12v 600watt Cabin Heater for '76 bus

[nemobuscaptain]

[telford dorr]

A couple of notes on refilling 'disposable' propane cylinders (which I do, and yes, they are illegal to transport):

1) 20 lb propane bottles tend to accumulate wax and other contaminates which, if given a chance, will plug the small orifices on small lanterns, heaters, and torch heads. Every once in a while, when the 20 lb cylinder goes 'empty', purge out all the remaining gas and crap through the bleed screw (tank inverted; found on most 20 lb cylinders).

2) When refilling small cylinders, put them in a bucket of ice water. They will fill MUCH faster.

3) DO NOT OVERFILL small cylinders. Unlike the large 20 lb cylinders, the small ones can be filled to the top. You MUST have expansion space, otherwise the cylinder can be deformed from expanding liquid (ask me how I know...) Better to fill only 3/4 full and avoid this issue.

4) DO NOT let the moron at the gas station fill your new style 20 lb cylinders completely full! The 'idiot-proof' float valve inside can get jammed shut, and you can't get the gas to flow out. You have to purge a lot of gas that you just paid for through the bleed screw then bang the cylinder on the ground to un-stick the float. This obviously doesn't do the cylinder any good.
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'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[wagohn]

[richparker]

[ImAddicted]

[Abscate]

Electrical heating is actually the most efficient there is - 100% of the energy is converted to heat.

The frustration comes from the continued rehash by those who didnt take thermodynamics, and thus we have 20 years of discussion of why 100 Watts of heat wont heat a Bus. The science of this is all worked out >100 years ago.

Once you tell me how much heat your are putting into your Bus,what the outside temperature is, and what the desired inside temperature is, and a few other things, anyone who took thermo can tell you if it will work. There is no 'space age polymer' or 'miracle battery' that will change this.
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.ssS!

[alman72]

[calvinater]

small woostove ?
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"Albatross"!

[wagohn]

[Abscate]

[ImAddicted]

One of my suppliers has the self contained Chinese heater for about $155, I’m thinking of picking one up soon. I think it’s a better deal than the smaller mounted ones for only $5 more.
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1979 Transporter (sold)
KC1MUR

[wagohn]

[Anchovy]

[orwell84]

Those 12v heaters...Don’t even bother. You might as well sit around a cigarette and pretend it was a camp fire.

Do the Chinese heater thing or refurbish an Eberspacher heater if you like to tinker.

[danfromsyr]

the factory had zero qualms on making holes for accessory heating.

and if you study the CDH installs, some good, some iffy
you should come to a palatable solution.


one can also spend the extra $$ and buy a gasoline heater from the Russian republic and skip the dual fuel issues. in the long run it's not that much more $
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[wagohn]

I've been pondering all of the above options but for camping. For diesel heaters, It seems a 2kw would be the way to go with the 5kw and 8kw being too powerful. However, I don't want to drill holes for the exhaust vents and don't want 10L of diesel in the cab - especially when trying to fill without spilling on the carpet.
We currently use a Mr Buddy and use refillable 1LB cannisters - cannisters that are both legal to refill (from a 20lb with an adapter) and transport. This seems by far the most economical and works out much cheaper than diesel if using refillable 1LB bottles.
As far as electric heaters, we tried a 250w MyHeat(?) personal electric fan heater but it blew through our 300w Jackery in an hour.
All in all, we are sticking with the Mr Buddy for now and cracking the two front windows for vents. Mr Buddy REALLY cranks out the heat. Condensation does gather so Im trying to convince myself of drilling a hole for the diesel heater and the economics of it all.
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1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine

[cpatrice]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! Much appreciated. I have a feeling we’ll be trying the Chinese heater as well...will update as we get closer to install

[danfromsyr]

uhh yeah, that's nice and special like, used a buddy heater in my younger years. but now I'm too old for that crud.
the Diesel heater has a remote.. I preheat the camper from the campfire.

has a thermostat. like my house does.. so it maintains a comfortable temp while I'm lulled by the soft drone of the circulating fan... *I always run white noise to overcome my tinnitus.

[Ryan P]

I use a Mr.Buddy propane heater heats the bus up quick. We do not run a constantly. We will run it for about 30 minutes before sleeping then pile the blankets on and turn it off while we sleep. We keep it in reach from the bed so in the morning we can turn it on without getting out of the blankets. We just came back from a trip the one night came real close to freezing.
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1969 Beetle
1972 Camper
1977 Beetle (Standard)

[TomWesty]