12Volt Basement Heater

[entirelynutz]

Does anyone know where to get a reliable thermostat controlled 12volt heater that I can put in my freshwater basement?

[palehorse89]

The wattage that a 12VDC heater that would make enough heat for down in the water bay to be affective would be really hard on the batteries and the charging system..........I am thinking......

http://www.my12voltstore.com/12_Volt_Heaters_s/76.htm

http://www.my12voltstore.com/12_Volt.../sa12-3000.htm

30 amps/ only 360 watts of heat!

[jacwjames]

What battery capacity do you have, is it sufficient to run a 12 volt heater any length of time? If you don't have battery capacity you will have to run the generator anyway.

Do you have a propane furnace in your RV, you may check to see if it has a duct to the basement compartment, this may be your best bet to keep the basement from freezing.

If you have access to 120 volt you could put a ceramic type heater in the basement or even a couple of 100 watt light bulbs.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Most any small 12v electric heater should work ti keep the temp above freezing, but don't run it if only battery power is available. The batteries won't last long!

I think Monaco coaches use a 12v heater in the wet bay, so maybe you could find one of those in a alvage yard.

Here's a cheap 150w model:
Economy Black 12V Heater Fan and Defroster HF384: You’ve found the best 12 Volt Interior Heaters at Advance Auto Parts

A better selection here:
Buy 12 Volt Heater, 12 Volt Car Heaters, Portable Car Heater - My 12 Volt Store

[qqvepy]

I agree with what the others have said about battery life. I don't know what your set up is by I run a small ceramic heater by running an extension cord to the 120 plug in the campground power post and up through the foam pad for the water hose. This set-up doesn't take away from the coach's main input amps. It is in the low teens at night right now and my tank bay stays in the 90s from that small heater.

[Rocky Larson]

I found some in Menards, designed mainly for aftermarket/addiitional interior window defrosting. Bought two but neither lasted more than a couple of nights. Not designed for continuous use.
Truck stops have a pretty large selection of 12volt items.
I went with the 120volt trouble/sevice drop lights.

[jacwjames]

Here is what I have in my 2002 Monaco Windsor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ThermTech-30...4f401a&vxp=mtr

Also attached is a PDF showing the required components to install, using the vender part # you may google and find.

[USA-RVNomads]

My HR has a 12v heater in the wet bay. It worked when we first got the rig, but as I found out it stopped working when it was most needed. I removed it, easy to do just loosen two mounting screws. Inside I found that the soldered connections had broken due to vibration. Its a cheaply made unit and doesn't really put out a lot of heat. Anyway I soldered it back together and it worked...for a while. Will replace it someday with something better...in the meantime I run an extension cord from a power source and plug in a trouble lamp with a 75w bulb...that was enough to keep the bay from freezing.

[entirelynutz]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I do have a propane furnace with vents to the wet bay but I don't like to run it when driving. I was also intending to use a ceramic 120VAC heater when connected to shore power. I have no plans to use the 12 V heater while parked. I'm just wanting to keep the bay somewhat warm while in transit.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

Here is what I have in my 2002 Monaco Windsor.

Thermtech 3000C Back Seat Heat Plus | eBay

Also attached is a PDF showing the required components to install, using the vender part # you may google and find.

My 2002 Windsor has that same heater. Monaco want's more than $300 for it! Amazon has it for $99.95.

[dvmweb]

Entirelynutz,
This is what I did heading to Florida this past Feb 2014. We have basement heat with our furnace, but in very cold weather it can't keep up. I use an indoor outdoor thermometer with the remote in the wetbay to monitor temps.

I ran a heavy extension cord across the top of the water/sewer compartment to the wet bay. There is no outlet in the wetbay, you know why. I wrapped the cord with gorilla tape at each point that might chafe. I clamped a small ceramic heater on the floor of the wetbay and powered it with the generator. It was the only thing on that circuit. We had water, gray waste and sewer for the very cold part of our trip (10 deg F or so), and the warm part too. About twelve hours from Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan to KY. We also ran the furnace. When we would stop for fuel, to eat or for a short rest, I shut the ceramic htr off. Then shut off the genny. About every 3 to 5 hrs. Stopped for overnight in Northern GA. Got us down to warm weather with all of the comforts intact.

It is 28 deg F now and the mh is winterized.



2013 FleetWood Expedition 38B

[mel s]

Originally Posted by entirelynutz

Thanks for all the suggestions. I do have a propane furnace with vents to the wet bay but I don't like to run it when driving. I was also intending to use a ceramic 120VAC heater when connected to shore power. I have no plans to use the 12 V heater while parked. I'm just wanting to keep the bay somewhat warm while in transit.

entirelynutz

IMO "while in transit" and "while you have 120V shore or genset power" are the only times that's practical to use a 12V electric heater... (and the only times it will not rapidly deplete your batteries).
Mel
'96 Safari

[gsgriffin]

Originally Posted by mel s

entirelynutz

IMO "while in transit" and "while you have 120V shore or genset power" are the only times that's practical to use a 12V electric heater... (and the only times it will not rapidly deplete your batteries).
Mel
'96 Safari

Or with a lot of solar power coming in

[Talloaks]

Originally Posted by entirelynutz

Does anyone know where to get a reliable thermostat controlled 12volt heater that I can put in my freshwater basement?

Have you looked into running a fused circuit off your chassis 12 volt system for your wet bay heat? You may not need any more wattage than what a couple of heated seats draw in a typical passenger vehicle. Some aftermarket seat heaters draw 45 watts each. You can do the math, but in all likelihood, your vehicle alternator has the capacity. A 10 amp circuit will give you 130-140 watts which would be adequate.

And it is likely that if your chassis to house battery charging system is working as it should, you can run the heater circuit off your house 12 volt system and it would still be adequately powered from your vehicle alternator while you are underway.