A Heating Alternative? - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-10-2021, 08:04 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Larry C Hanson's Avatar
 
Name: Larry
Trailer: Trillium
Arizona
Posts: 440
A Heating Alternative?

Hello,

While surfing the web this morning an interesting heater came to
my attention. It was a simple, inexpensive DIY device being used on
a sailboat that looks like it would be useful in a small trailer.

The old gravity furnace in my Trillium is heavy, takes up a lot of
space, and about roasts me out of the rig in five minutes.
Perhaps this thing might be a viable alternative?

https://goodoldboat.com/diy-sailboat-cabin-heater/

Uncle Larry
Attached Thumbnails
stovetop-heater-sailboat.jpg   stovetop-heater-diagram.jpg  

Larry C Hanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 09:03 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: Was A-Liner now 13f Scamp
Missouri
Posts: 3,209
all that work take a look at wave heaters on amazon! they are cheap they work i have never used the furnace in our Scamp!


of course to head off complaints you must vent but if you look around in a travel trailer for the most part its pre vented!
k0wtz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 09:22 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
ZachO's Avatar
 
Name: Z
Trailer: Sasquatch
Montana
Posts: 2,556
Almost any appliance you can find that was built for sailboats will be a massive improvement over anything you find built for RVs.
ZachO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 11:08 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Larry C Hanson's Avatar
 
Name: Larry
Trailer: Trillium
Arizona
Posts: 440
WORK!?!? ( M G Krebs)

Yo, Bob,

"all that work" ?

Work is a relative term. Building and experimenting with
gadgets can be very satisfying.

While camping in the Trillium installed my solar electric system
using a cordless drill, hack saw, a 12VDC powered soldering
iron, and assorted hand tools... The panel legs were made
out of some parts from discarded crutches. The cable from
the panel to the trailer is a heavy duty extension cord.
Of course there was a road trip to a home center for
parts. Lotsa fun and very satisfying.. The system is still
working fine 7 years later.

I like catalytic heaters and have a Wave 8 for emergencies
at home....

Hmmmm.... looking at the stock pot stove top heater I imagine
some heat sink like fins rivited to the inside and outside of the
stock pot to increase its effeciency...

Uncle Larry
Attached Thumbnails
2 Back Folded.jpg  
Larry C Hanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 12:45 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
David Tilston's Avatar
 
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry C Hanson View Post
Hmmmm.... looking at the stock pot stove top heater I imagine
some heat sink like fins rivited to the inside and outside of the
stock pot to increase its effeciency...
Maybe something like this:
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/1699-6...t?colour=NOC02
David Tilston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2021, 03:15 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,640
Send a message via Yahoo to Darwin Maring
Looks to me like the bulk of the heat is ported outside. There is noway I would use this thing.
Darwin Maring is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 09:13 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Jon in AZ's Avatar
 
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
Registry
So if I understand this correctly, it’s a device that covers a standard stove burner and vents the exhaust gasses outside? It requires a pretty good-sized hole in the roof with a flashing? It draws combustion air from the cabin, so continuous ventilation must be maintained? It isn’t fully sealed, so there’s a small possibility of exhaust gasses getting into the cabin?

Personally I’m not comfortable with any fuel-burning heating system that’s not fully sealed from the cabin, both intake and exhaust.
Jon in AZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 10:37 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
John in Michigan's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: 1979 Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 2,048
Registry
Ha ha I knew this crazy contraption would draw curiosity.
John in Michigan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 11:15 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,640
Send a message via Yahoo to Darwin Maring
Me, Im thinking this thing is not for heating a boat but rather to port the heat outside to keep it from getting to hot inside.
And in a rocking boat, even whed tied up to the dock, would be impossible to keep it in place. Thinking it was designed by Murphey.
Darwin Maring is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 11:15 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
CarlD's Avatar
 
Name: Carl
Trailer: LiL Hauley
Syracuse, NY
Posts: 656
We just fire up the propane burners and make coffee to heat up our camper. Heats the cabin nicely!
__________________
Your heirs will inherit money and stuff when you are gone. You can only save or spend money, but you can do things with stuff, so they are going to inherit stuff!
CarlD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 11:17 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: Was A-Liner now 13f Scamp
Missouri
Posts: 3,209
i think i will spend extra time camping traveling!
k0wtz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 11:47 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Raspy's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: Roamer 1
Smith Valley, Nevada
Posts: 2,880
It's a different version of this old idea that many have used on boats. The clay pot is much simpler.
Attached Thumbnails
20191025_114519.jpg  
__________________
I only exaggerate enough to compensate for being taken with a grain of salt.
Raspy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 11:57 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: Was A-Liner now 13f Scamp
Missouri
Posts: 3,209
yep!!!
k0wtz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 11:57 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Glenn Baglo's Avatar
 
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspy View Post
It's a different version of this old idea that many have used on boats. The clay pot is much simpler.

