Wood Stove for VW Bus

[chbr2a]

i would like to put wood stove in bus. i would like to use recycled metal.

take a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2omP92wQ14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[California Dreamin]

The next YouTube video being...from his mate, telling us how Jake accidently killed himself with CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

What a complete and utter tw.at...

Here is another 'Stove' fitted inside a motor home, NOTE* sealed stove door and air induction pipe to the outside so the stove isn't burning the air from inside the camper...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... rspFg&NR=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[chbr2a]

i decide to start my project.
first off all- doors. i put fire resistant sealing.



this is not finish. i am still waiting for some parts to finish this thing.



and last part for today.

[California Dreamin]

I'm sure you really don't need this pointing out but my conscience wouldn't allow me to just ignore saying something.

Please make sure you have adequate ventilation, as running a 'burner' in an enclosed place will produce carbon monoxide gas. CO is odourless & tasteless but absolutely LETHAL.....

The temptation to leave the burner lit and then go to bed could be the last time you wake up mate....sorry to be so melodramatic.

Martin

[Ian Hulley]

I'm sure you really don't need this pointing out but my conscience wouldn't allow me to just ignore saying something.

I agree with Martin 100%, there are many heaters available to fit safely into a small camper PLEASE be very careful and consider what you are doing. You do not get a second chance with CO.

Ian

[jason k]

I'm sure I saw one of those wood burners fitted to a westfalia , oh hang on no, it was called an eberspacher! Chap you've had great advice, there are lots of proper heaters to fit to a t3 a wood burner certainly isn't one.
It's dangerous on so many levels I can't believe your contemplating fitting one.

[LeeME3]

Good grief.

Followed probably by bad grief.

[trentjim]

It's dangerous on so many levels I can't believe your contemplating fitting one.

well you'd think so wouldn't you, but having said that every liveaboard Narrowboat i've been on has got one, usually run overnight, and often providing the hot water and central heating... so as long as basic precautions are taken it "shouldn't" be dangerous. Last time I was on one I slept on the floor with my face about 1 meter away from the stove & lived to tell the tale...

The main things to get right are to 1 -ensure adequate ventilation. 2-Make sure that the woodburner actually seals 3 - ensure sufficient space/ heatshielding from all combustibles & 4- have a working carbon monoxide detector. I think in a t25 that point 3 is the only difficult one.
With these four points taken care of its probably less dangerous than the open hob that most vans have!! I would think the biggest real risk would be an accidental burn from brushing up against it in the confined space of a van - that or heat exhaustion resulting from the sauna like poperties of that many BTU without thermostatic control..

But just in case the OP isnt persuaded of the consequences of getting any of these wrong (Im sure he is)..
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/ne ... arrowboat/

[Ralf85]

One essential point missing that boats have is a chimney to draw the fumes and smoke out of your van and not just ventilation which is also essential.

I know somebody who has a stunning splittie with a stove and chimney. It was imported from Oz like that. As far as I know he's never used the stove, but it does look novel driving along the road with a chimney poking out the top. A bit Beverley Hillbilly and original!

[trentjim]

One essential point missing that boats have is a chimney..)

well without a chimney it isnt a woodburning stove... its just a small bonfire... & I dont think anyone would consider that a good idea!
The picture in post 3 seems to show where the chimney will exit the vehicle

[lloydy]

It would work, but......... It's way too small a space for one. It would leave 1/4 of your living space useless due to siting it and having to keep away from it and the flue. Most open flues need 600mm of straight flue before a bend. 90 degree bends are a massive no no. You would need twinwall flue to keep condensation down. Majority of open flue appliances tend to spill fumes for the first 5mins or so when lit from cold. Everything in the van will smell of smoke. A smouldering fire will still give off fumes, but may not be hot enough for the short flue to pull, meaning you get the fumes in the van.
I personally would never do what your doing, but at the end of the day it's down to you.
Good luck

[California Dreamin]

Carbon monoxide is a product of incomplete combustion of organic matter due to insufficient oxygen supply to enable complete oxidation to carbon dioxide (CO2)
When there is insufficient ventilation the naked flames/burning coals or other organic matter, use up the oxygen in the space (in this case, the interior of the van) incomplete combustion occurs and so Carbon Monoxide is produced.
Yes you need an exhaust....but you also need fresh air supply to the burner (21% oxygen approx) to ensure complete combustion. Complete combustion will produce harmless CO2 and not deadly CO.

The video in the early post shows another burner install but this one has a seperate fresh air feed to the burner with a sealed burner door so the only oxygen being burnt is coming from outside the van.

Martin

[benlawlor85]

Good idea but the first video is obviously not the way to go. I have a Kifaru Tipi with a great little wood stove in it. I think the main thing is to have a nice tall chimney to draw the smoke etc out. As said before you could go for a totally sealed system which draws air in from outside the van but this would be more difficult. The amount of heat generated by even a small stove would be huge and i'm sure a window would end up being left open. The ability to cook on the stove would make it even more appealing. As for the space being to small. dont agree with this as you just get used to it.
Anyway be sure you post more pics when you get it sorted. Oh and Fit a CO meter.
Ben

[Ian Hulley]

We need to cut the bull$h!t which may confuse our people for whome English may not be their first language and just say NO ! STOP IT.

Ian

[benlawlor85]

Putting wood burners in caravans has been going on for years, as has putting them in narrow boats. and i have seen loads of campervans usually bigger ones admittedly with them in. Its not BS at all its just a different way of heating the space. And as long as its set up properly there will be no CO problem at all.
Deaths from CO are always a tragedy. (there have been a number in Cornwall in the last month) But most of the time and these were no exception its gas appliances that are causing it. This as far as im aware is mostly because gas burns smokless so when the flue is blocked of there is a leak all the fumes com into the home. Now when I light a wood burners it creates smoke. if the smoke is going up the chimney so is the CO. Just make sure there is a fresh air supply and you will be fine.
All this scaremongering is silly, i have a HUGE open fire at home. about 50x bigger than a fire you could get in a van. do i go to bed thinking i might not wake up no. because i have always lived in a house with open fires, and there is a big chimney drawing up all the smoke and fumes. my parents house had two open fires and a soild fuee ray-burn which would be burning 24hours aday in winter.
Just remember a wood stove isn't the same as one of those portable gas heaters with no flue.
anyway thats just my thoughts.
Ben