how available a later VW blower unit for Aircooled's are and and also how feasable a 12v fan put inline in the heater pipe system somewhere would be

[Willoughby]

Hi

Bluebird do a proper job blower bottom of http://www.bluebird-type2.co.uk/heat.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

K