Boom boom boom boom esso blue !

[Nesting Zombie]

Just a inquiry really.
Now it's getting Colder, I was wondering how many of us actually used Paraffin OR Oil Heaters & Lamps in their Motorhome/Van ?.
If so,
How Much are they Say Per Hour to run ?.
Do they Smell ?.
Obviously Ventilation is Paramount, But Do the Cause or Cure Condensation ?.
Just How Dangerous are they ?.


I ask as I use to have Oil Lamps on my Boat MANY years ago, & actually Hated them, Frightened to near death to actually use them, But it WAS the norm. So are Newer ones Better/Safer as a Realistic source of Both Heat & Light in our Vehicle Homes ?.

You're Thoughts !.

 

[antiquesam]

I leave a greenhouse paraffin heater in the van over the winter to keep the chill off, but others on the forum tell me it creates condensation, which I certainly remember from my childhood.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Yeah, I remember the 'Crital' Metal Framework on the Windows RUNNING when a Parafin heater was on over night, But I NOW wonder if this was due to in adequate Ventilation at that time !...

How do you find it in your Motorhome overnight !

 

[Channa]

Anything that burns a flame seems to create condensation

IF you have ehu or can arrange it, a small oil filled radiator is as good as anything to take off the chill

Channa

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Anything that burns a flame seems to create condensation

IF you have ehu or can arrange it, a small oil filled radiator is as good as anything to take off the chill

Channa

Yeah, Absolutely agree By far the best,,,But was just wondering Specifically about Oil or Parafin heating & Lighting nowadays to see if there was any advancement in Safety & Use.

 

[Camper Bob]

If anyone has EHU where they park/store their van in the winter , these tubular heaters work a treat , just put a 13 amp plug on the end of the fitted cable , they'll even stand length ways on the provided wall mounts. Very cheap too , 40,80,100 watt , thats the same as a light bulb.......

Miscellaneous Heating - Thermostatic Tubular Heater

I've previously bought mine from a company called CEF , Tubular Heaters | City Electrical Factors

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Yep, Had a Few of the Tube heaters in the past, He to have one in the cupboard under my bed,,,BLISS in the Winter.
But Has/Does ANYONE Use Parafin or Oil Heating recently ?.

 

[vwalan]

i have various parafin heaters here but these days i just use gas lights . i was with a mate years ago that had one in his camper van . i liked it so when i converted my trailer i put some in there . came from an old caravan .
great bits of kit . light ,heat and if by lakes etc help keep midgies out . they dont like the gas .
since veritas as stopped doing the mantles i have been using some chinese tie on mantles . not as good as the preformed veritas ones but they work. if it gets really cold i use a thermex catalytic gas heater . but havnt used that for a few years .

 

[David Morison]

I'd be worried about CO with kero or gas, but has anyone thought about a meths burner/stove? As alcohol is not a hydrocarbon I would think that CO is not an issue. The burner from an old Trangia stove with the controller cap on near minimum flame will last for a long time and produce a decent amount of heat, in fact I'm off for a few nights next week so I'll try it out while keeping an eye on the CO monitor. Let you know.

 

[Channa]

I'd be worried about CO with kero or gas, but has anyone thought about a meths burner/stove? As alcohol is not a hydrocarbon I would think that CO is not an issue. The burner from an old Trangia stove with the controller cap on near minimum flame will last for a long time and produce a decent amount of heat, in fact I'm off for a few nights next week so I'll try it out while keeping an eye on the CO monitor. Let you know.

CO is an issue. It is produced from incomplete combustion. ( think spiders webs in burners and lazy flames) I am not convinced the fuel needs to be a hydrocarbon it is more the inefficient combustion

The CO attaches to the haemoglobin in the blood, and prevents the cells from carrying oxygen the amount required for poisioning is not great. With a stove for a cup of tea the effect be neglibile but a heater for a couple of hours ?

If the room is well ventilated the risk obviously seriously diminished , but windows tend to be closed etc when we need heating.

