Camper heating options/thoughts with dual batteries as fuel?

[Paddy]

I'm building out a camper back for my taco, and I'm debating different ways to heat it. I was originally thinking about a hydronic propane system that would work off a camp shower heater but that got complex and bulky. Then I started thinking maybe just use an electric blanket instead, running off a dual optima battery system. Seems they only draw 4-5 amps so it could be a good option that isn't too hard to implement. Any other ideas? Just needs to be warmed a bit, we like to be comfy all year.

Also, reading on all the dual batt systems and my head is way spinning. I have a few yellow tops sitting around, but the under hood area is pretty hard to fit an extra one, even on my 4cyl. I'm considering putting one in the winch area behind front bumper. Other locations include inside the fwd area of the rear fender wells.

What I can't decide is if I should keep it simple and run both yellow tops in parallel as one big battery, and maybe install a low volt cutoff or just rely on a jumper pack to start truck after a long drain, or if I should set it up as isolated house/start batteries. Disadvantage of the latter being less total battery capacity for house loads.

 

[robert]

Double check the math but I don't think you can run an electric blanket for long on a 12v battery. I don't recall reading about anybody having good luck with the 12v versions either but I have to admit that I haven't paid attention to them in the last couple of years so they may be better now. Personally I went for more insulation, especially covering the glass, and add blankets or a down comforter if my 20degree bag may not be enough. I also toss a Coleman catalytic heater in for longer trips or when it's really cold. Fire it up before climbing in the sack then cut it off and then fire it up for a few minutes after waking and while dressing.

I'd run as a dual battery system since it gives you greater protection; do you really want to carry two batteries plus a jumper pack just in case? You could go with one of those tiny starter packs though.

And good luck with the Optimas, I'll never own another again.

 

[austintaco]

What year taco? Some first gen models report issues with the weight of the two batteries causing issues with the fender strength. I chose the Ark Pak route for the flexibilty of moving it between vehicles and whether I want it in the cab or in the bed. We use a Mr. Heater buddy, but there is lots of debate on here about using them inside even though they have a low o2 cutoff.

 

[dvsjw]

I've been kicking around the idea of using the hot water tank to heat a transmission cooler to heat a teardrop. So far it seemed pretty simple with a one way valve, small 12v pump and a computer fan. It sounds like you were further into the design, what did you run into that turned you away?

 

[UK4X4]

5 amps at 110v is 5 50 watts

550 watts divided by 12 V is 45 amps. ....

Lead acid batteries don't like deep discharge,

So take for example 60% of the rated capacity as your usefull power,

Use is amp/hours....ie the heater will use 45 amp per hour

Being that you need an invertor and they are not efficient or usually rated correctly you'll need to oversize that too, and that adds to consumption as well

Electric heating is basicly not a good choice for a vehicle, unless the whole luggage area is full of batteries

Propane or diesel are really your only options

 

[Oldmancrash]

What I have used several times is a orange clay plant pot over the propane stove burner. Open a window slightly and turn the burner on a low setting. Put the plant pot upside down over the burner and you are good. I have used this in old campers that dont have heaters. Its amazing how much heat the pot will throw off. Just dont touch it or you will get burned.

 

[Yuman Desert Rat]

PROPEX heater. The power draw for the blower motor is extremely low as well as propane consumption. Theyre not cheap but well worth it IMHO.

 

[Paddy]

Well if possible I'd like to avoid large propane tanks just because I don't have a good spot for one. I'm also not keen on unvented combustion even if it's pretty clean. I'm not so smart that I can afford the loss of brain cells, unless it's for recreational purposes! The blankets I was looking at (very briefly) were rated 4 amp at 12v, that's only 50w consumption which made me think it would be fine on batt, however there's no free lunch with heat so if it's really that low power then probably doesn't work.

Basically with a need for hot water and cabin heat I'm always trying to find a way to combine them to save space and hardware, but it's a tricky task. I set up a diesel boiler ebersparcher thing on another rig and used it to also heat the cabin. It worked well, but was a bit noisy, and emitted a puff of diesel smoke each time it started up which I didn't like. Of course the tacoma is gas so that's not a concern. I wish there was a petrol version hydronic boiler like that but I can't seem to find one.
I made up a backwoods hot tub last summer by using a propane camp shower, 12v pump and a blow up kiddie pool. It was pretty neat and made me think that I could easily heat a camper with a transmission cooler and computer fans, or just get a marine air/water heat exchanger with fans (I've used these before and they put out too much heat!) but my main concern was setup, venting, propane, and complexity. Best setup would use a thermostat to control the computer fans and a circ pump to heat the cabin, drawing heat off a hot water storage tank That is also thermostat controlled and circ pump regulated. This way would allow very small draw pumps and fans to heat the cabin on "low" while bigger pumps would heat the storage tank quickly and efficiently with minimum hysteresis. Basically a typical RV tank water heater is what this amounts to.
At this point it becomes so complex that a generator and electric room Heater becomes appealing but again, over complex and bulky. Plus, we like to be quiet in the camp site and not that annoying gennie guy.

