Webasto Scholastic model

[PSmith]

I like my webasto system.  I have it in the coolant loop and 'valved' so I can isolate the engine or have the engine 'be the source of heat'.  I use our bus for camping(boondocking) and occasional vacation trips.  On camping trips, I need to run the gen every other day (6-golf carts) to keep up.  The fuel for both doesn't effect the 'happy factor' in my use. 

If I used the bus for 'pole to pole use', I'd find another way to heat the bus that would be more cost effective, less maintenance and more efficient.

phil

[opus]

Due to where I live, I surely wouldnt valve the engine out of the loop.  I am just looking for the most efficient way to keep this thing warm while we sleep.  Best bet for the btu would probably be a wood stove.  Fuel is expensive, propane and generator electricity is as well.  Wood is free [sigh].

[belfert]

Wood is only free if you have your own trees to cut down or know somebody who will give you wood.  This is a great way to heat if you sit in one location.  Not so great if you travel.  You can certainly find free wood on the road if you're willing to invest the time to look for people giving away pallets and other free wood.  The problem is most free wood besides pallets and such is generally going to be green.

There are tradeoffs in all types of fuel for heating.

[opus]

Wood is only free if you have your own trees to cut down or know somebody who will give you wood.

Wood is plentiful and all free but I am not sure I want to go wood yet.

Still trying to figure out how to do this with the Webasto.  I dont want extra batteries, no room for them.  If I could run them a generator, I would.  I could run them with my lawn mower engine/alternator setup I guess.

These are a few of the heaters:

[Joe Camper]

That looks like enough heat to keep thinks warm with the windows open.

Here is some baseline info for reference for those who were curious



I just repaired a Aqua-Hot in a bus with 8 4-D wet cell batteries. To test I ran the cabin heaters set at the lowest setting 55 (5 of them opporated thru 2 thermostats). I left the engine loop on. I did not run the plumbing bay loop cause the heat exchanger is mounted at the ceiling but  ran the small electric heat source that is on the inverters cause it is mounted low in the compartment.

It was below 20 and windy overnight

We also left the 2 24 volt inverters on for the fridge and the intermittent cycle of the electric plumbing bay heater.

Went 11 hrs and the batteries were at 12.3 when we started things back up.

IMO I think an aqua-hot (or Webasto) could easily heat a cabin overnight (8 hr) off batteries, without getting the batteries below 12.2, and that would require  4-4D wet cells minimum.

If you were to close the bedroom door and only run that loop and did not run inverters you could probably stay warm 8hr with 2 good  4-D batteries

[opus]

I've insulated well from the windows down.  All the windows have thermal curtains on them that fit tight.  They are rolled up when not needed.  The ceiling is whatever is in there.  I think its 1.5" glass or such.

Is there a converter that takes 110v and turns it into 12VDC that I could use?  I guess that would be the opposite of an inverter.  Adding batteries would be a lot more work than I want to get into, plus I dont have the room.