[Roland S]

hi

i'm just fitting a caravan electrical hookup socket to my van so i can plug it into the mains. so i'm looking for some sort of heater to protect my wfp kit from damage by the frost this winter. has anyone got any recommendations, like an oil filled radiator or something else, what do you all use?

i've got a bottle of propane in the van for my hot water do you think its safe leaving a frost heater on overnight with the gas in there?

and finally i'm going to insulate my tank and filters etc do you just use blankets or polystryrene or what?

any advice appreciated

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

buy a propex heater connect to yr gas bottle
simples

[Dan crowther]

You have all sorts of options. Use the gas source you have for one. Most seem to use an electric fan heater with a frost stat. If you want economy you can use a couple of strategically placed tube heaters that give off a gentle heat, these are very low cost to run. Others use electric under blankets put over the tank and pump and the reel on top of it. They too give of a gentle heat and is very low cost. You need one that can be used all night. You can also use a thermostatic plug socket which will only turn them on when it goes below a certain temparature, this too will help with economy.

[Roland S]

buy a propex heater connect to yr gas bottle
simples

yeah they look good but a bit expensive. i think i'll go the mains electric route.

[Roland S]

You have all sorts of options. Use the gas source you have for one. Most seem to use an electric fan heater with a frost stat. If you want economy you can use a couple of strategically placed tube heaters that give off a gentle heat, these are very low cost to run. Others use electric under blankets put over the tank and pump and the reel on top of it. They too give of a gentle heat and is very low cost. You need one that can be used all night. You can also use a thermostatic plug socket which will only turn them on when it goes below a certain temparature, this too will help with economy.

yeah i thought about the fan heater i've only got about 4amps to play with from my garage though so about 1000w max, i'm not sure if the frost setting tunns low for a long time or if it does a quick blast at full power when the temp drops.

i like the idea of an electric blanket i hadn't thought of that they're fairly cheap to run too.

 i've seen those tube heaters, quite a range of sizes though not sure what i'll need.

i didn't know you can get thermostatic plugs, that could be very handy.

i know i need to protect the RO membranes from freezing, does anyone know if you have to protect the di resin bottles too?

[Spruce]

You have all sorts of options. Use the gas source you have for one. Most seem to use an electric fan heater with a frost stat. If you want economy you can use a couple of strategically placed tube heaters that give off a gentle heat, these are very low cost to run. Others use electric under blankets put over the tank and pump and the reel on top of it. They too give of a gentle heat and is very low cost. You need one that can be used all night. You can also use a thermostatic plug socket which will only turn them on when it goes below a certain temparature, this too will help with economy.

yeah i thought about the fan heater i've only got about 4amps to play with from my garage though so about 1000w max, i'm not sure if the frost setting tunns low for a long time or if it does a quick blast at full power when the temp drops.

i like the idea of an electric blanket i hadn't thought of that they're fairly cheap to run too.

 i've seen those tube heaters, quite a range of sizes though not sure what i'll need.

i didn't know you can get thermostatic plugs, that could be very handy.

i know i need to protect the RO membranes from freezing, does anyone know if you have to protect the di resin bottles too?

How do you know you only have 4 amps available?

You need to protect everything from freezing.

[Roland S]

Because its on a 6amp mcb with other stuff running of the same mcb as well. My garage is detached and the cable running to it is buried and would need upgrading if i wanted 16amp going out to it. Its something i intend to upgrade at some point but not at the moment as its a bit of a job.

[dazmond]

oil filled radiator mate i use.cost me about £40.i keep it on all night on a medium/high heat when below freezing.everything toasty in the morning.

this is all you need mate.costs about £1-50 a night to heat the van.money well spent IMO.

no frozen pumps,hoses,poles,tanks etc.

i do bring my DI and hose reel in overnight on really cold nights.


best wishes


dazmond

[Spruce]

Because its on a 6amp mcb with other stuff running of the same mcb as well. My garage is detached and the cable running to it is buried and would need upgrading if i wanted 16amp going out to it. Its something i intend to upgrade at some point but not at the moment as its a bit of a job.

OK. So my guess it that it has been taken off the main socket circuit of the hose as a spur. Best way to check is if the house fuse box has a seperate fuse for the Garage.

Do you own the house and if so, when did you buy it?

We bought our 60's built house 12 years ago and had to make upgrades to the electric before they would grant us a mortgage (earth wire to lighting circuits and RCD onto garage supply. We also had to remove the wiring to the outside lights as the wiring was not amoured type.

If I were you I would try to fit a 13 amp spur from the house onto an outside house wall using a weather proof socket and run an extention from there to keep you van from freezing. Freezing damages equipment and can prove to be very costly if this happens.

Personally, this would be a priority.

