Heating the bus

[Seangie]

Scott - I would not go out of the way trying to find the heat strips for the AC unit.  You'll get better heat from a 20$ heater cube from wally world.  The heat strips don't really "Heat" the bus but raise the temp a few degrees.  Airexcel techs call them "chill chasers" just enough to take the chill out of the air on a cool night.  They will not heat the bus in sub freezing weather.  Remember that Cliff lives in AZ and has very dry air in the winter.  For that they are perfect.  A cool 45-55 degree night and they would raise the inside temps of the bus a few degrees for the perfect sleeping temperature.  We got an AC unit with a heat pump and that works great until it gets below 35 degrees outside.  For anything colder than 30 degreees its best to use a small electric heater or propane heater to keep the bus warm.

-Sean

[luvrbus]

LOL I do live in AZ but have used the heat strips in Wells Nev and Idaho,they are not the greatest warming a cold bus but a fairly good job of maintaining the temp,they are 1500 w you don't expect much from 1500w   

[Seangie]

Clifford - You could also do like we do and bring 4 kids along with you to keep the bus warm.  The 4 of them together produce about 1200 BTU's

[harleyman_1000]

 Yes I know the propane furnace will work the best, but they use a lot of propane and my propane tank is 30 or 40 gallons and will run out in a few days so I figured electric heat would save me from having to run for propane every few days. My plan is to fulltime where it is always in a mild climate, but as we all know plans never go as planned. Will a couple 20 dollar heaters really heat a bus below 30 degrees? I'm not sure how well my bus is insulated yet, but since it was converted for someone in California back in the 80's originally I'm thinking not very well.

[eagle19952]

yes they will...Seangie has said it as have countless others.
My coach was adequate insulation but I have not all of the high $$ amounts that I have seen expressed on this board.
It takes a whole lot more insulation to be happy with what you got to keep cool than heat.
I spend A LOT of time in places with high humidity and high temps.
I spend $60-$70 annually per month average for electricity, I am an all electric coach.
I have lived primarily in this coach for 10 years.
I do not have a roof raise which leaves very little room for ceiling insulation.
You can spend a fortune listening to others "way" of what a coach should be,, but real world experience will determine what it needs to be.
My utility money is peanuts compared to the time and money one would spend just 'getting" more propane, in fact I think fetching propane would cost more than I spend on electric heat.
I have traveled to Alaska and back in October and November without a single freeze up with nothing more than heat lamps and my inverter in the plumbing bays and tank heaters.
Were I you I'd get cubes and spend my money else where.
I would be wondering when my 1985 model AC's were going to take a dump.

PS Just so you know, my primary heat is 220 volt electric, there are times that I am not on a pole that has 50 amp 220 service available, consequently if I have only 30 amp 110 volt shore power I used the 110v 1500 watt cubes, which are more than adequate.

[luvrbus]

1500 watts is 1500 watts = 5000 btu no matter where it comes from a cube heater or the strips the strips do take longer to heat the bus than a cube will

With the strips you are heating from the ceiling down with cubes your heating from the floor up and the last time I checked heat still rises I still like the strips   It is worth it to me not dealing with cords and the cube heaters and both will draw the same amps somewhere around 13.6

[harleyman_1000]

yes they will...Seangie has said it as have countless others.
My coach was adequate insulation but I have not all of the high $$ amounts that I have seen expressed on this board.
It takes a whole lot more insulation to be happy with what you got to keep cool than heat.
I spend A LOT of time in places with high humidity and high temps.
I spend $60-$70 annually per month average for electricity, I am an all electric coach.
I have lived primarily in this coach for 10 years.
I do not have a roof raise which leaves very little room for ceiling insulation.
You can spend a fortune listening to others "way" of what a coach should be,, but real world experience will determine what it needs to be.
My utility money is peanuts compared to the time and money one would spend just 'getting" more propane, in fact I think fetching propane would cost more than I spend on electric heat.
I have traveled to Alaska and back in October and November without a single freeze up with nothing more than heat lamps and my inverter in the plumbing bays and tank heaters.
Were I you I'd get cubes and spend my money else where.
I would be wondering when my 1985 model AC's were going to take a dump.

PS Just so you know, my primary heat is 220 volt electric, there are times that I am not on a pole that has 50 amp 220 service available, consequently if I have only 30 amp 110 volt shore power I used the 110v 1500 watt cubes, which are more than adequate.

How many 1500 cube heaters do you use to heat your coach?

[Seangie]

How many 1500 cube heaters do you use to heat your coach?

We have 2...we use 1 and then an oil filled heater when it gets real cold...below 30.  The second one I throw in the bay if I need to and have it for a backup.

[eagle19952]

How many 1500 cube heaters do you use to heat your coach?

Generally 2 but if it's very cold.... like 10 degrees I will put one in the entry area because heat moves to cold.... Caloric Theorum.... and my cat likes it

[harleyman_1000]

 My cat has her own heating pad

[eagle19952]

My cat has her own heating pad

I have a wife that IS a heating pad....

[robertglines1]

A 20 inch ceiling fan (ceiling huger)helps stop layering of heat/cold. Avail at Lowes.I put over drivers seat so I wouldn't have head bumps.  Sure feels good blowing down on you when hot sun comes thru windshield.  Or could use floor fan blowing up.   Bob

[harleyman_1000]

 The po installed a brand new dash air setup, so Im good with cold air

[Ralph7]

I use 2 cube heaters, Wally Mart only needed 3'rd  at -13 it was in the water bay. No roof raise, 1 1/2 in. foam insulation, 2 pillow in 2 of the 3 fantastic fans, 1 electric blanket, very few windows. Do use the gas stove to cook with only!!!!!
  When I insulated I taped all metal screw heads, an all seams, and use heavy blanks over windows if  below 0.
     If power goes out Honda 3000I for short term backup.

[solodon]

Thanks to treeplanter.  I went to the web site, read the info, contacted the company, and looks like I can do a self install for less than $3500.  I was going to go hydronic however the ease of installation and price swayed me.  I won't be getting it for a few months but when I do I'll update here.  This product when installed on the floor sends infra-red up into the coach AND down thru the floor so it'll heat the pays also......more insulation to buy .