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09-10-2019, 10:05 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Michigan
Posts: 48
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Any reason not to install this heater?
So it gets pretty cold here in MI. Is there any reason you can foresee why this heater wouldn't reasonably heat a 4-window with 300w panels and a 400Ah battery bank with MPPT controller? I'm not looking for Florida, just not looking for frostbite either.
https://www.etrailer.com/tv-Demo-Fle...rs-FLX640.aspx
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09-10-2019, 10:12 PM
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#2
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: MONTANA
Posts: 471
Year: 1995
Coachwork: AMTRAM
Chassis: INT
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: Big Girl
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Any reason why you're looking at electric on solar? I would go with a Wave 3 propane heater. If you won't have shore power. If you have shore power go with a DR.Heater on amazon for like $111.00 I think it is, that thing will heat about half of my 40ft bus. A heater will suck down your battery bank faster then anything
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09-10-2019, 10:30 PM
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#3
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Michigan
Posts: 48
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afraid of the risk of having fossil fuels on board (aside from the obvious, which I hope to convert to WVO) especially with having animals and needing to leave them in the bus alone sometimes. don't want any risk of my home/animals burning down.
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09-10-2019, 10:31 PM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Michigan
Posts: 48
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also, did you see this one? uses less than 90W
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09-10-2019, 10:36 PM
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#5
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: MONTANA
Posts: 471
Year: 1995
Coachwork: AMTRAM
Chassis: INT
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: Big Girl
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Wave 3 has no open flame. Will you be on shore power or on solar. Electric heat on solar is really tough. Those links you sent are coolent based heater so the engine must be running
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09-10-2019, 10:50 PM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Michigan
Posts: 48
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that would be my reason not to install it to work on solar power.
so you really don't feel that it's dangerous at all, even if I'm literally leaving extensions of myself inside the bus? (I do have a monitoring system and security cameras set up, I just don't want to be reckless.)
how much propane does this go through on average (let's assume it's 0, 20 and 40deg F) to keep it at a liveable 55-60? Where do you keep your propane? Exterior mounted? Smaller container? I've just heard so many horror stories about that Mr. Buddy...
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09-10-2019, 10:59 PM
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#7
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: MONTANA
Posts: 471
Year: 1995
Coachwork: AMTRAM
Chassis: INT
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: Big Girl
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Mr buddy is totally different then a wave 3. I would not feel unsafe with a propane system, but at the same time I would not leave it unattended all day sure your good to run to the store etc. Wave 3 sips propane, a bbq tank would last a while google it
Well no shore power, and have to leave in unattended, and no open flame rules out blue flame type heater with a thomostat.
Your only choice is an RV furnace or diesel furnace
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09-17-2019, 08:39 PM
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#8
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Almost There
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 90
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Option 3
Wood stove
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09-17-2019, 08:44 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveBusTreatery
also, did you see this one? uses less than 90W
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Which one?
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09-17-2019, 08:45 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iqinsanity
Option 3
Wood stove
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Many insurance companies frown heavily on wood stoves.
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09-17-2019, 09:09 PM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
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That flexalite heater needs the engine to be running. It's basically just an add on automotive type heater. It uses hot water for heat.
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09-17-2019, 09:59 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 2,831
Year: 2007
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: Minotour
Engine: Chevy Express 3500 6.6l
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Suburban Propane direct vent furnace with a smart thermostat
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09-18-2019, 11:26 AM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danjo
Suburban Propane direct vent furnace with a smart thermostat
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Yep....
Electric heat when off grid is not very practical in our application.
Propane and diesel are much more practical.
Consider that your greatest need for heat will come with the days with the least amount of solar available.
If you consider propane, keep in mind that propane releases a significant amount of moisture in the air. I would recommend that you look at heaters that vent outside. If you use an Olympic or Buddy heater or similar you will want to have a dehumidifier.
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09-18-2019, 01:03 PM
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#14
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Almost There
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 90
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Bummer, it’s the safest option really
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09-18-2019, 01:28 PM
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#15
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
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OK, maybe I"m confused. Are you seriously looking for a replacement radiator+fan for your engine's cooling system heat, or are you looking for a heater that runs independently of your motor? Once you start talking about solar (why power if from solar if your engine is running?) it stops making sense.
This item isn't a heater that produces heat on it's own. If it were, 90 watts is what, 320btu? My diesel heater I use in my bus is 5000 watts, around 17000btu. Instead, that 90w is being used to drive a fan..
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09-18-2019, 01:44 PM
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#16
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
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accidental double post
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09-18-2019, 03:49 PM
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#17
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 260
Year: 1980
Coachwork: Crown Coach
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: Detroit 671T
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I would look closely at a diesel powered coolant heater like this:
https://www.webasto-comfort.com/en-u...olant-heaters/
or this:
https://thermokingmichigan.com/products/hydronic/
While these brand new fancy ones are pretty expensive, I am confident a used one could be found at a fraction of the price.
Your already carrying a ton of diesel onboard, they will allow you to use your existing engine based heaters, and give you the ability to pre-warm your engine to avoid cold starts.
Rewire your existing heaters to run off the solar/house batteries instead of the engine batteries and you have a simple, safe solution.
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09-18-2019, 04:48 PM
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#18
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KANSAS CITY
Posts: 751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Willie_McCoy
I would look closely at a diesel powered coolant heater like this:
https://www.webasto-comfort.com/en-u...olant-heaters/
or this:
https://thermokingmichigan.com/products/hydronic/
While these brand new fancy ones are pretty expensive, I am confident a used one could be found at a fraction of the price.
Your already carrying a ton of diesel onboard, they will allow you to use your existing engine based heaters, and give you the ability to pre-warm your engine to avoid cold starts.
Rewire your existing heaters to run off the solar/house batteries instead of the engine batteries and you have a simple, safe solution.
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Chinese copies work very well and cost about $150.00
__________________
Former owner of a 1969 F600 Skoolie.
1998 Ford B700 Thomas body 65 passenger. 5.9 Cummins 12 valve with MT643 Transmission 123,000 miles.
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09-18-2019, 05:06 PM
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#19
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
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I've got one of the diesel air heaters and I like it quite a bit. If you have a source of a chinese diesel coolant heater please share it as I haven't seen one.
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09-18-2019, 05:18 PM
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#20
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown
I've got one of the diesel air heaters and I like it quite a bit. If you have a source of a chinese diesel coolant heater please share it as I haven't seen one.
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They are all over eBay. I paid $138 for one. I assume if it doesn't say where it was made, it was made in China. Nowhere on my item does it say where it was manufactured, but the box labels are a giveaway.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5KW-12V-Air...sAAOSwSVNcNY6z
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