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Post Info TOPIC: Advise re Heating when free camping
oldbloke


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RE: Advise re Heating when free camping
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Tony LEE wrote:

I can confirm bicycle campers experience.

In the MH in the USA we have been using an Olympic Catalytic heater for 10 years and like all US RVs there is nowhere near the amount of fixed ventilation as here. We have 3 CO and 3 smoke alarms installed, one of each in each room, and a propane alarm as well (essential because the cooktop do not have flame failure cut outs like here.

In all that time, with the heater running all day and all night, neither of the 2 CO detectors with digital readoutd have shown any reading other than zero. Same result when cooking

However, with the wind blowing from a certain direction, we have had very rapid increases of CO to the alarm points (450ppm??) due to poor sealing of both the hws and the fridge. Must be tiny holes because I can't see where the leakage points are. Had similar CO alarms in the truck camper at very high altitudes in south America because of wind blowing strongly from the side and I had to face the camper in a different direction to get rid of the alarm conditions.

Point to be taken from this is that an internally vented propane heater has never produced CO, but in two separate RVs, apparently properly installed externally vented major appliances have produced potentially lethal levels of CO.

So, install a CO detector

And smoke alarms

And propane alarms

 

And back to the OP's original question

 

Diesel heaters are pretty good value now that you don't have to pay 1800 dollars for a WEBASTO with a pretty primitive control system, and instead can get one for 180 dollars that does the job very well



-- Edited by Tony LEE on Saturday 13th of March 2021 10:25:29 PM



-- Edited by Tony LEE on Saturday 13th of March 2021 10:29:40 PM

 Would not be an issue with a reasonable amount of ventilation. Which all Ozzie vans have in the door. But to ensure good air flow crack a window preferably at the other end of the van. But if your worried get a monitor.



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Aus-Kiwi


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Are some arguing over the same diesel heater I have ? The burning or Heater is outside . The fan inside blows van air through heat exchanger . The burning diesel doesnt come into contact !! Or is there a portable type diesel heater ?

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oldbloke


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Aus-Kiwi wrote:

Are some arguing over the same diesel heater I have ? The burning or Heater is outside . The fan inside blows van air through heat exchanger . The burning diesel doesnt come into contact !! Or is there a portable type diesel heater ?

 No, portable LPG heater.

But I'm no longer bothering. Tired of the misinformed scaremongering.



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aastek


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When using these diesel heaters what sort of amps do they pull?

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markf


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aastek wrote:

When using these diesel heaters what sort of amps do they pull?

 In the grand scheme of things, bugger all. Our 5kW Chinese all-in-one with the pulse rate set to 1.7 keeps our camper nice and warm without being too hot. For really cold conditions we set the pulse rate to 2.0 though.

Current draw on startup is around 12A, at pulse rate 1.7 about 1.2A and with pulse rate at 2.0 about 2A.



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Aus-Kiwi


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Use ours at times for 10 hours . Admittedly on low heat setting. I dont see too Much change in battery voltage when used that long . Its only the fan anyway it only runs or draws power when thermostat turns heater on . The comments on C02 are on C02 itself not from these heaters ! The only way you would get C02 poisoning is if your silly enough to go outside and breath direct from exhaust !! We have C02 alarm . Trust me its VERY sensitive ! It has never gone off with heater running . Fly spray, metho ethanol to clean things yes !! Pita but must have ! N

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the rocket


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aastek wrote:

What are some of the realistic (subjective) options for caravan heating when free camping. My wife simply reckons to put on a few extra layers of clothing but I dont want to be like the Michelin Man whilst sitting in the van at night or first thing in the morning once winter hits hard.

cheers

 Put on extra clothes or blanket and hot water bottles. We have a rule, if we need more than that,  go to showgrounds with electricity. We had a generator. really only used it when overcast rainy for a week on end. Other than that, it was an extra 32 kgs plus fuel, we do not need to carry. So glad we sold it. good luck.



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aastek


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Thanks all for the varied and valuable advice
Cheers

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oldbloke


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CO2 is carbon dioxide
CO Is carbon monoxide. Far more dangerous

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Whenarewethere


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Insulate it. We have done it with our car. 

Insulate windows. You loose 6 watts per m˛ per degree difference through single glazing.



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jjellfern


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Read this and make up your own mind,
www.snowys.com.au/blog/can-you-use-a-gas-heater-in-a-tent/

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rgren2


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jjellfern wrote:

Read this and make up your own mind,
www.snowys.com.au/blog/can-you-use-a-gas-heater-in-a-tent/

 Key words.

 

just dont use one in a poorly ventilated space. 

 



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