TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:55 pm

i want to put two electric heaters in and vent them to where the heater boxes connect so i can have all the vents and window defroster. i was thinking about two of these http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Jeep-Interior...ign=Nextag
but i am not sure. any advice out there?

Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:59 pm

Its going to take 50 amps to run them. Will your generator / altenator do it?

Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:10 pm

altenator, it should, i don't plan on running it for more then 10 minutes at a time and street lights are the only other thing running off of it

Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:23 pm

two 300 watt heaters for a total of 600 watts... That's half a hair dryer of heat. Hope it doesn't get too cold.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:34 pm

Lotrat wrote: two 300 watt heaters for a total of 600 watts... That's half a hair dryer of heat. Hope it doesn't get too cold.
good point... the high today was 37 degrees. i'm having trouble finding a powerful electric :(

Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:56 pm

There is a reason as to why cars don't use electric heaters. Even if you upgraded to a 75amp alternator x 12 volts = 900 watts. Almost a hair dryer. VWs used heat exchangers or gas heaters because that's the only real options.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:58 pm

but i just need fast heat for a little while :x

Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:07 pm

I've tried a few, none of them worked. They blow air, but it's cold air. Works for a defroster in that respect, but that's what vent windows are for. :wink:

Just do what I do, wear some Carhartts, gloves, and a skullcap. You'll be fine.

Or, fix the stock heater. That works too. :D

Kyle

Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:18 pm

kyle_pc_75 wrote: I've tried a few, none of them worked. They blow air, but it's cold air.Kyle
why did they blow cold air?

Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:33 pm

Here is the solution to your problem... a 12v heated blanket.. http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/12votrhebl.html
ENJOY... Look at the boating industry they have cool stuff for boats that are 12 volts that work.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:36 pm

whats wrong with your stock heater system? When mines hooked up it kicks ass.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:43 pm

it does not have heater boxes ond a different exhaust

Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:52 pm

jeff930 wrote: kyle_pc_75 wrote: I've tried a few, none of them worked. They blow air, but it's cold air.Kyle
why did they blow cold air?

Apparently my car (nor my '98 Chevy) puts out enough current to heat up the element to anything resembling warmth.

Kyle

Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:56 pm

kyle_pc_75 wrote: jeff930 wrote: kyle_pc_75 wrote: I've tried a few, none of them worked. They blow air, but it's cold air.Kyle
why did they blow cold air?

Apparently my car (nor my '98 Chevy) puts out enough current to heat up the element to anything resembling warmth.

Kyle
so a low watt heater should work as it should and not blow cold air. Did your alt/gen provide enough power for your heater?

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:07 pm

It's all about air volume and temperature change. A water cooled car has a 40,000 - 60,000 BTU heater. That is the equivalent to a 11,000 - 18,000 watts of electricity... a 600 watt heater isn't gonna even come close. You would need 30 of them. A typical car heater, water or air cooled, works by using the heat given off by the engine. There is plenty of it.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:10 pm

okay but some of it depends on the air it is sucking in so with mine right by the evhaust it would be sucking in warm air for the most part. okay so bottom line, is it better then nothing i guess i'm asking

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:18 pm

This topic seems to come up every year about this time. :)

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:34 pm

part of the reason why i moved from lake arrowhead. I had a electric heater that I bought from harbor freight. the heater produced so much heat, that it started to melt the housing for the heater and would start to come apart on my leg. So I just started to bundle up whenever I had to drive my baja. Having no defroster up there sucks, I feel your pain

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:43 pm

Power = heat. If it's pulling 300 watts of power, its gonna spit 300 watts of heat out. A 100 watt light bulb doesn't give off 100 watts of light, it gives off 100 watts of heat. Imagine three 100 watt light bulbs in your car. How much heat is that? How well will they heat the car when its 20* vs 50*? Your radio probably gives off more heat.

The HF heater is just a pile of crap. If it melted, it was probably broken or a bad design. It probably didn't even have a UL sticker on it.

Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:57 pm

if i get two of them it would be like 6 light bulbs :shock: with a little fan blowing it on my numb fingers.... so better then nothing?