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Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:08 pm

No, I'm not asking about what wood to use for my floor (carpet is better) so dont lock this yet.

this is what I'm talking about...for when hooked to shore power.

http://www.nuheat.com/products/electric-floor-heat/standard-mats.html

Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:14 pm

Well, there is an idea! you would need to insulate below the mat, pretty well, so as to get the radiant heat to conduct in the correct direction. without, obviously the metal floor of the bus would heat much easier than the wood floor, and the majority of your heat would dissipate out the bottom of the bus. but, I certainly could work, but I think a small electric space heater such as a pelonis ceramic or something like that, would heat very well too, and for much less cost.

Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:30 pm

vwtrey wrote: No, I'm not asking about what wood to use for my floor (carpet is better) ...
Only if you don't go camping [-X

Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:36 pm

Smallest one is 3*4 Not sure if it would do much other than keep the floor warm. I think for the money I would install a variable 1500 watt heater. That's what I use when camping at a place with power.

Thanks for the link though, am getting ready to floor my house, thats cool stuff

Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:07 pm

If its for your camper just use it like a waterbed heater and put it under your mattress.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:23 am

200 Watts for a 4x4 mat is pretty meager. Maybe it would be okay if you used it for a blanket. :cry:

Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:24 am

Or just buy a Winnebago... or stay home.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:29 am

Nice thick socks are much cheaper :wink:

Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:51 am

Hell of a neat idea! Seems like a slight waste of money though!

Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:25 am

I honestly dont think its possible. I was reading that this stuff has be set in with thinset.

No way I'd do it. I just wanted to see what others thought of it.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:40 am

My understanding of floor heating (very limited as I am a California kid) is that it requires a well sealed area to work effectively. I don't think you are going to get that (or anything close) in a bus.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:18 pm

I designed a radiant floor in my home, and the technology is not that complicated.

This would be possible, but would only really be to warm the floor enough for your feet to be warm. There would not be a large enough "radiant panel' to heat the bus. But, warm feet are happy feet and it's your dough.

You would probably need to pick the largest rectangular space in the bus that could be removed easily. Then make up a panel with plywood (osb or similar) and set the wires with the proper media. Then top it with linoleum or a thin carpet. You would have to fill in the rest of the floor area some other way to maintain consistent height.

This would allow you to remove the panel to service it if anything went wrong, but still should allow it to warm up enough for toasty toes.

That said, you would probably get more bang for your buck by insulating the floor and wearing warm socks.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:54 pm

Mountain Minstrel wrote: My understanding of floor heating (very limited as I am a California kid) is that it requires a well sealed area to work effectively. I don't think you are going to get that (or anything close) in a bus.

I don't know; my Bus has all new seals and I'm sure it seals up real tight...

Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:44 pm

ccpalmer wrote: Mountain Minstrel wrote: My understanding of floor heating (very limited as I am a California kid) is that it requires a well sealed area to work effectively. I don't think you are going to get that (or anything close) in a bus.

I don't know; my Bus has all new seals and I'm sure it seals up real tight...

But then what happens when you put the top up?

Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:25 pm

Oh Snap.. your right you do lose heat when the top is up. I can't imagine it being worth it. You would only feel the heat when your touching the floor, without shoes. On cold nights its hard enough to keep it warm with a powerful heater, let alone some passive heat from the floor.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:53 pm

save your pennies for a real heating solution so you can truly have a 4 season driver and camper.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:03 pm

Not worth it. I would insulate the floor well and invest in a good heater.

Have you checked this out? Scroll down to the "New Floor" section and use NASA tech, they are going out of business anyways.

http://www.shagadelic.org/VW/info/gmbulley-soundproof/intrir1.html