[dave f]

im thinking of heat tracing my van just wonderd if any body has done it and if it is afective or is it a waste of money compared to oil filed rad

[traps7]

What's heat tracing?

[dave f]

for those who dont know its a form of heating ie wire with an electricle cicuit that regulates its sellf if you goolge heat tracing it will explain better than me id be here all day talking bo###s    seems a good idea

[VSP Home Care]

I have no idea about it to be fair, just wondering why you need it.  Could you insulate your van to retain heat?

[dave f]

ive got van insulated my mate is apipe lagger he also dose heat traceing have a look on internet very interesting and not complecated i just wanted to no if any one on here had done it and wonded a bout running cost me and my mate are gonna have a go at wk end when he gets the bits from work may be the way to go if not expensive to run we will see

[dave f]

guess no body on here knows what heat trace is 

[VSP Home Care]

What's the reason for doing it Dave?

[steve a]

What's the reason for doing it Dave?

To keep it cool in summer

[Garys mate]

Trace heating is a length of flexible cable thats warms up when a current is passed through it.

I have worked with heat tracing a lot in industry and reckon it would work best on the filters and pipework.
Because they are smallish diameter, the heat would keep the temps up locally; but a waste on the tank as the volume is just too big.

Its certainly a very efficient way of warming the bits that are needed, but more expensive that a cheap oil filled rad.... you pay your money and take your choice

[dave f]

at last some one with a bit of savvy  as for the parts a friend dose heat tracing at work so hes gonna suply parts he owse me big time the question was is it dear to run as he only fits it and as no idea  so befor i go and fit it thought id ask the question.

[VSP Home Care]

I was wondering if this was meant for your equipment or you and your mate to keep snug.  What size tanks do you have Dave could they be lagged with a hot water cylinder jacket or two, they are normally 75-100mm of insulation and fairly cheep as a test around £15 each I think.

Might help to retain heat in the tanks if the area is too large to wire.

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

just buy a propex 2000 heatsource
job done 

[Garys mate]

I see where this thread is going....  :

I was talking about using HT to stop the pipes and filters from dropping below freezing in the very cold weather, NOT for heating water as it passes through (a la diesel/LPG heater).

Trace heating is perfect to heat pipework to maintain temps with no flow, but will never be 'man enough' to heat the water passing through.
Sorry for the confusion.

But. If you can get the TH bits cheaply or FOC, then I still think this focussed method will be more ecomonical than oil filled rads or the like.

HTH.

[dave f]

its a 350ltr tank it s only to stop pipes. di, ro from freezing not to heat water