We have a VW campervan. What sort of portable heater could we have in it for those chilly nights?
Gas?
Electric running off our leisure battery
Or Electric of hppk up?
We did try to use a small domestic heater last year put it must have been too powerful as it just tripped out the hook up.
We use an electric fan heater if on electric hookup. It's 2000W which is around 8.7 Amps. It does have a half power mode though. It's never tripped the supply. That can be avoided by switching it off whilst using other high powered devices such as an electric kettle.
We have also used a 'Black Cat' portable heater which runs on gas cartridges. This has now been replaced by the 'Blue Cat'. I always switched it off before going to sleep though.
Better use non flamable heaters in the van as the exhausts from an 'open' flame can be leathal and you don't want to wake up dead the next morning. Use a hallogen heater as that will radiate enough heat in the van to stay toasty and they're cheap to buy. Like Stevie said: have one with a reduced power button. That way you won't trip the fuses at the campsite. These days a campsite will supply at least 10 Amps which will cater for 10A X 230 V = 2300 Watts of appliances. So, a 2000 watt heater will leave you a margin of 300 watt.
Be sure to ask the warden about the amperage to be able to run the heater on half strength if the Amperage of the site is -say- 6 Amp.
I use a small convector heater - same principle as the oil filled one but a fraction of the weight. I leave it on very low all the time and haven't needed anything extra, even in the middle of winter.
Quote: Originally posted by djchapple on 20/9/2008
I cannot see why people choose a heavy, larger and less responsive oil filled radiator over the the lighter, smaller more responsive convector heater.
If you choose the type with a solid element (like the element in an immersion heater) they are very robust and will last for ever (well almost).
It's horses for courses.
We have a small dog and our van is also very small (see gallery).
A small 750w oil filled radiator is perfect for our van, given that the surface area giving off the heat is the largest of any heater but is also considerably cooler than other types of heaters. Less likely to burn him should he stray too close to the heat source.
Personally I like the oil filled radiator because I feel that it gives a better "overall" heat rather than a one directional heat. Also it can be lifted and placed on a shelf at night with no danger of it being too close to fabrics which may be flammable.
At the 2008 spring meet of UKCS, words like Snow, Gales, Brass Monkeys and Horizontal Rain all went together.
At the same meet but in our van, words like Me, Dog, Oil Filled Radiator and Warm as Toast, also went together.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Heating a campervan
