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Greenhouse heater tubes - viable heater?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 12:35 pm
by ICBongo
Hi,
I'm contemplating getting a heater tube or two for our camping trips. I'm just wondering is anyone has ever had one before or if anyone has any thoughts on the sort of size I ought to get? They seem to come in 1ft increments with 1ft = 60w.
Has anyone rigged one up before? Has anyone used it in the AFT?
Please chip in with any thoughts you may have, looking forward to the discussion.
Ian
Re: Greenhouse heater tubes - viable heater?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:06 pm
by Simon Jones
I've used one in the shed (can't recall Wattage, probably 80 ish) and it keeps the chill off. You may need a few for max effect, but as they do get hot, make sure you don't put it somewhere where tiny fingers can get burned.
Re: Greenhouse heater tubes - viable heater?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 1:32 pm
by Bob
As these are pretty cheap its well worth a try.
As the AFT is fairly thin I doubt upstairs will be hot, but should keep the worst of the chill off.
Re: Greenhouse heater tubes - viable heater?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 6:15 pm
by dobby
Simon Jones wrote:I've used one in the shed (can't recall Wattage, probably 80 ish) and it keeps the chill off. You may need a few for max effect, but as they do get hot, make sure you don't put it somewhere where tiny fingers can get burned.
Plus one on that, they used to be fitted in airing cupboards years ago and always needed a wire cage on them to prevent clothing catching alight etc.
Re: Greenhouse heater tubes - viable heater?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 7:49 pm
by Diplomat
dobby wrote:
... they used to be fitted in airing cupboards years ago ...
I remember those heaters. We had them in the drying room of a field studies centre. 40 wet cagoules was not a pretty smell.
Now here's an idea: Why not install a hot water cylinder in the Bongo, with its indirect coil plumbed into the engine coolant circuit and backed up with a campsite rated immersion heater? Then you could have hot water on tap and turn the van into a big live-in airing cupboard!
Frank
Re: Greenhouse heater tubes - viable heater?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 8:12 pm
by dobby
Diplomat wrote:
Now here's an idea: Why not install a hot water cylinder in the Bongo, with its indirect coil plumbed into the engine coolant circuit and backed up with a campsite rated immersion heater? Then you could have hot water on tap and turn the van into a big live-in airing cupboard!
Frank
Ah but you would need to use a solar system as well these days
Re: Greenhouse heater tubes - viable heater?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 8:25 pm
by Bob
That's pretty much the system my pal has on his narrow boat.
Works really well.
