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02-19-2019, 11:07 AM
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#1
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Almost There
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 90
Year: 1994
Coachwork: N/A
Chassis: Chevy C30
Engine: 7.4L gas
Rated Cap: 14,000lbs
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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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02-19-2019, 11:20 AM
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#2
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 993
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: CS RE
Engine: ISC 8.3 L 260 hp
Rated Cap: 36
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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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02-19-2019, 11:22 AM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Posts: 220
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: 6-71TA
Rated Cap: 90
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ladybird_bus
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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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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02-19-2019, 12:47 PM
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#5
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Almost There
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 90
Year: 1994
Coachwork: N/A
Chassis: Chevy C30
Engine: 7.4L gas
Rated Cap: 14,000lbs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TJones
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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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02-19-2019, 12:50 PM
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#6
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Almost There
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 90
Year: 1994
Coachwork: N/A
Chassis: Chevy C30
Engine: 7.4L gas
Rated Cap: 14,000lbs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct
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Thank you. Much more efficient than the search option on the site itself.
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02-19-2019, 01:11 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,775
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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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02-19-2019, 03:24 PM
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#8
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: pa
Posts: 2,498
Year: 98
Coachwork: 1. Corbeil & 2. Thomas
Chassis: 1 ford 1998 e350 4x4 7.3 2 mercedes 2004
Engine: 7.3 powerstroke & MBE906
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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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02-19-2019, 04:05 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 2,973
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
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Would recommend completely seperate systems and not use your water heater as a radiant heater.
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02-19-2019, 04:20 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,775
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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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02-19-2019, 04:37 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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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.
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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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02-19-2019, 04:50 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,775
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Quote:
Originally Posted by somewhereinusa
I also use the fans on initial start up, I get to 65° or so in about 30 minutes from 0°
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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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02-24-2019, 03:09 PM
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#13
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Almost There
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 90
Year: 1994
Coachwork: N/A
Chassis: Chevy C30
Engine: 7.4L gas
Rated Cap: 14,000lbs
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Thanks for all the replies and input, everyone
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