2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 12 volt cab heaters

[Midnite]

Anybody use a 12 volt heater in the cab that's worth a darn? A lot of the garbage out there barely puts out any heat at all. I'm looking for something that is well made and will help heat up the cab quicker when it's -30 F, any if anyone has any pointers I'd appreciate it.



Thanks,

Mike

 

[SRath]

-30f ?



T-h-e-r-m-i-t-e

 

[fest3er]

-30f ?



T-h-e-r-m-i-t-e

N-u-c-u-l-a-r. (Spoken with a Jimmy Cahtah accent. )



Well, he didn't say how *long* or how *fast* he wanted the heat, only faster than stock... .



Lessee, 1200W might be about adequate for those temps. That's just under 100A.



1200W-hr is about 4100 BTU. That could be a little large for a P/U cab, but would guarantee quicker warmup.



You know, if you could find a suitable 12VDC under-sink water heater, plumb it inline with the heater core. You'll get your cab heat fairly quick and you'll heat the engine quicker, too.

 

[SRath]

Seriously, If it got that cold here--- wait, it DOES!--- I would be drooling over an Espar or Webasto heater. (and I am... someday)

In the meantime, there's always sheepskin seat covers.

 

[mickeyblueyes]

Put a Mr. Buddy Propane heater in there and crack your window, You'll be driving around in a tee shirt.

 

[Midnite]

Well, as much as I'd love an Espar or Webasto, that just isn't going to happen anytime soon.

I was just hoping that someone may have found a small 12 volt heater that actually put out heat instead of an anemic little wisp of lukewarm air.

Mike

 

[SRath]

The truck would definitely need to be running to support any kind of effective electric heater.

One idea might be to use a large power inverter and run a small 110v ac ceramic heater. They put out good heat and are safe to use (cool to the touch if they tip over).

If parked for the night, you could plug the heater into an extension cord and timer to start preheating your cab an hour or so before you need the truck.

 

[Midnite]

Sorry, I guess I gave people the wrong impression. I do have the truck plugged in at night. It's on a timer and comes on a couple hours before I leave the house in the morning (two hours normally, 4 or 5 when it's really cold). The problem is that during those periods of sub-zero weather it takes a long time for the heater to warm up the cab since the interior is so cold-soaked. What I'd like is some kind of 12 volt heater that I can turn on to help the truck's heater warm up the cab.

With being plugged in and running a winter front over the grill, it doesn't take too long for the truck heater to start blowing warm air--it just takes forever for it to warm up the cab.

Mike

 

[LandShark]

Best bet is to use a 120v heater and extension cord. Trying to get 1200 or 1500 watts out of a 12v heater is more that your alternator can handle. Even 500 watts would be 40 amps at 12v! The 12v outlets are usually only good for 20 amps.

A 120v heater would heat the cabin pleanty and with the engine heater you would have no or minimal wait for heat when you start driving. Don't put the heater to close to a window or you could crack it at those temps.

 

[SRath]

Midnite, the ceramic heater I suggested is a space heater for in your cab, not an engine heater. With an inverter, you could continue to use the electric space heater even as you drive. But when parked overnight, you would need to plug it into an extension cord, probably with a timer, to keep from killing your batteries. It would then preheat your cab before you even start your truck.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Im wanting to...

I have a Kussmaul Auto eject that Im wanting to install on my truck. Basically like a shoreline for my truck. What I can do with it, is run a plug from the auto eject to the block heater, and another to an outlet inside the cab that a small 120v heater could be plugged into. It could also be on a timer and come on maybe 30 mins before time to leave. The truck would be nice & toasty warm as would be the block. When you start the truck, the cord is kicked out of the plug and the 120v is disconnected.



Thats just MY idea tho.

Craig

 

[monkeyman]

I have an Espar, try running your heat with knob on recirulation mode. Air comes out dash vents, if its hot fresh air door is the problem, Im working on a fix that will allow control over that door in any position on older models.

Rick