Has anyone used a 12v heater?

[Tookey]

Due to their size and price I am tempted to carry a ceramic or fan heater as a back up to my webasto. Before I bother doing any maths to investigate battery drain has anyone got experience of their capability? Maybe they are really for 'hook up' only

 

[RichardHelen262]

I doubt you will find a 12v heater that will warm your van, and if you could find one that would do the job I doubt that your batteries would last very long

 

[Fisherman]

There are only three ways to heat a van, gas, diesel, or mains electricity. Even with several lithium batteries and a powerful inverter it would not be possible. your batteries would drain in no time. And In severe weather even mains electricity connected to a 16amp EHU would probably not manage without a mix using gas or diesel also.

 

[Derekoak]

My suggestions for using 12v battery stored energy if you are cold are: 12v heat pads inserted into your customary seat, your clothing and your bed? Anything less targeted than that will not be practical . Even they may be best used for short periods. Hot water bottles would be better.

 

[trevskoda]

I have a 230v 400w plug type heater running through a 600w inverter at the front nearside footwell, only useful when the engine is running when we start out in winter to warm wifes legs up to the main heater gets going, without engine it will run the battery down in 15 mins.
I have a 12v 200w screen heater and all i can say is forget them, it now resides in a cupboard in workshop.

 

[1807truckman]

As others have said would drain batteries fast, when on hook up I use an 1,000w electric fan heater which I find heats the van fine but when wilding it's either gas or diesel heating for me.

 

[jagmanx]

A small fan/ceramic heater will help but not be sufficient in the depths of winter.
We use one @500 watts in Spring and Autumn..ONLY on EHU
As others have posted oaff 12v will drain battery in no time
Do the sums
Eg 500 watts at 12v will take about 40 amps !

 

[r4dent]

The maths is simple.
The heat given out by a 12v heater is three fifths of five eighths of f *** all.

Or to put it another way

Campervan Heaters – Buyers Guide [2023] | Campfire Magazine

How to keep warm in your campervan or caravan? Read our winter camping guide to find the best campervan heater – electric heaters, gas, parking heaters...

campfiremag.co.uk

Don’t get excited! There are no 12V heaters that will keep you warm enough
You’ll see lots that look like this one (in black, grey or red, but all the same).
They’re described as windscreen demisters and car heaters, but they really don’t do much at all.
In fact, they’ve been known to simply fuse the system.
Don’t bother!

 

[Nabsim]

Yes, only for hookup as you said. I carry a little 230v ceramic heater but only ever used on hookup. It will heat the van then

 

[Tookey]

Thanks for replies. The thoughts were as a back up incase of webasto failure in sub 5c temps but looks like it's no a goer. Oh well

Thanks again

 

[Sharon the Cat]

I've got a 12V blanket with a cigarette lighter type connection, toasty.

 

[wildebus]

The only way to use an electric heater for any length of time when off-grid is to run the engine to put in what the heater is taking out - and even then it is likely a loosing battle.

 

[tidewatcher]

I think an old physics reacher summed it up for me. “If it gets hot, it uses a lot”.