As we have had some recent extreme cold weather (it never rose above -8 C for 8 days in my part of the world last week) has anyone got any recommendations or ideas for low power consumption heating to prevent pipes, water tanks etc freezing? My van is kept at a remote location without access to 240v mains power so it would have to be a 12v solution. Have a 100w solar panel so something that kicks in when temp goes below 2 or 3 degrees C would probably be OK.
Sorry but 12 volts won't be sufficient to give you any practical form of heating. The only real way to ensure the pipework remains intact is to make sure that the water system is fully drained.
DaveS1
Just to add to the no hopers! You're sadly in snow flake in Hell territory (absolutely no chance) with trying to provide long term frost protection heating from a 12v leisure battery/solar panel.
To expand and give alternatives:
To heat an entire van from -8C type temps to say 10C at the point of heating (it'll be significantly colder at remote corners!) you'd need probably around 1kW of power (a very rough figure derived from domestic heating calculators and a bit of caravan knowhow based on a typical modern 4 berth van!). 1kw draws 83 amps from a 12v source, which would kill a typical leisure battery stone dead in about half an hour! In the winter months of both dull and short days, the solar panel contributes VERY little indeed, so can effectively be disregarded for your problem/solution, it'll do OK at keeping a leisure battery 'topped up' if no load on it, or only something low powered like an alarm though.
Your only realistic option is drain water from all systems, ensuring the systems are truly dry and no water remains trapped in 'sumps' caused by dips in pipes etc. (See current discussion on that topic: https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=31&TopicID=366988).
Alde type central heating can be protected by suitable antifreeze, as per Alde instuctions.
Integral fresh/waste water tanks are usually externally fitted (under floor) so will not benefit greatly from any inside heating anyway. Toilet tanks should be drained thoroughly, ensuring no residual water remains in pump!
Think you could say it's 'standard practice' for us to simply drain all water from the van during cold period storage, trying to heat your way out of frost damage is an expensive solution if mains power available, no hope if no mains, and carries the risk that if the heating fails for any reason, you are back with frost damage risk. Really better to simply remove all fluids at risk of freezing!
You also need to remove any liquids in containers (toilet fluids, cleaning fluids etc.) from the van so they don't freeze, split the container, and make spillage messes!
Since the van is not going to be used, as in no one would go in there, why not use a portable gas heater like the ones that are used in greenhouses to tick over at low temperature over winter?
That is in addition to draining the system.
DK
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If the van has been drained down and all the other precaution taken it should be ok. Our van is in a remote location NE of Scotland and we have never had any problems (touch wood).
Quote: Originally posted by bobmel on 27/12/2022
portable gas heater! just think of the condensation.
I knew there is a reason why it is not recommended!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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Topic: Frost Prevention
via mobile 27/12/2022 at 9:44am
