Van interior warm up.

[A.D.]

Hi, thanks in anticipation of advice, I considered getting a car heater for warming the first few miles of winter journeys, I can easily spot those for sale claiming 1500w running of a cigarette lighter socket are a scam, probably only 150w.
So my plan is: 9 guage cable with a 50Amp breaker and 100Amp relay, wired to the 12v van battery, the heater would contain 8x50w halogen bulbs giving nearly 400w, the relay would be switched via a live feed, only live whilst the engine is running.

Alternatively I could use nichrome wire coiled around something suitable, but I have failed getting the right spec/details online regarding guage and length of wire to produce 400w at 12v. (The alternator is giving me about 13.7v).

Yes, probably sounds ridiculous, but that's the way I am.

Ps, the heater will be safe, safety first.

Thanks, any comments/advice would be greatly appreciated.
A.D. (Adrian)

 

[camerart]

Hi A,
How big your van is, and is there a cab, that separates the cab from the van body?
If it's all one, then hang a curtain up till the cab gets warm.

It will need quite a bit of power to heat the cab, in mid winter, you may want to experiment with an extension lead and a house heater.

I converted a van to a motorhome, and fitted a Webasto heater, cosy :0

C.

 

[Diver300]

I guess you mean a 50 A breaker and a 100 A relay.

Some cars already have electric heaters in the air ducts. I would try to find one of those. Failing that, get a bunch or resistors.

If you are using resistors, run them at around half their maximum power or less. At maximum power a lot of resistors have very high surface temperatures which can damage things around them.

If you fit a heater in the air duct, make sure that it can't be on unless their is air moving in the duct.

You can get about 15% more power by running the heaters directly from the AC (alternating current) coils of the alternator. There are three AC connections in nearly all car alternators, and the peak voltage is 15 - 16 V. You should connect between those AC connections and have no connection to ground, and the loads should be balanced in a star or delta arrangement. You would need three relays or a 3 pole contactor to turn the heaters on and off.

 

[Diver300]

Here is a heater from a VAG car. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175275576406
If that link doesn't work, just search for:-

5Q0963235D

 

[A.D.]

Thanks Driver 300
Indeed, amps I meant, it's only a citroen berlingo, the heater will only be used for the first 3 or 4 miles until the engine heats up, it will be just convection unless I put a fan in it. Freestanding/fixed, it will probably resemble a 5 litre paint can. I'll read up on the resistor idea and consider the ac idea as well.

 

[MrAl]

Hi, thanks in anticipation of advice, I considered getting a car heater for warming the first few miles of winter journeys, I can easily spot those for sale claiming 1500w running of a cigarette lighter socket are a scam, probably only 150w.
So my plan is: 9 guage cable with a 50Amp breaker and 100Amp relay, wired to the 12v van battery, the heater would contain 8x50w halogen bulbs giving nearly 400w, the relay would be switched via a live feed, only live whilst the engine is running.

Alternatively I could use nichrome wire coiled around something suitable, but I have failed getting the right spec/details online regarding guage and length of wire to produce 400w at 12v. (The alternator is giving me about 13.7v).

Yes, probably sounds ridiculous, but that's the way I am.

Ps, the heater will be safe, safety first.

Thanks, any comments/advice would be greatly appreciated.
A.D. (Adrian)

There is a company called "Road Pro" that makes heaters for vehicles. The one I have is a defroster but it makes a lot of heat.

I don't think you should draw more than maybe 20 amps from the battery, but you'll have to experiment. It takes time to recharge the battery too so the vehicle has to run long enough after you use the heater.
The ones that plug into the cigar lighter draw either 10 amps or 15 amps, and the highest power is probably 20 amps. 10 amps would be around 130 watts, 20 amps around 260 watts. That could be enough. 500 watts should definitely do it which would be around 40 amps or so. That's a lot of current to draw from the battery though. Start low, then go higher if needed.

 

[Diver300]

The VAG group heaters that I linked to are rated at up to about 80 amps.

 

[ZipZapOuch]

Thanks Driver 300
Indeed, amps I meant, it's only a citroen berlingo, the heater will only be used for the first 3 or 4 miles until the engine heats up, it will be just convection unless I put a fan in it. Freestanding/fixed, it will probably resemble a 5 litre paint can. I'll read up on the resistor idea and consider the ac idea as well.

The electric vehicle manufacturers are always looking to minimize energy consumption and most have determined that heating the seats and steering wheel provide the most comfort for the consumed power.

Be careful with your plan, battery capacity is greatly reduced at -10°C vs 20°C. You may be sitting in a warm vehicle that won't start.

 

[Inquisitive]

Search on "volkswagen gas heater" tried and true old school

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Many years ago, my younger brother on his first car (Ford Escort) bought a water heater for it from an advert in a motoring magazine.

You simply cut the bottom hose to the radiator (after draining the water of course ) and inserted it in the gap, then fitted the power input socket down near the front bumper somewhere. Then if it was cold weather he ran an extension mains lead out to the car, and plugged it in via a timer, so it was activated about 30 minutes before he wanted to leave in the morning.

Then when he went to the car, just unplugged it (very important!), start the car - no choke needed, as the engine was already warm, put the blower on the windscreen which rapidly cleared any ice, as the heater was already warm - then drive off.

It working incredibly well, I've no idea if you can still get them, it was the only one I've ever seen.

 

[Externet]

Once saw a guy passing the exhaust pipe (new metal, zero leaks, no welds, just bends) inside the rear section of his van and exiting to the same original location. Toasty, very toasty and much faster heating than routing the engine coolant to a radiator fitted inside.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Many years ago, my younger brother on his first car (Ford Escort) bought a water heater for it from an advert in a motoring magazine.

They are generally called Block heaters and are readily available, in various forms.

They are commonly used in such as Scandinavian countries & similar, where temperatures are very low.

What is an Engine Block Heater & Do You Really Need One?

When temperatures plummet, engines can struggle to get moving without some help. Is an engine block heater right for you? If so, which type do you need?

www.thedrive.com