Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Classic Finn** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:03 pm

Good Morning From Reindeerland..

The evenings are starting to get very cool here and the nights even colder as well.
My wife asked if we could by a little heater ... sooooo

I thought to ask from you folks as to what you would recommend? Our hookup is 12 volt only at this moment.

Are these kind any good? 12V warm air blower 156W ( 13A ).

Classic Finn :thinking:

by **UK-Corlett** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:22 pm

I know Norfolk is not Finland, you are N60.00 and I am only N52.00 but last January I camped in a heavy frost. -8C or so. Getting under the covers was a bit crisp, but under a decent duvet we soon wormed up. An adult human gives off about 100watts at rest. So between you, we had 200watts. I built my TD with the usual 25mm StyroFoam insulated walls but no insulation in the base. I have some wooden spring lats which keep us off the base board, Ikea bedding base ~50mm and a Scandinavian type bed pad. As the night progressed we had to kick of the duvet to cool down.

Clive

by **Classic Finn** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:32 pm

UK-Corlett wrote:I know Norfolk is not Finland, you are N60.00 and I am only N52.00 but last January I camped in a heavy frost. -8C or so. Getting under the covers was a bit crisp, but under a decent duvet we soon wormed up. An adult human gives off about 100watts at rest. So between you, we had 200watts. I built my TD with the usual 25mm StyroFoam insulated walls but no insulation in the base. I have some wooden spring lats which keep us off the base board, Ikea bedding base ~50mm and a Scandinavian type bed pad. As the night progressed we had to kick of the duvet to cool down.

Clive

Hi Clive.. Its great to hear from you... It could be that we will be warm enough... It came to mind from the Mrs. when I told her that we dont have a heater... and as no experience in camping in a a tear or our very own yet ... we just had to find out...

We have 50mm of insulation in our ceiling all the way to the front and back.. The galley wall has 20mm sandwiched in between 4mm Finnish Ply on the galley side and cabin side.
But nothing on the walls...and that may seem cold to turn the back to..
Yikes.. :thinking:

And of course we have a mattress..

Experience in this will soon be found.. :lol:

You are correct about the body heat though...

I have padding under the Parquet Flooring so that does help Im sure..

I,ll let you know what kind of an experince it will be..

Classic Finn

by **brian_bp** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:53 pm

I'm in Alberta, not north of Finland (the province ends at the 60th parallel, and we're down at 53 degrees latitude), but with perhaps more severe weather. Those 12V heaters are sold here to pre-heat car interiors, and someone must buy them because they are always available, but I personally don't know anyone who has one... they seem too small (in heat output) to bother. If you actually need heat, you need more than that!

Heating air with battery power seems doomed to me. There are electric heat pads to go under the bed, as well as electrically heated blankets - they make more sense to me.

by **Micro469** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 6:59 pm

UK-Corlett wrote:I know Norfolk is not Finland, you are N60.00 and I am only N52.00 but last January I camped in a heavy frost. -8C or so. Getting under the covers was a bit crisp, but under a decent duvet we soon wormed up. An adult human gives off about 100watts at rest. So between you, we had 200watts. I built my TD with the usual 25mm StyroFoam insulated walls but no insulation in the base. I have some wooden spring lats which keep us off the base board, Ikea bedding base ~50mm and a Scandinavian type bed pad. As the night progressed we had to kick of the duvet to cool down.

Clive

Love to see a pic of how you wormed up.....well, maybe not..... :lol:

by **Micro469** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:00 pm

brian_bp wrote:I'm in Alberta, not really north of Finland, but with more severe weather. Those 12V heaters are sold here to pre-heat car interiors, and someone must buy them because they are always available, but I personally don't know anyone who has one... they seem too small (in heat output) to bother. If you actually need heat, you need more than that!

Heating air with battery power seems doomed to me. There are electric heat pads to go under the bed, as well as electrically heated blankets - they make more sense to me.

I got one of those 12 V heaters... my son bought it for me last christmas.... still in the box....... :oops:

by **Bill Fernandez** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:11 pm

Classic Finn Hey Is it cold up there, I wish it would cool of here Hay get you a blanket.

Bill

by **goldcoop** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:29 pm

Heikki-

The amp draw is too high; IMO I think you would get SLIGHTLY warm, kill your battery, then freeze :roll:

12V blanket might be better, SNUGGLING with the Mrs. better yet :lol:

I have slept in my TD many times around 0 degrees F. with NO supplimental heat, just a good sleeping bag...

And the faithful mutt!

Cheers,

Coop

by **Jst83** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:30 pm

My thoughts :thinking:

If it will help warm the inside of a vehicle it should surely warm the inside of a teardrop. It doesn't take much, the wife and I had a little electric job and had to turn it off it got to hot.

Does it have a thermostat on it so that it won't run all the time?

by **raprap** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:53 pm

I've used a Coleman Catalytic tent heater http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5035A700&categoryid=3000. They are readily available in the US and are safely useable in a small space as long as you provide a source of outside air (crack the window or door). The one I use is about 1000 BTU/hr (~300 watt) and has kept my tear at an uncomfortable 80 degF (>25 DeG C) when the temperature outside is freezing (32 DegF 0DegC). Mine will burn for better than 24 hours on one 1lb propane bottle.

Stay away from electric heaters unless your connected to the grid. If grid power is available (in my case 110v ac) a 1000 watt ceramic forced air heater is a viable alternative for turning my tear into a suana.
Rap

by **schaney** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:09 pm

I've been using a "Mr Heater" propane heater for a couple of years now and really like it. Has a 4000 and 9000 BTU setting and an automatic low-oxygen shut-off. Seems like it goes 5-6 hr at the low setting on one of those small screw-on propane bottles, check them out at http://www.mrheater.com/productdetails_extended.asp?catid=41&id=24

by **Gerdo** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:10 pm

I was thinking of the T60 http://www.kansaswindpower.net/bed_warmers.htm for this winter. I think that I'm going with a few Nalgene bottles filled with boiling water (Nalgene says "The caps are made from polypropylene (PP) and the strap is made from Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)" The bottles that I use are Lexan (PC). http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/technica ... index.html Remember that water boils at 212* at sea level. http://whatscookingamerica.net/boilpoint.htm I'm also planing on bringing alot of Down.

by **48Rob** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:08 am

Dear Heikki,

Suvi will produce more useable warmth that that little heater...

I tried that route last fall.
I hooked up a 12 Volt outlet to a 12 amp hour battery, from a scooter, to save space and weight.
It kicks out a little heat for about 20 minutes, then the battery dies.
I took 5 of these batteries with me, and still didn't have enough juice to stay warm for more than a day.
Honestly, I think a candle would put out more heat...

The heater could not keep up in 38 degree temperatures.

Finally gave up and installed a small RV furnace.
I'm happy now!

Rob

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/1948rob/small%20pictures/heater1.jpg?t=1189080469">