small elec/ceramic htr/solar?
I am running 3 renolgy 100w eclipse panels on top of my 2014 ford e250 van with 40a commander and a 255ah lifeline battery. Am wondering if a small elec/ceramic type htr would work for occasional ...
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Typical AC space heaters are rated at 1500W on high and 750W on low. Fifteen minutes on high works out to 375 Wh of energy, or around 31 to 32 Ah at 12V. That's not taking into account the peukert effect, inverter inefficiencies, etc., and some of them are not at all negligible here. You would need an inverter (MSW would be fine for many heaters) and a good, heavy-duty connection between it and the battery, as the DC current for such a use would be around 150A.
12V heaters (for car use) are typically very low powered, at least if they plug into a lighter socket. They would be less of a drain on the battery but not do much to take the chill out of the air.
Propane for heat is generally more practical off the grid than electric heating. If it's mainly for comfort when sleeping, good bedding helps a lot...and powering an electric blanket might be doable. If it's for comfort when sitting around, a fluffy pet might be a good addition.
12V heaters (for car use) are typically very low powered, at least if they plug into a lighter socket. They would be less of a drain on the battery but not do much to take the chill out of the air.
Propane for heat is generally more practical off the grid than electric heating. If it's mainly for comfort when sleeping, good bedding helps a lot...and powering an electric blanket might be doable. If it's for comfort when sitting around, a fluffy pet might be a good addition.
