| Author |
Message |
Keith Monnig (Kmonnig)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 2:36 pm: | |
Hey all,
Found this link for 120v radiant floor heating and was wondering if anyone has used this method. I have forced air(can't justify webasto, etc), and thought this might help on those chilly Colorado mornings.
www.thermosoftinternational.com/flooring.htm
Keith |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 7:21 pm: | |
Looks interesting. I just bought three of these....
http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200316383_200316383.htm
Cheap and I can heat the bus with three 1500 watt electric heaters on the genset down to about 20* outside air temp if I had to. I really bought them for auxilliary/backup for the forced air propane heat. |
bruce king
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 8:24 pm: | |
Actually, I had the experience of three 1500 watt 110v electric heaters in my mci 9 when it was between 20 and -10 during a trip across south dakota. They weren't sufficient to keep the interior of the bus above 32 degrees. To sleep i finally bought an electric blanket and a down comforter, and was just chilly after that. I knew it was below 32 because I had to chip the dogs water dish free to pour more water in it every morning. I wore my ski clothes while driving until the road heat kicked in.
4500 watts of heating is not enough for a full sized bus in sub-freezing temps. The waste heat off my 12.5k onan was pretty useful in warming the bus, however. |
Greg Roberts (Gregeagle20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 8:38 pm: | |
I would shoot for at least 45,000 btu/hour which is about 13 kilowatts. The trick is getting all 45,000 btu/hour into the coach and holding it in reasonably well. |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 8:49 pm: | |
I heated the bus (MC9) with 3 1500 watt portables for half a winter during construction (before I had the propane furnace installed). It kept it comfortable down to about 20. Kept the bus at 50 or so. Not what I would call warm enough for comfortable living, but fine for backup or auxilliary to the 45,000BTU propane.
If I were trying to heat the bus 100% electric, then you're right 4500 watts isn't enough. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 8:54 am: | |
It would probably make a lot of difference whether you were driving down the road or stopped also.
If you are going to be in weather like that, there is really only one good answer and that is a Webasto or similar diesel fired furnace.
Richard |
James Smith (Tomcat)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:34 am: | |
Keith,
I live on the high plains of Colorado, northeast of Colorado Springs, at 7000' msl.
I used www.nuheat.com mats under my Italian tile flooring with great results.
It would surprise you how cold the coach can be, and still be comfortable if your floors are warm.
I turned my heated floors on in late October, and haven't turned them off since.
There have been several times this winter when we've experienced in the range of 20-25 below zero temps, and the warm floors really made a difference.
I back that up with two 800/1600 watt Myson toekick heaters.
I have plans to expand to a Espar 5 coolant heater, run through the coach heater core, as well as two more Myson hydronic toekicks.
There are pics of the NuHeat products before installation on my Bus Pics page.
http://jsbird69.zoto.com/user/lightbox/CAT.0/date_uploaded-desc/0-90
Jay
87 SaftLiner |
Crane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 11:16 am: | |
The floor heaters are cool for the home but probably problematic if your floor is not insulated in a bus.
There is a whole thread on them in the archives from past posters.
Nice for the bath floor, nice and warm at home but not much for room heating.
Crane |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 7:45 pm: | |
They will feel so good on your bare feet. I have them in my new house in the bathrooms only. Prevost insulates under the entire floor, so why not insullate any conversion that way. |
Keith Monnig (Kmonnig)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 8:39 pm: | |
Thanks for all the help, I think I will try putting it down in the bathroom, under the ceramic tile, it can't hurt!
Keith |