Back to the OP's original question and people do use gas , ethanols etc all produce condensation. Therefore using a de humidifier would perhaps exchange the heat and atmosphere to a sensible comfortable one

Channa

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I really don't know about the difference if any of the nasties given off by burning Methalated Spirit or alike etc.
BUT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE,,,Please Do some research before you DO this,,,& take Two Carbon Monoxide Detectors..
I've heard that adding a drop of water to the methes make it burn 'Cleaner' (Weird !).
But how about Cost ?. Probably up there wit Petrol !.

 

[Mick H]

if it gets really cold i use a thermex catalytic gas heater . but havnt used that for a few years .

We too, use a Thermex catalytic gas heater. Trouble is, they are not marketed, anymore, although there is another make available, but I don't know anything about these.
The Thermex has an oxygen depletion sensor, and, because the flame is only like a pilot light, CO is not really a problem, the catalytic heating process being a chemical reaction, just triggered by the small flame. I wouldn't leave it on all night, though.
It does keep the van quite warm, but not excessively so, and uses very little gas, with no battery power required whatsoever.

I would worry about safety, with a paraffin heater, especially CO.

 

[FULL TIMER]

[No message]

 

[vwalan]

[No message]

 

[runnach]

[No message]

 

[Robmac]

I agree with you, but have the reservation not all have a coachbuilt and perhaps a self build that lacks the required ventilation.

Static Camper , yourself , Neckender and I all worked professionally with LPG as an example if you went to town on most self builds I bet you would have to look too far to find something that falls short of the regs..

Even some of the old statics by Willerby Atlas Cosalt etc would fall foul of todays regs.

I may sound a bit jobsworth , but where do you draw the line, Grandparents taking kids on holiday sticking the young uns in pup tent for a bit of adventure, blissfully unaware letting them watch the embers die on a charcoal bbq at bed time ? Sadly it is not far fetched every summer someone dies from this. SO we can't assume people understand the risks in the broader scale..It is a hard one


Channa

Not sure about others Andy, but my insurance policy states that my gas installation has to be fitted by a quality fitter, and serviced annually by same.

Something that I am quite happy to comply with!

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Not sure about others Andy, but my insurance policy states that my gas installation has to be fitted by a quality fitter, and serviced annually by same.

Something that I am quite happy to comply with!

Yes, So does mine for Gas.
But would the same approach or Requirement be necessary if you had Parafin & or Oil for Cooking / Heating I wonder.

 

[Channa]

Not sure about others Andy, but my insurance policy states that my gas installation has to be fitted by a quality fitter, and serviced annually by same.

Something that I am quite happy to comply with!

Static Camper more up to speed on this nowadays I have let my papers lapse. I don't do that much on the aircon and refrigeration anymore although still a cat1 ticket that's valid

Private owned vans are a bit of a weird one, to work on them touring vans and motorhomes you require NO qualifications so the definition of a quality fitter is interesting.

The MCEA for example push their guys as engineers qualified to Acop level which I was. They cannot work on vans for hire or reward, for that you need to be ACS registered.

You also need to be ACS registered to work on statics.


Heres the rub I worked on 287 statics in France, for a British company , UK based liability insurers. ACS is more expensive than Acops and not recognised in France so Acops it was......

I returned to the UK can't work on statics, tbh for what you can earn for a gas check Aircon I felt the best way to go , also my quals recognised abroad.

complicated area re qualification is gas

As for alternative fuels in campervans I would suggest you need to let your insurers know .

Channa

 

[Robmac]

Yes, So does mine for Gas.
But would the same approach or Requirement be necessary if you had Parafin & or Oil for Cooking / Heating I wonder.

Interesting. My policy reads;

This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or
explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment,
unless the equipment has been serviced and/or fitted by a CORGI
or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket
is kept in or on the vehicle,

It doesn't mention gas specifically, just heating or cooking equipment and CORGI and HSE.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Interesting. My policy reads;

This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or
explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment,
unless the equipment has been serviced and/or fitted by a CORGI
or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket
is kept in or on the vehicle,

It doesn't mention gas specifically, just heating or cooking equipment and CORGI and HSE.

That's very odd isn't it, So it 'Kinda' implied that a Corgi Engineer (I thought they have been replaced by Gas Safe or someone like that nowadays !) Must fit say a Diesel Cooker then !. (Like a Blake or Taylor If that's what you have ).