Simpler, but inefficient and dangerous. What else does it have going for it?
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
Glenn Baglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 01:03 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Raspy's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: Roamer 1
Smith Valley, Nevada
Posts: 2,880
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo View Post
Simpler, but inefficient and dangerous. What else does it have going for it?
I never could figure out why this was a popular idea. It doesn't add anymore heat to the room than an open flame, and it vents all the combustion gasses into the room.

Some have used oil lamps to do the same thing.

A standard 6 gallon water heater can pretty easily have a space heater added to it that is perfectly safe, and even works with a thermostat. A simple fan convector with a 12 volt circulator can be teed into the hot and cold lines for this. With that, one can get good heat and sleep safely.
__________________
I only exaggerate enough to compensate for being taken with a grain of salt.
Raspy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 03:03 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
John in Michigan's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: 1979 Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 2,048
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspy View Post
A standard 6 gallon water heater can pretty easily have a space heater added to it that is perfectly safe, and even works with a thermostat. A simple fan convector with a 12 volt circulator can be teed into the hot and cold lines for this. With that, one can get good heat and sleep safely.
I sure would like to see Dometic or other water heater manufacturer sell an economical kit for converting the water heater into a combination water heater and hydronic furnace. The only combination units currently available such as the Truma Combi and the Aquahot are very expensive.
John in Michigan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 07:20 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Raspy's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: Roamer 1
Smith Valley, Nevada
Posts: 2,880
John, Here are the basic components to make it work. A fan convector for about $140. and a 12 volt pump. A simple room thermostat can be added in series with the 12 volt supply and it's done. This is slightly oversimplified, but it shows the idea and the size of the stuff needed. There may be a better convector somewhere, but this one has copper piping so one could run the domestic water through it. The pump is the one I'm using for my instant hot water recirc line. Plenty of flow for heating. The whole thing with thermostat could be done for less than $200. It could mount behind a kickspace, in the bottom of a closet or under the bed, and blow hot into the room. PEX or copper lines can Tee into the hot and cold on the water heater. The convectors come in all sizes and shapes, and some have thermostatic switches in them that would simplify the installation further.

https://www.amazon.com/Underdash-Uni...82PH99N5&psc=1


https://www.amazon.com/bayite-BYT-7A...sr=1-3-catcorr
__________________
I only exaggerate enough to compensate for being taken with a grain of salt.
Raspy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 07:46 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Name: Gordon
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
So lets talk about using soapstones on the stove...
On second thought, it might be safer to talk about the impeachment trial now going on (PLEASE dont!).
gordon2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 08:22 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
John in Michigan's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: 1979 Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 2,048
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspy View Post
John, Here are the basic components to make it work. A fan convector for about $140. and a 12 volt pump. A simple room thermostat can be added in series with the 12 volt supply and it's done.
That's pretty neat. Friend of mine is experimenting with this idea in his Scamp, however, but I don't think he is using a prefab fan convector. The prefab fan convector would definitely make it easier to build. Last I checked, he was redesigning his experiment to get more heat out.
John in Michigan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2021, 08:44 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
John in Michigan's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: 1979 Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 2,048
Registry
Better boat heater alternative??

Here's another boat heater, but its propane fueled. The Dickinson Cozy Cabin propane heater. It has a one inch flexible metal flue and a thermocouple to shut off fuel if the flame goes out. It has adjustable heat but no thermostat.

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=48912#
John in Michigan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Heating my Trailer! (Minit) brian barker Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 27 11-01-2011 02:04 PM
An alternative to Scamp heating- Force 10 Gary Carvajal Modifications, Alterations and Updates 16 01-27-2008 01:41 PM
heating a 13' trailer with? Erik J Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 14 04-26-2006 01:02 PM
Hydronic Heating a 13 Footer wes harris Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 26 03-11-2006 09:02 AM
heating a 13' trailer with? General Chat 0 01-01-1970 12:00 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:19 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.