We live on the North East coast and use an 800 watt modified wall heater in each of our vans with a frost thermostat. Its kept us going through the terrible winter of 2 years ago without issue.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREDA-SLIMLINE-PANEL-CONVECTOR-HEATER-1200W-WALL-MOUNT-ELECTRIC-HEATER-BNIB-/320934125866?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item4ab92a212a

They look similar to this, but I welded up a frame to mount them on. They must be at least 30 years old. I got them off a skip on my way home from work 22 years ago when I lived in Johannesburg, and they were old then.

[DG Cleaning]

I've seen some small parafin heaters on ebay for about £20 it says once filled will go for 14 days solid, they are round and flat too so no risk of tipping over. Might try one this winter.

[Roland S]

oil filled radiator mate i use.cost me about £40.i keep it on all night on a medium/high heat when below freezing.everything toasty in the morning.

this is all you need mate.costs about £1-50 a night to heat the van.money well spent IMO.

no frozen pumps,hoses,poles,tanks etc.

i do bring my DI and hose reel in overnight on really cold nights.


best wishes


dazmond

hi dazmond

you don't know what power it is do you? will a 600w oil filled radiator do, do you think?

[Roland S]

Because its on a 6amp mcb with other stuff running of the same mcb as well. My garage is detached and the cable running to it is buried and would need upgrading if i wanted 16amp going out to it. Its something i intend to upgrade at some point but not at the moment as its a bit of a job.

OK. So my guess it that it has been taken off the main socket circuit of the hose as a spur. Best way to check is if the house fuse box has a seperate fuse for the Garage.

Do you own the house and if so, when did you buy it?

We bought our 60's built house 12 years ago and had to make upgrades to the electric before they would grant us a mortgage (earth wire to lighting circuits and RCD onto garage supply. We also had to remove the wiring to the outside lights as the wiring was not amoured type.

If I were you I would try to fit a 13 amp spur from the house onto an outside house wall using a weather proof socket and run an extention from there to keep you van from freezing. Freezing damages equipment and can prove to be very costly if this happens.

Personally, this would be a priority.

We live on the North East coast and use an 800 watt modified wall heater in each of our vans with a frost thermostat. Its kept us going through the terrible winter of 2 years ago without issue.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREDA-SLIMLINE-PANEL-CONVECTOR-HEATER-1200W-WALL-MOUNT-ELECTRIC-HEATER-BNIB-/320934125866?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item4ab92a212a

They look similar to this, but I welded up a frame to mount them on. They must be at least 30 years old. I got them off a skip on my way home from work 22 years ago when I lived in Johannesburg, and they were old then.

hi spruce

no it comes direct off the consumer unit on a 6a mcb. the house was built in the 50's and the wiring is old, i've got no earth on my lighting yet either, but i rewired the ring main upstairs and down and then got a 16th edition consumer unit fitted by a sparky.

that's a good idea about putting a socket on an outside wall of the house, that's a job for the near future i think although i need to get something sorted a bit quicker, i've been dragging my feet and it looks like its going to freeze at the weekend.

thanks for the advice

[Roland S]

I've seen some small parafin heaters on ebay for about £20 it says once filled will go for 14 days solid, they are round and flat too so no risk of tipping over. Might try one this winter.

i did think of going down that route, only drawback is the smell and i'm not sure if there's more of a fire risk than an electrical one as i have a bottle of gas in the van.

[DG Cleaning]

There's a small risk of fire choose what you do but I think its acceptable. Reckon I'll try it but it will smell bit. Can't think of an easier more economical way of doing it.

[richard jagger]

Ue a fish tank heater 500 watts and put all your reals ect on top and cover.I used it last year very good.

[Spruce]

There's a small risk of fire choose what you do but I think its acceptable. Reckon I'll try it but it will smell bit. Can't think of an easier more economical way of doing it.

The smell is the problem. If it's turned up too much then they give off an oily black vapour which coats everything. My mate has one in his outside 'shed' to protect his r/o. Personally won't put it into the van.

Someone took the step of putting a cable through his letter box and ran it out to the van. Maybe you could do the same with a lounge or dining room small window, using a bit of ducktape around the gap to prevent the draught as a temporary measure.

Off course, protecting the socket from damp and the cable from being a trip hazard are important considerations.

[DG Cleaning]

My van's on the street so I can't run power to it

[SB Cleaning]

oil filled radiator mate i use.cost me about £40.i keep it on all night on a medium/high heat when below freezing.everything toasty in the morning.

this is all you need mate.costs about £1-50 a night to heat the van.money well spent IMO.

no frozen pumps,hoses,poles,tanks etc.

i do bring my DI and hose reel in overnight on really cold nights.


best wishes



dazmond

This is the best advice

You want a 1800watt

[William McCafferty]

I am going to use one of these

http://www.gasproducts.co.uk/acatalog/Lifestyle_4.2kW_Greenhouse_Gas_Heater.html#aLFS922