[Heb Alpha]

Does anyone know where i can get a 12v electric heater to put in the back of the van to stop the hoses freezing up? I would probably just get a seperate 12v battery for this purpose and connect with croc clips. 

I've spent 45 minutes for the last few mornings trying to clear the lines and i don't want to damage the pump or waste time every morning doing it.

Ideally i'd want one that has a timer switch so that it comes on for 15 minutes every hour during the night - it was minus 5 degrees last night and didn't get up to plus 2 degrees until about 11am.

I don't have a garage to park it indoors.

Thanks

Rob

[matt]

12 V heaters are rubbish

they use too much power or just simple dont heat up enough

[wazzz]

 dont have a timmer so would need a semperate one .

http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu0-prodshow/1FT60W12V.html

60w so will use 5 amps per hour .

in therory a 100a battey would run for 20 hours , but you never run a battery too low, and in cold weather a 100a battery will not really give 100a . ( like r.o production)

it wont give loads of heat just take chill off .

have to agree with matt that if poss stick  to a 240v .

or 12v blanked from maplin , think it was £10 ,   but again will only give very limited  heat , and again batterys in cold are poor .

[geefree]

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3401974/Trail/searchtext%

3EBUTANE.htm

try these you can hang them up etc.

[matt]

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3401974/Trail/searchtext%

3EBUTANE.htm

try these you can hang them up etc.

you can get them cheaper

search ebay for blackcat heaters

[joe.b]

would they be ok to leave it over night?

[matt]

would they be ok to leave it over night?

i wouldnt

not a hope in hell, they get VERY hot, ive seen them used in VW campervans and after 5 mins you have to open the side doors which then inturn has heated the awning to a really hot temp

[joe.b]

what about leaving it on low, ive got one of them spinning vents on the top of me van aswell

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I've found that some 25ltr containers filled from the hot tap and under a sleeping blanket or dovet does the trick. Still steaming in the morning.
Also try and empty the pumps as water freezing in the pumps can kill them even if you don't start them up.
Simon.

[peterharwood]

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3401974/Trail/searchtext%

3EBUTANE.htm

try these you can hang them up etc.

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3401974/Trail/searchtext%

3EBUTANE.htm

try these you can hang them up etc.

you can get them cheaper

search ebay for blackcat heaters

Dont waste your money on this I got one from macro the gas dont last that long and it didnt defrost my system when i was iced up a few weeks ago.

[matt]

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3401974/Trail/searchtext%

3EBUTANE.htm

try these you can hang them up etc.

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3401974/Trail/searchtext%

3EBUTANE.htm

try these you can hang them up etc.

you can get them cheaper

search ebay for blackcat heaters

Dont waste your money on this I got one from macro the gas dont last that long and it didnt defrost my system when i was iced up a few weeks ago.

the idea is the heat stops it freezing

they get very hot when used in a van

[matt]

ref the gas bottles lasting

if you wanted to use something like the heater

you could get a pot ring

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STEEL-FRAME-LPG-LARGE-BOILING-RING-CALOR-GAS_W0QQitemZ130287235423QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Restaurant_RL?hash=item130287235423&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1700%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

and connect it to a big gas bottle

it would mean a open flame in the van ( you could have it low )

personally i wouldnt leave a open flame in the van, but as we are discussing a open flame gas blackcat style heater, the pot ring would work out cheaper to run

but as i said, its a danger to have a open flame in the van and i wouldnt do it

[Heb Alpha]

Thanks alot for all your replies and advice - much appreciated.

Think i'll go for Simon's advice and put in a couple of 25l containers of hot water in a blanket, and empty the pump.

Cheers 

Rob

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

A bedtime story helps as well.

Simon.

[CLEANGLASSUK]

Greenhouse parafin heaters work very well and will stay alight all night , 24.99 from most places to buy B&Q / HOMESBASE / ARGOS ETC   

[pjulk]

The only thing with parafin heaters is you get black soot from them and they stink your van out.

I have tried a couple of electric heaters in my van a tubular one which i connected to a seperate battery and it flattened the battery in about an 90 minutes.

And a ceramic fan heater which was totally rubbish i slung it somewhere in my shed after one use.

[karygate]

i just use a normal electric heater that has a thermostat setting. put it in trailer at night and it only comes on every now and again if gets that cold. stops the stuff from freezing in the first place. do not know how long it runs for but whenever i go out to check it only comes on when i open the trailer doors.

[Oakley Windows]

With Paraffin whatever volume of fuel you burn, it will produce the same amount of water. So if you burn a litre of paraffin overnight then youll have a litre of condensation in your van.

[williamx]

With gas heaters the bottles of gas freeze up if the tempriture drops too much, any 12v heater will not work either, Parrifin is smelly, leaves a greasy residue everywere and can be dangerous with fumes that you have not released from the van the next day when you are driving. I know because over the years I have tried them all.

I use 2 heaters at the moment, 1 is a radiator, which is posititioned next to the pump, the other is a Halagen heater with 4 bars of heat.

You would think that with this amount of heat, nothing could freeze, but my mop bucket with had a few inches of water turned into ice overnight.

On my next van, I intend to put roof insulation in between the walls of the van and the boarding, the same applies to the roof of the van, the floor will be water protected and a floor covering that is normally used in kitchens and bathrooms will be laid.

[matt]

With gas heaters the bottles of gas freeze up if the tempriture drops too much,

Butane freezes at  - 1°   -------------------------blue bottle

Propane freezes at about - 42°      ------------ orangey red colour bottle

so go for a propane gas heater