We don't use the bus as much for camping anymore, it's become more of a day van, but given a good summer, we'd definitely like to try and get away for more long weekends this coming season if possible. If and when we do get away, we'll likely be looking for basic but serviced campsites - so electric hookup is probable. I've never really bothered about heating before - when you're in your 20's/30's it's just not an issue, but we're a bit older now and so the option of a bit of warmth on chilly summer evenings becomes appealing. So I've been thinking about a small convector type heater as a possible option. And just by chance, today I was offered this as a freebie by one of the neighbours... Now, with my van still carting its marmity Devon interior about, there aren't many places I could mount a heater, it's either the bulkhead behind the passenger seat or the side of the seat/bed box as above. Miraculously, this little heater is so diminutive that it could actually fit quite nicely on the seat box, as shown. This would also make routing the mains cable under the flooring to the consumer unit a lot easier. So far, all good. But... it's only 400 Watts output! So do you lot reckon 400W would be like yellow snowing into the wind, or might it be enough given we'd only be using it on chilly summer nights? I guess a bit of experimentation will answer my question (just tried it for 15 mins and it raised the temp from 7.5C to 10C), but wonder if anyone can comment from personal experience?
This ^^^ Obviously it depends on how nesh it gets outside but that'll do nicely. Any details on what model etc ?? It looks a great solution Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
I have a 750/1500w one - was more than enough through the winter. Only prob with your tiddler is it'll take a while to warm the van up and you won't want to open the door.
Thanks, you guys are giving me the answers I want to hear This one's a 'futura home' 400W convector panel heater, model FPH400V... When I get a bit of time, I'll do some more testing and report back.
As its free, go for it.. I have a made in the Netherlands in about 1985 dual heat fan heater, only ever run it at 1kW and it does not need to run for long to heat up the rear of the bus, and then it cycles on for less than 100% even if its -1C outside. With fan heater the hot air comes in a jet with cold draughts as a result. The convector heater will be gentler with less draughts will give you warm air higher up and less on the floor. I would try to get it somewhere you arent heating mostly the cab area though. In my Devon layout low on the wall lining panel opposite the slider would be ideal although it would interfere with where the table is stowed for transit.
It makes a huge difference whether your poptop is up or down. I had to put mine down when it was below freezing... but, for summer if you just want to take the chill off I reckon that's a dandy little heater for the job. On the other hand, I just sling mine in when I think I'll need it so the permanent installation thing never occurred to me. In the past I've even borrowed one from the camp site office if it was unexpectedly cold.
So did we, but what draughty houses they were then. Apparently, but it's really difficult to find via google which is too car centric and insists on showing results for co2 rather than co, burning petrol produces 100x as much co as diesel and I would guess paraffin is very much more like diesel... so... lucky we didn't have a petrol heater in the bedroom.
Paraffin heaters are best left in greenhouses - plenty of humidity, heat and CO2. Great for growing plants. Its always scary when you read the old-style tune up guide for a VW and it tells you to aim at 3.5% CO for correct idle mixture. Somehow measuring how much oxygen has gone missing seems .. safer ...
