Night heater

vaz2121 · 2016-11-29 12:54:39

Has anyone used/fitted one of those ceramic heaters (or the likes) I see advertised on *Bay.......... if so are they of any use?

I have over the years in all my Lorries had Eberspacher Night heaters but I'm a bit reluctant for use/cost reasons if there is an acceptable alternative as we've noticed that things this last Twice or Thrice we've been out it's been quite chilly in the morning when getting up and we would like to go much further north in the next month or two

Casper · 2016-11-29 15:57:21

What are the wee ceramic ones like that you get for clearing the windscreen on frosty mornings? I was thinking that running for 10 mins on the leisure battery would be enough to take the chill out the air. Ill be getting one next week for my windscreen and if its hot enough ill be getting another for the rear of the van.

tee_cee · 2016-11-29 20:15:29

I use one of these Pifco 500W heater
Its tiny, and at 500W will only draw 2A on the hookup - useful on some euro campsites.
The space in the van is so small, that the chill can be taken out of the air in a few minutes, though it helps a lot having a curtain behind the front seats AND a thermal blind on the windscreen.
I bought from eBuyer about 3 years ago, for a grand total of about £8. Seem to be discontinued now which is a shame.

As for the clearing the windscreen - wipe with a towel and finish with a squeegee.

Casper · 2016-11-29 20:51:20

5 available but not at 8 quid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/pifco-ceramic … SwmfhX7P-q

monkeynut · 2016-12-03 12:35:16

I learned quickly that you are either in the sleeping bag or cooking or brewing up! if i want to tale the chill off i put the stove on low to take the chill out , but not when im sleeping

Casper · 2016-12-03 15:42:36

monkeynut wrote:

I learned quickly that you are either in the sleeping bag or cooking or brewing up! if i want to tale the chill off i put the stove on low to take the chill out , but not when im sleeping

Aye stove was what we were doing at night but i have the awning so heat that up and that also did the van. Never found it chilly in the mornings but for next year i am also popping into Go Outdoors for this

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-por … er-p142458

Not paying that price though. 12 quid seems the norm and B&M Stores sometimes have them in.

polarbear · 2017-11-19 19:56:13

I tried one of the wee ceramic fan heater things out of curiosity as I thought it might have some use in the van. As I half expected - completely useless, don't bother. Rated 150 watts, but a 100 watt light bulb generates more heat.

Casper · 2017-11-20 13:59:16

polarbear wrote:

I tried one of the wee ceramic fan heater things out of curiosity as I thought it might have some use in the van. As I half expected - completely useless, don't bother. Rated 150 watts, but a 100 watt light bulb generates more heat.

You talking about these?

I now drive a convoy and the heater/fan is shocking so this was great for clearing the screen in the morning where the main fan failed. I have since found a flaw in the heater blower what i have changed and now the standard heater is great but for heating the van up nah, Its crap

tee_cee · 2018-03-06 08:52:12

Casper wrote:

5 available but not at 8 quid
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/pifco-ceramic … SwmfhX7P-q

Couple available at £12.99
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre … 3533305468

Casper · 2018-03-06 12:38:54

tee_cee wrote:

Couple available at £12.99
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre … 3533305468

I just use gas now for heat up the back but once the van is up to temp its more off than on. As for when sleeping i never feel the cold as we have a duvet under as well as over us.

On a few of the self build camper facebook pages the Chinese version of the diesel Eberspacher is getting thumbs up if you have the space to install one but i must admit i never felt the need to a heater when i had my Expert apart from when sitting out in the awning.

kenbw2 · 2018-03-06 23:20:37

Yea I'm in the just turn the gas on camp too. Turn it on before you get out of the sleeping bag, give it 10 minutes and have a rubber window wiper thing to hand for the condensation when you set off.

I wouldn't mind a proper night heater though for the dry heat. Couldn't justify the cost and power consumption though.

Last edited by kenbw2 (2018-03-06 23:35:10)

vaz2121 · 2018-03-06 23:55:12

Old thread resurected and I still haven't upgraded

I've had proper night heaters in the lorry for years and although expensive are a godsend this time of year with an Uninsulated vehicle...........
Although many moons ago got caught in deepest darkest (was east) Germany ..... In the -20C's and the Diesel froze, Insulation would probably been useless anyway

Been having a look at these Chinese one's on eB**....... Can't make my mind up though
Also been thinking about a Carver SB1800 or the likes out a salvage touring Caravan but unlike a truck type night heater I really have nowhere to install it.................

Last edited by vaz2121 (2018-03-07 00:00:23)

tee_cee · 2018-03-07 17:07:03

Never seen these Planar heaters before, really cheap compared to the alternatives. Tempting, but every so often when I think I'd like to get a diesel heater, I would remember about the power consumption. I'd really need another battery to run the thing, which is a bunch more work - and I'm not sure how confident I'd be fitting one of these anyway.
Really it's only when we are sitting around after dinner & before bed that the cold would be an issue - but then again if it's that cold it's probably time to head home. I guess if we were motorhome types, as in park up/close the doors/swivel the satellite dish, then it would be more worthwhile. For now it's overkill.

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#1 2016-11-29 12:54:39

Night heater

#2 2016-11-29 15:57:21

Re: Night heater

#3 2016-11-29 20:15:29

Re: Night heater

#4 2016-11-29 20:51:20

Re: Night heater

#5 2016-12-03 12:35:16

Re: Night heater

#6 2016-12-03 15:42:36

Re: Night heater

#7 2017-11-19 19:56:13

Re: Night heater

#8 2017-11-20 13:59:16

Re: Night heater

#9 2018-03-06 08:52:12

Re: Night heater

#10 2018-03-06 12:38:54

Re: Night heater

#11 2018-03-06 23:20:37

Re: Night heater

#12 2018-03-06 23:55:12

Re: Night heater

#13 2018-03-07 17:07:03

Re: Night heater

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