Heater and solar?

[toyotech]

Any decent 12v heater I can use with a battery/ solar setup??
Or even one with an inverter?


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[trailscape]

I doubt there's a viable option that won't drain the battery system faster than the solar can maintain it. I'm going to try a couple different ideas, but my goal is just to heat my topper shell while the engine is running. Should be good to warm things up before taking a nap (and hopefully faster than the engine takes to warm up). I run a 100 watt solar setup so I will do some testing on battery drain but any heat that actually provides warmth is typically quite energy hungry..

I ordered these two heaters to try out. Both are 12v and about 360 watts.



http://www.12volt-travel.com/dc-powered-polymer-composite-heater-p-13132.html

 

[zelatore]

While I've never looked into this specifically, I would not expect to find such a thing. Solar provides very little power while any sort of heating element draws considerable power. I regularly install 2-3000 watt inverters and 300-1000 amp hour battery banks on boats (working on one tomorrow as a matter of fact) and even then I don't recommend my clients try to run a heater off battery power via an inverter. It's not impossible, it's just impractical.

 

[toyotech]

Thanks for the info. I was having a hard time finding 12v heaters. Please update if it works good or not.

 

[toyotech]

Also I plan in having 4 batteries and a 160w panel. Mainly don't know what decent heater would be good.

Mainly be used at night and charging all day.

 

[Haf-E]

Also I plan in having 4 batteries and a 160w panel. Mainly don't know what decent heater would be good.

Mainly be used at night and charging all day.

Typical 120VAC box heater draws 1500 watts or so - your 160 watt solar panel might be able to power this for about 20 minutes from its output over an entire sunny day. Not gonna do much unless it was in a very well insulated camper. A heated mattress pad (about 50 watts) or electric blanket would work much better.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I successfully and safely heat my mattress in my CampTeq using a 100W solar panel and batteries.

 

[gm13]

For a different kind of solar, this could be an option: http://www.fatscostoves.com/

 

[toyotech]

Thanks for the info. I'll look into the heated blankets.
Is that a min wood burning stove? Know the price? Don't wanna call just for price and shipping. Looks cool tho


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[wrcsixeight]

I have a 200 watt heater. When I run it on my inverter, it pulls 18.6 amps. Would draw a group 27 battery below 50% in less than 3 hours.

Honestly, it not that effective even when I run it non stop when I am plugged in.

Mattress heating pad, is the way to go.

 

[toyotech]

Which heater do you have. 3 hour run Isn't bad and if I have 4 batteries. I could get more run time

 

[fourstringfletch]

Keep these ideas coming. I'd love to freeze-proof my 16 gal water tank and faucet line (which I can coil up next to the tank). Let me know if anyone finds a heated blanket with a low current draw(< 50w). I have a 34m diehard platinum and 85w solar isolated from the starting batt.

After a bit more research, it looks like I could do this for about $50 using these components:

http://www.amazon.com/Trademark-Too...Automobile/dp/B006A1PGDE/ref=cm_cd_ql_qh_dp_t
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-110-C-DC...815?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27db4818e7
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sure-power-...d=100052&prg=1187&rk=1&rkt=3&sd=250889307420&

50 watts is more than I'd like though, so please post if you find a blanket closer 25w.

 

[pappawheely]

Beware of cheap electronic items. I bought this: outlet I plugged in my laptop and phone while it was sitting on my front seat. In less than a minute it was smoking and burned up. Could have caught the whole truck on fire.

 

[wrcsixeight]

I have this 200 watt unit.
http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-100-MyHeat-Personal-Ceramic/dp/B003XDTWN2

I only use it on my inverter when I am intentionally trying to deplete my batteries quickly.

Heating with battery power is unwise.

When plugged into the grid, this takes the edge off in my lightly insulated van