Portable Electric Heater

by Bill Thu Nov 09, 2023 8:22 am

I have a 2017 Symbol so quite a smallish campervan. I am looking for personal recommendations for a relatively low wattage, reliable, safe and quiet electric heater for use during the Winter months.

Thank you. Bill

by Paulmold Thu Nov 09, 2023 8:29 am

Low wattage radiator is my best bet, no fan to create noise and no worry of fan failing and causing overheating and potential fire. Many low wattage radiators ranging from 500w to 800w. There are also oil-free options such as the Dimplex Chico which I have.

by Bill Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:46 am

Paulmold wrote:Low wattage radiator is my best bet, no fan to create noise and no worry of fan failing and causing overheating and potential fire. Many low wattage radiators ranging from 500w to 800w. There are also oil-free options such as the Dimplex Chico which I have.

Thank you. I hadn't considered a radiator because of size but take on board the points you make. Bill.

by Bobskate Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:52 am

Bill we have a small electric low wattage radiator just as Paul suggests. Provides gentle background heat for overnight.

by IanH Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:58 am

We have one of these, permanently plugged in small so not noticeable. All manner of timers and thermostats on it works really well and more than capable of keeping our exec warm, quiet enough to use overnight too.

NOT suitable for over winter heating of just the van though, I have my views on that and won't consider even doing it with our own EHU right where its parked......

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by DeeBee Thu Nov 09, 2023 10:44 am

+1 one for the small rad, had one of these in our T6:

VonHaus Oil Filled Radiator 6 Fin, Electric Heater for Home Office, Oil Radiator Warms Any Room Quickly & Efficiently, Thermostatically Controlled 800w Oil Heater for Maximum Warmth, 2 Year Warranty [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

by IanH Thu Nov 09, 2023 11:44 am

Here it is in situ, NEVER in the way, light as a feather and works with 6A supplies ..
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by Dave Gee Thu Nov 09, 2023 1:55 pm

We have the same on as IanH.

Not had to use it in the XL but our old van was smaller and the fan warmed it up nicely.

by IanH Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:35 pm

Re heating over winter....

Not relative to the OP as they wanted heat for travelling..

Some use oil filled electric heaters over winter, I don't and here's why...

1 I'm lucky enough to have the van at home so I can have its door open most of any nice day.

2 If used in a closed van, as they will be, heat rises. In all van skylights is a legal minimum area of ventilation, here's a part of a description for a Fiamma Vent 40, they all have it though.....

Supplied with permanent air flow ventilation and mosquito screen

3 As heat rises, it passes out through this fixed ventilation, therefore this air has to be replaced, as it is through the floor ventilation of which most vans have lots, under cooker, under fridge, near gas powered hot water heaters, etc etc

4 This brings cold and damp air in from under the van into the very place you're trying to keep dry!

In reality, with the fixed ventilation and the underfloor vents there will be enough airflow through a van with no need for heating. If you don't believe me visit a caravan storage site, lots of motorhomes there to, none near an EHU!

Just my view, others may see this differently, but, as always, each to his/her own!! up!

by Bilbobaggins Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:52 pm

I use radiator not to keep inside dry, but to keep internal temperature above 3 degrees to prevent dump valve triggering, particularly at times like now when the van is being used for trips on a regular basis and I don't want to keep draining and refilling system. Van will be drained when we come back from London trip in a couple if weeks, then van will be shut down an heating removed. It will then get run out about once a fortnight and connected to ehu for short periods until start of March

by IanH Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:55 pm

IMHO BB, the runs out for at least 40 miles are infinitely more important up!

by Dbvwt Thu Nov 09, 2023 3:46 pm

Unless I’ve missed something very obvious (quite likely) doesn’t the van already have one… the Truma 6E?

I know it’s 1800W on lowest setting, I guess it depends on whether the O/P is talking about heating the van while away on site or at home to provide a low constant heat during the winter?

by Peter Brown Thu Nov 09, 2023 4:53 pm

I keep this van on the drive with permanent EHU. I use the van all year round for none camping activities and always maintain the toilet in a useable state so when freezing approaches I activate a 500w oil filled radiator to maintain the internal temperature (just) above freezing, also, if only a few days between camping trips, its use obviates the need to drain down.

Our last couple of 7.5m vans had the Trumatic fire and blown air vents towards the rear of the van, so when camping in winter the oil filled radiator was deployed between the cab seats and left on low heat 24 x 7.

