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Old 02-19-2019, 11:07 AM   #1
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Radiant Floor Heating

Hi All,

Apologies if this has been covered somewhere - I've searched but don't see any threads on it already.
Has anyone installed radiant floor heating in their bus? We're wondering about using hot water and how it might be set up with regard to a hot water tank (would we need a separate one for the floor?). Would love to see any pictures of installation if they're out there!

-bird.

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Old 02-19-2019, 11:20 AM   #2
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Read Somewhereinusa's build. He installed a radiant floor system along with many other clever constructions. There are a few other threads discussing topic as well.

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/so...nusa-6318.html

Ted
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Old 02-19-2019, 11:22 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ladybird_bus View Post
Hi All,

Apologies if this has been covered somewhere - I've searched but don't see any threads on it already.
Has anyone installed radiant floor heating in their bus? We're wondering about using hot water and how it might be set up with regard to a hot water tank (would we need a separate one for the floor?). Would love to see any pictures of installation if they're out there!

-bird.
If you have not done so, take a look at you tube videos of "The Off Grid Schoolie" or "Life is a Joy". Both using the same system. Actually, Jim from "Life is a Joy" helped Chris do his.
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Old 02-19-2019, 12:31 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by ladybird_bus View Post
I've searched but don't see any threads on it already.
https://www.google.com/search?q=site...nt+OR+hydronic

FFR learn that gSearch syntax
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Old 02-19-2019, 12:47 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TJones View Post
Read Somewhereinusa's build. He installed a radiant floor system along with many other clever constructions. There are a few other threads discussing topic as well.

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/so...nusa-6318.html

Ted
Thanks!
I wonder why none of the other threads turned up when I searched 'radiant' in the forums? I'll check out the link!
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Old 02-19-2019, 12:50 PM   #6
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Thank you. Much more efficient than the search option on the site itself.
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Old 02-19-2019, 01:11 PM   #7
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Yes, no forum software on any site searches as well as Google with the "site" keyword.

But "hydronic" is a better search string than radiant anyway.
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Old 02-19-2019, 03:24 PM   #8
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Could not find myself with the link until I added Dory to it.


http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f32/do...-23902-10.html


Floor heat by itself is not enough you still need fin radiators to make it comfortable.
Last night we were in the mountains with snow and 32F no problem. The floor takes 45 min to an hour to heat up.



Good luck,
J
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Old 02-19-2019, 04:05 PM   #9
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Would recommend completely seperate systems and not use your water heater as a radiant heater.
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Old 02-19-2019, 04:20 PM   #10
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I agree they should be separated by a calorifier / heat exchanger,

and that the heat source(s) should be easily redirected from one to the other

but if you already have abundant heat produced for one purpose, e.g. waste engine heat while driving,

it would be silly not to heat both water and the space at the same time.

A third source should be electric when shore power is available, or when the genset's already running for other reasons, or "free" excess solar production once the bank is full. . .
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Old 02-19-2019, 04:37 PM   #11
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Quote:
Floor heat by itself is not enough you still need fin radiators to make it comfortable.
Last night we were in the mountains with snow and 32F no problem.
I have both in floor and fin type heaters that have blowers. The fin heaters have fans much like a car heater. The floor maintains heat quite well down to about 0° anything lower I use the fans. I also use the fans on initial start up, I get to 65° or so in about 30 minutes from 0°

I basically have three water systems engine, heat and domestic. To prevent cross contamination, I used heat exchangers between each system. Boiler is an Espar Hydronic 10, domestic water heater is a Sealand marine with built in heat exchanger and 120VAC.

Engine heat is more than adequate to heat the entire bus while driving.
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Old 02-19-2019, 04:50 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by somewhereinusa View Post
I also use the fans on initial start up, I get to 65° or so in about 30 minutes from 0°
A Propex or diesel forced-air parking heater can do a small space in 5 minutes, standing between a pair of Olympian Waves is instant.

Great when bringing the tribe inside for lunch and hot cocoa middle of a day skiing.

Not to be run once the hydronic's kicked in, but redundancy is of great value when boondocking far from civilisation too, multiple fuels can be a blessing, always be sure the diesel heater can't leave you stranded in arctic conditions.
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Old 02-24-2019, 03:09 PM   #13
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Thanks for all the replies and input, everyone
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