Temporary heating solutions

[buswarrior]

Two roof airs or two electric heaters are pretty much the same consumption....

So, all things being equal, running the generator to lower the temp by 30 degrees is no different than running it to raise the temp by 30 degrees...

Brian, just run the generator until you choose some more cost-efficient heating options.

Have you looked at the stuff the marine folks use for heat?

For instance:  http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/

Lots of choices!

I have one of their Bering stoves, with water coils, waiting for deployment.  The 3 gallon MCI washroom sink tap tank mounted up in a cupboard looks to be a great gravity feed tank. Install a small electric pump to refill it once a day, vented/overflow back to the main tank, sweet install. No electric consumption for 6500 BTU to 16 250 BTU, it'll keep the chill out for most of what we might see here in the Great Lakes Basin.

Dickinson does some quality assurance testing on their products, and then offer them for sale, discounted as such. All they did was run it through its paces.

And, they have outlets both sides of the border, avoiding all that red tape and expence.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Don4107]

If you run the genset you might want to have smoke and CO detectors at least temporarily installed.  I would not sleep well even with them.

Don 4107

[Busted Knuckle]

I just got back from a trip where it was pretty darn cold and two 1,500 watt heaters kept my bus tolerable, but not super warm.  I have dual pane windows and spray foam.  Running an 8KW generator for two 1,500 watt heaters is a waste, but if it is all you have it works.

BK, there are more efficient ways to heat than electricity, but electricity is one of the only ways to air condition unless you add a compressor to a gas or diesel engine.

Belfert,
"Duh, big red truck!"

#1) He said QUICK temp solution!

#2) I merely suggested fer this 1 trip to use the gen! (beats a campfire in a luggage bay by far!) Then find & due a more permanent solution!

#3) And on top of that he didn't ask for most economical!

Also, I said;
"Keep in mind I don't have conversion experience, or common sense."

  BK   

[busshawg]

Contrary to popularity here on the board, I installed a couple of these, very easy to install, they use very little power and actually keep the bus quite warm. Probably wouldn't work at -30 . But I have had the bus at a comfortable inside temp at -10 C, and I only have the 2000 series. Can find them at truck wreckers for a couple of hundred a piece, come with a inside thermostat. They do not give off teh humidity that propane gives off so you will be able to see out your windows!

Grant



http://www.webasto.us/press/en/am_trucks_heaters_826.html

[cody]

We hooked up a ventless LP heater that hangs on the wall in the living room, we have the carbon monoxide detectors as well as the gas sniffers, we're real pleased with the way it keeps the bus warm and doesn't require electricity, just hangs there and glows, kinda nice.  The one we got is a 2 pad one from northern tool and cost us under 80 bucks each, we got 2, one for each end of the bus but I'm thinking we may not need the one for the back unless it gets really cold, we run a fan to keep the air from getting layered tho, the heater is rated at 10K BTU's on high 6K on low.

[buswarrior]

Hello Tom.

Yes, I wonder why more busnuts don't use the bunk heaters?

Those you listed are good for up to 2 Kw, or 6800 BTU each.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[belfert]

I just got back from a trip where it was pretty darn cold and two 1,500 watt heaters kept my bus tolerable, but not super warm.  I have dual pane windows and spray foam.  Running an 8KW generator for two 1,500 watt heaters is a waste, but if it is all you have it works.

BK, there are more efficient ways to heat than electricity, but electricity is one of the only ways to air condition unless you add a compressor to a gas or diesel engine.

Belfert,
"Duh, big red truck!"

#1) He said QUICK temp solution!

#2) I merely suggested fer this 1 trip to use the gen! (beats a campfire in a luggage bay by far!) Then find & due a more permanent solution!

#3) And on top of that he didn't ask for most economical!

Also, I said;
"Keep in mind I don't have conversion experience, or common sense."

  BK   

I was merely responding to your comment about why running a genset for heat is any different than running it for A/C.  Running a genset for heat is very inefficient compared to propane or diesel heating.  There isn't much other choice for running A/C unless one goes to a lot of work.

Nothing wrong with running a genset and electric heaters for a short term solution.  It is what I did on my trip this past week.  It just isn't very efficient.

[Busted Knuckle]

I just got back from a trip where it was pretty darn cold and two 1,500 watt heaters kept my bus tolerable, but not super warm.  I have dual pane windows and spray foam.  Running an 8KW generator for two 1,500 watt heaters is a waste, but if it is all you have it works.

BK, there are more efficient ways to heat than electricity, but electricity is one of the only ways to air condition unless you add a compressor to a gas or diesel engine.

Belfert,
"Duh, big red truck!"

#1) He said QUICK temp solution!

#2) I merely suggested fer this 1 trip to use the gen! (beats a campfire in a luggage bay by far!) Then find & due a more permanent solution!

#3) And on top of that he didn't ask for most economical!

Also, I said;
"Keep in mind I don't have conversion experience, or common sense."

  BK   

I was merely responding to your comment about why running a genset for heat is any different than running it for A/C.  Running a genset for heat is very inefficient compared to propane or diesel heating.  There isn't much other choice for running A/C unless one goes to a lot of work.

Nothing wrong with running a genset and electric heaters for a short term solution.  It is what I did on my trip this past week.  It just isn't very efficient.

Belfert,
I was merely pointing out that my original post was merely giving Brian an answer to his original question!
The original question was not about efficency, but what to do in q hurry for this weekend! FWIW
  BK 

[NewbeeMC9]

If you want to heat the bus up quick, tell the Mrs. to dry her hair .   

If you use sleeping bags at night, and just crank the Genny in the morning to knock the chill of and hold you till sun shines on it and the day warms up.


Savannah probably won't be an issue,

[JohnEd]

I am with Tom on the propane recommendation.  Used mine for the past two weeeks at the coast.  Down to 40 degrees and never had a clue till I went outside in the morning.

Get the Suburban.  Determin your future location and cut that little square hole and run a propane line.  You don't need to duct it yet, just take off the end plate off and dump the air into the coach.  This should be a very fast temp install in the perm location.  If you decide to change the location just leave the square external hull penatration in place for a neat cover and cut the new hole.  If my new bu8s ahs hydronic I will still install Suburbans as my secondary and I use cubes when connected to shore unless Mama wants to use the toaster oven.

Regardless of how you heat or with what....do what Cody suggested:  Get a small fan, AC or DC, about 6 or eight inches in diameter and put it on the floor pointing at the ceiling.  Run it 24/7.  That will make the home, coach, office more comfy than you can imagine.....winter or summer.  Cheap thrills.

John