We did the same last winter and last week with the current Broadway that has a Combi and central vents plus one in the end bathroom but I don't think its necessary as the temperature control of the Combi is much more precise and there are no 'cold spots'. I'm going to take the radiator to Southport at the end of next week just in case but I'm pretty sure that that will be its last camping trip.

by Guest Thu Nov 09, 2023 7:43 pm

We use a 500w oil filled radiator in our VW T5. We've used it down to -5 degrees at Aberfeldy and it kept the chill away however as your van is a bit bigger i'd suggest the 800w. Weve also used it out of season in France on sites with only 8 amp supply and not tripped the breaker. Its quiet apart from the thermostat clicking in and out and if you place it with the power light facing away from you it'll be ideal.

by Bill Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:12 am

Paulmold wrote:Low wattage radiator is my best bet, no fan to create noise and no worry of fan failing and causing overheating and potential fire. Many low wattage radiators ranging from 500w to 800w. There are also oil-free options such as the Dimplex Chico which I have.

I got a Dimplex Chico with a 'Black Friday' deal and am very pleased with it. The thermostat, on it's lowest setting, also has a frost protection where it will not go below 5 degrees. It also works well on my Ecoflow power bank. Bill.

by Roopert Fri Nov 17, 2023 11:06 am

Bill wrote:It also works well on my Ecoflow power bank.

You're running a heater from a battery and inverter? That's a pretty harsh use for a battery system!

by gassygassy Fri Nov 17, 2023 12:06 pm

Surely oil filled radiators are big bulky things you don't want in a motorhome. You can bash the furniture moving them in and out, and you definitely don't want one while you are trying to use the camper at a site. Any small heater would give out enough watts. A greenhouse heater would be OK, they are about 500W, small, have no moving parts and I don't think you need anything bigger just to keep the inside above 3 degrees if that's what you are after. If you are referring to heating whilst on a camp site you would need 2kW so you need a very quiet fan heater if you don't have a heater built into your MH.

by Tinwheeler Fri Nov 17, 2023 12:35 pm

It doesn’t look very big and bulky shrugg

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by Paulmold Fri Nov 17, 2023 12:55 pm

The Chico is a little bigger than the cheap oil radiators that you can get from the likes of Home Bargains or Dunelm which I've had before and those are certainly not big and bulky. The Chico is not as small but the big advantage is that the Chico is oil-free so doesn't weigh anywhere near as much.
We are not talking about 2kw domestic size radiators.

by gassygassy Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:14 pm

Ah that looks neat. I was thinking of the oil filled radiators I had in my digs a century or so ago, and the two 500W panel / greenhouse heaters I've got in my garage. I read somewhere of a weakness in the Truma if you use it on electric for a while, it expires apparently so I think if I was going away in the winter I would also use a stand alone heater. I have in the past left a fan heater going all night without bother, it switches on and off as it reaches the temperature set, but it didn't make me lose sleep. I have one in the mh as we speak and I'll leave it in for this new year's bash.

by Dave 418 Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:40 pm

A friend of management has one of the tube heaters you fix to a skirting board on the floor of their motorhome to put their feet on. I think the smell of sweaty socks would be issue but we share our space with muttly leaning on our heater.
During the winter I leave the hook up lead connected between trips and put the heater and fan on the lowest setting at night.

by Askit Thu Nov 23, 2023 4:28 pm

IanH wrote:We have one of these, permanently plugged in small so not noticeable. All manner of timers and thermostats on it works really well and more than capable of keeping our exec warm, quiet enough to use overnight too.

NOT suitable for over winter heating of just the van though, I have my views on that and won't consider even doing it with our own EHU right where its parked......

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We have one of these in the van for emergency use and it performed well when our Truma heating stopped working earlier in the year. Just spotted that Lidl are currently selling a similar model for £14.99, it looks a touch smaller and is a 600w rather than 500w output.

by gassygassy Fri Nov 24, 2023 8:34 am

Actually I reckon the best bet must be one of those you see on the side column of Youtube videos. You know. The ones that use no electricity or any other fuel, heat your whole house whatever its size, and cost nothing to run. From the same company that brought you these amazing fuel saver ideas: put Coca Cola and toothpaste in your fuel tank to double the MPG. Brilliant stuff, all of it. cold

by gassygassy Fri Nov 24, 2023 8:37 am

Aski wrote:
We have one of these in the van for emergency use and it performed well when our Truma heating stopped working earlier in the year. Just spotted that Lidl are currently selling a similar model for £14.99, it looks a touch smaller and is a 600w rather than 500w output.

I've just heard on the steam valve magic box that Amazon workers in Coventry (apparently 1,000 of them so it might be more than just Coventry) are on strike today.
So if you want one, it's the same as buying a new motorhome. Buy the one you can see and touch rather than one that only exists in the mind of the dealer.

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