S2C Forum Archives

Main Section => Welcome to our virtual Pub Meeting ... => Topic started by: Sheppy on October 23, 2019, 07:37:22 AM

Title: Heater options
Post by: Sheppy on October 23, 2019, 07:37:22 AM

With winter nearly upon us I’ve been thinking of adding an additional heater to the cab.
I’ve got the original smiths heater but I’m thinking of adding another, possibly a 12v ceramic heater.
Anyone got any suggestions before I go buying one of the above?
Thanks
Dean

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Peter Holden on October 23, 2019, 07:56:02 AM

What do you have fitted at the moment?

The 12v heaters are poor!!

Peter

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Old Bodger on October 23, 2019, 08:17:38 AM

It’s the classic ‘ you get nothing free’! The 12 volt heaters are rubbish because they only have a small power available.
You are trying to heat a basic, uninsulated, metal box with holes in it. So just assume that you are going to put in 500watts (one 6th of the power of a normal domestic fan heater) then at 12 volts, if my calculations are correct, that needs over 40 amps. Big cables and big drain. This us why most trucks use diesel heaters, a small electrical requirement to release the dense power encapsulated in oil based fuels.
These heaters require much more ‘installation’ but are perhaps the way to go .....but much more expensive!

Just thoughts !

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Sheppy on October 23, 2019, 08:24:15 AM

Quote from: Romahomepete on October 23, 2019, 07:56:02 AM

What do you have fitted at the moment?

The 12v heaters are poor!!

Peter

Thanks both, currently have the original round smiths heater.
I’ve got a diesel heater in my camper van which does work a treat, the Chinese ones now are only about £150ish so it might be an option once I fit my 300tdi
Cheers
D

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: oilstain on October 23, 2019, 08:38:31 AM

I fitted a new Claytons core to my round heater and got a lot more heat than the old smiths core :first

Also in the 11a I fitted another ex LR ambulance heater under the passenger seat, piped in series to the round heater and get hot air in 2 directions

Also I have seen ones like this fitted which seem to work well (a lot like this on ebay)
auction: #192285208589

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Peter Holden on October 23, 2019, 08:46:08 AM

Mine has a round heater with a Clayton core, I tweaked the fan blades and it works a treat. However the standard S2 heaters, round or flat are really only any use with a truck cab.

I am investigating a time curtain.  I have the rear flap from an old tilt but have a seatbelt bar  fitted so need an extra curved stick to hang it a bit further back.  I have some scrap conduit but would need a pipe bender unless someone in the NW has a scrap hood stick.

Peter

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Sheppy on October 23, 2019, 08:55:48 AM

Thanks both, that eBay link looks interesting, bit pricey tho, another couple of pound and you could buy a diesel blow heater, in my old kangoo van I fitted a curtain just behind the seats, this made a big difference to retaining the heat around the cab.
D

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Formerlyjeremy on October 23, 2019, 09:09:10 AM

I was given a lift in an ex-military artic prepared 2.5NA 90.  What was apparent was that round the floor in the back was a row or 2 of what looked like finned domestic heating tube.  I'd seen the thing before and wondered what the effect would be - thinking 'does the engine produce enough heat?'

After about 7 miles on a not cold day I knew the answer as I couldn't wait to get out!

This vehicle had some form of insulation in the back - can't remember to what extent.

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Moogling on October 23, 2019, 09:21:07 AM

A couple of my friends have created copper pipe heat exchangers ( a simple 1 foot of 15mm tube with 22mm tube over the outside.  The exterior pipe carries engine coolant, lies roughly over the length of the exhaust manifold on the 2.25.  The inner takes either fresh water, or a seperate radiator water with antifreeze.
The inner is pumped round with a small 12v pump.

IT seems to be a very efficient set up that can provide an easy 20l of hot water for a shower and washing up when camping,  or heat a small household radiator strapped to the rear bulkhead!

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Robin on October 23, 2019, 09:26:16 AM

If you don't mind making your own, you can use a heater matrix from almost any car (size & pipes to suit) and a fan.
Here's one we made for the back of Patrick's SWB SW some years ago - still working well   :cheers
HERE (http://www.rms1.co.uk/landy/heater.html)

Robin.

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: oilstain on October 23, 2019, 09:29:30 AM

I have seen a domestic central heating rad, about 14" x 14" fitted on the rear of the rear bulkhead ans piped in series with the smiths heater, it did get hot on a long run but lacked a blower but gave some comfort to the poor soul in the back or perhaps a  :dog

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Peter Holden on October 23, 2019, 09:41:26 AM

Robin, that looks just slightly bigger than a 2a flat heater.

A good job.

I know someone with a diesel heater fitted in the tool box of his S1

The Eberspacher fitted in our camper is one to do the hot water as well as the heat and it is brilliant.

Peter

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: lowoil on October 23, 2019, 09:42:09 AM

Clayton matrix and a fume curtain, I get asked to turn the heater off...

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Sheppy on October 23, 2019, 09:42:38 AM

Quote from: Robin on October 23, 2019, 09:26:16 AM

If you don't mind making your own, you can use a heater matrix from almost any car (size & pipes to suit) and a fan.
Here's one we made for the back of Patrick's SWB SW some years ago - still working well   :cheers
HERE (http://www.rms1.co.uk/landy/heater.html)

Robin.

Just the job that, good bit of bodging:)

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: winchman on October 23, 2019, 10:28:04 AM

I fitted a Chinese diesel heater in our camper its excellent so whilst browsing Ebay I found a brand new one for £65 delivered so bought it for Bob, I didn't think it would arrive but a couple of days later it did, hoping to fit it under the passenger seat

Title: Re: Heater options
Post by: Dormy on October 23, 2019, 10:28:50 AM

I originally fitted an extra heater to the rear passenger toe-board to keep my friends warm on skiing trips to Glenshee. This was a self contained unit of fairly compact dimensions (a bit like the e-bay linked one above). I think it came from a Morris 1000 or an early Mini and worked well in conjunction with the round Smith's heater in the front. Downside was it did get in the way of your feet when camping in the dormobile.

During a re-build I removed the heater from the rear and added a S3 heater to the top of the front passenger footwell - fits perfectly stragely enough ! This can blow through the unused steering column hole and is piped to both front footwells. It draws its air from just behind the bumper so no S3 inlet in the wing. The round heater is now used mostly for demisting.

Dormy