My truck is a 2012 regular cab, and I've also heard about too much weight in the corner issues, although I find it hard to believe, I'm thinking about relocating BOTH batteries to the front bumper that I will fabricate, and free up the battery space under hood for something else, like a hot water tank possibly.

I hear optimas are crap now, but these are old enough they might be good, or maybe old enough that they worn out. Either way they are here and free to me, so I may as well use them. I've had good luck with optima.

 

[Paddy]

PROPEX heater. The power draw for the blower motor is extremely low as well as propane consumption. Theyre not cheap but well worth it IMHO.

Love these but he down sides are doesn't make hot water and cost very much.

 

[Yuman Desert Rat]

I have a portable propex. It stays outside the tent while the brain cells are warm and comfy inside.

 

[VillageIdiot]

At this point it becomes so complex that a generator and electric room Heater becomes appealing but again...

After looking into an Espar Hydronic heater I decided to go with a Honda eu2000i generator and space heater.

The generator gives me multiple uses such as:
1. heating the camper
2. plugging in the engine block heater
3. charging batteries
4. lights
5. "but wait... there's more..."

I've uses it at 0F degrees and have been very warm. Plus I don't have to worry about carbon monoxide while I'm sleeping.

 

[Paddy]

After looking into an Espar Hydronic heater I decided to go with a Honda eu2000i generator and space heater.

The generator gives me multiple uses such as:
1. heating the camper
2. plugging in the engine block heater
3. charging batteries
4. lights
5. "but wait... there's more..."

I've uses it at 0F degrees and have been very warm. Plus I don't have to worry about carbon monoxide while I'm sleeping.

Yeah, these are all pluses. Downsides being constant running, noise, and cost. Just not super elegant, but definitely functional and multi useful. I would still need the camp shower, but that's not too tough with these 5L units for 100$.
Actually! the GF might actually like a droning engine sound to lull her to sleep.

 

[jkosten]

The Honda EU series generators are very quite and pretty easy on the fuel consumption. I have an older EX series and it is only about 55 db. I will cable lock it to a tree and run a 50' heavy gauge extension cord over to my trailer. Quite and simple.

sent from my pocket...

 

[MINO]

We are very happy with our 12v electrowarmth "bunk warmer". We've used it in our pop-up camper for nights as cold as the low teens. We're not fans of sleeping bags in the camper, and prefer using our blankets from home.
Normally, we keep the warmer on at around "4". It's thermostatically controlled so it doesn't draw power continuously. We have a 215 AH house battery that feeds the fridge, lighting and the warmer. I've left the warmer on max(6amps) one night and it brought our power down to 12.3v or about 60%. So, it may be within the capacities of your dual battery system if you don't go full power. We find it works much better than heated blankets since heat rises.

 

[tanglefoot]

My conclusion is that electricity is good at moving things and lighting things up but it sure takes a lot of it to produce much heat (unless you use a heat pump). I still think the best way to produce heat is to burn something (or use the sun).

I was playing with the ceramic flower pot heat devices a bit. I found out a candle doesn't have enough BTUs to do anything, but on a stovetop, on low, it might do the trick. Just be sure the ceramic pots are completely dry so they don't explode.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Tea-Candle-and-Ceramic-Flower-Pot-Heater-Improved/

I still haven't procured/set up a way to heat the truck camper--I just stay in the sleeping bag until things warm up enough to jump into more clothes, but I'd probably pick up a Little Buddy or similar propane heater.

When I was still thinking of building a tiny house, I was going to use a tiny woodstove (solid fuel heater). Dickinson makes a cool little stainless one. Then you can burn wood scraps or paper mulch bricks (I saw how to make them out of junk mail).

On the dual batteries, I suggest keeping one isolated as a camper battery so you don't have to worry about drawing down the starting battery. There are isolator units, I saw a nice relay setup here on Expo, or you can not have them be connected at all and put a little solar panel/charge control on the camper battery (that's my setup).

I can't stand generators, myself, even the quiet ones. They ruin the whole experience for me.