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Post by tommy on Sept 14, 2013 8:20:40 GMT
My Truma boiler can take up to 2 hours in the depths of winter to warm my van from cold and I needed to be looking for gas within a couple of days some bitterly cold weeks, despite a gas tank on board. The usual solution would be to eject the two 6kg gas cylinders from the gas locker and fit gaslow, but for a lot less than that price I opted to buy an airtop 3500 diesel heater.
What can I say other than, from a cold of 9c thus far (without gas on) it takes less than 15 minutes to warm the van and uses less than an amp and 0.13 of a litre of diesel to do so and I am well chuffed with the result and convinced a second form of heating is the way to go rather than the addition of more gas.
Looking forward to winter now !
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Post by Pollik on Sept 14, 2013 9:21:38 GMT
How much did that set you back, then? I presume you fitted it yourself?
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Sept 14, 2013 12:43:22 GMT
Nice work Chap! I'm in the process of sorting my eberspacher out,the unit is being serviced and fitted ready for winter.Is the air top noisy?
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Post by tommy on Sept 14, 2013 15:04:20 GMT
It set me back £180 off ebay and I replaced the burner as i dont want to be messing about with it at some point. (very simple job, there is nothing to these bar a burner and a couple of easily diagnosable parts)
As for the noise, its loud for the warming up period, but when it cuts into its final stage its about the same as a truma at the same stage. I ve just got to wire it into a "battery house thermostat" to give better temperature control (within 1c )as I find the van temperature can vary a bit before it clicks off and on.
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Post by n brown on Sept 14, 2013 22:32:52 GMT
my nipper just bought an ambulance with a perfect working eber,but i'll still put her woodburner in it.that's proper off grid and a nice focal point too !
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Post by Firefox on Sept 14, 2013 22:42:56 GMT
Can't fault the propex. Instant heat, cheap to run, cheap to buy and quiet too. I'd have a woodburner, but no space.
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Post by n brown on Sept 14, 2013 23:13:41 GMT
space ? I just made a burner,it's about 5 inch diameter . you'd be surprised how you can shoehorn one in!
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Post by robmac on Sept 14, 2013 23:55:11 GMT
Wouldn't mind seeing a pic of that if you get time Nigel.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Sept 15, 2013 8:00:37 GMT
Me too please!
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Sept 15, 2013 9:14:52 GMT
Where's that pic of the miniature woodburner, nigel, I'm really curious!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 12:06:21 GMT
Yep, me too, c'mon Nigel, let's see it.
I'm still toying with the idea of somehow using my cast iron chiminea (approx 18" tall, widest diameter approx 8")as some form of solid fuel burner with a flexible flue which could either go out of a window or the roof light. It would have to be portable as the only safe place for it to go is on the metal draining board above the sink (out of the way of 2 boisterous dogs with waggy tails, and a fluffy cat) which isn't ideal but better than nowt.
Am loath to put another hole in the van roof but if needs must for a flue, then so be it but the flue would have to be removable (so some sort of self-sealing grommet needed) or just a short piece of fixed flue coming through the roof with a removable flexible flue from the top of the chiminea to the bottom of the short piece of fixed flue.
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 12:15:38 GMT
You watch that Carbon Monoxide Jess! (Sorry). I was recently in Splitty's van in Devon and he had his woodburner going, absolutely fantastic, toasty van and they did the cooking on it as well. I would imagine you could get away with something smaller though as the heat it put out was amazing. I'm dieing to try out my Frontier Stove when I get my new tent; www.outdoorfair.de/p-en-2949-kongsvold-8-10-outer-tent-poles-save-35-.aspx?VariantID=5571Should give me the scope to camp in any conditions.
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Post by Firefox on Sept 15, 2013 13:01:17 GMT
Me too Nigel! It's not just the burner though it's the flue too. And the need to keep the space round it clear of junk in my case I think a removable flue would be possible. A screw coupling and seal, or a band coupling and tensioning strap to form a gas tight bond against a seal ? Quite a bit of work though.
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 13:21:46 GMT
problem is with a 5" diameter stove, the flue would need to be almost the same diameter, otherwise it would be forever sooting up from what I've read, although I have seen stoves with as low as 2" diameter flues.
Apparently my Frontier stove will need the flue cleaning once every 24 hours of burning.
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Post by X on Sept 15, 2013 13:47:28 GMT
Apparently my Frontier stove will need the flue cleaning once every 24 hours of burning. It is all down to the wood ! Burn softwood and yes can see that but stick to good dry dead hardwwoods We used Elm at Greywell which had been dead for years and standing so almost no smoke at all
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 14:39:07 GMT
Apparently my Frontier stove will need the flue cleaning once every 24 hours of burning. It is all down to the wood ! Burn softwood and yes can see that but stick to good dry dead hardwwoods We used Elm at Greywell which had been dead for years and standing so almost no smoke at all Unfortunately Charlie, I get tons of offcuts of 4x2 Pine which as you know is highly resinous! I hate to waste it so we burn it at home, it burns quickly and very hot so is good as kindling for getting hardwood or coal going. Ash is best in my book!
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Sept 15, 2013 16:28:18 GMT
Logs to burn! Logs to burn! Logs to save the coal a turn! Here’s a word to make you wise When you hear the woodsman’s cries.
Beechwood fires burn bright and clear, Hornbeam blazes too, If the logs are kept a year And seasoned through and through.
Oak logs will warm you well If they’re old and dry, Large logs of pinewood smell But the sparks will fly.
Pine is good and so is yew For warmth through wintry days But poplar and willow, too Take long to dry and blaze.
Birch logs will burn too fast, Alder scarce at all. Chestnut logs are good to last If cut in the fall.
Holly logs will burn like wax, You should burn them green, Elm logs like smouldering flax, No flame is seen.
Pear logs and apple logs, They will scent your room. Cherry logs across the dogs Smell like flowers in bloom.
But ash logs, all smooth and grey, Burn them green or old, Buy up all that come your way, They’re worth their weight in gold.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 17:50:12 GMT
My chimney sweep reckons you should burn a drinks can every now and again, apparently the aluminium gives off some sort of gas (or something) which helps keep the flue clear.
That Nigel is really keeping us all in suspense with this 5" woodburner....
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 17:52:39 GMT
You watch that Carbon Monoxide Jess! (Sorry). I used to like you robmac
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 18:33:36 GMT
Sorry Jess, couldn't resist!
Marie, I saw another poem about the Ash, can't find it at the moment but will post later.
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 18:38:08 GMT
Here we go;
Beechwood fires are bright and clear If the logs are kept a year, Chestnut's only good they say, If for logs 'tis laid away. Make a fire of Elder tree, Death within your house will be; But ash new or ash old, Is fit for a queen with crown of gold.
Birch and fir logs burn too fast Blaze up bright and do not last, it is by the Irish said Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread. Elm wood burns like churchyard mould, E'en the very flames are cold But Ash green or Ash brown Is fit for a queen with golden crown.
Poplar gives a bitter smoke, Fills your eyes and makes you choke, Apple wood will scent your room Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom Oaken logs, if dry and old keep away the winter's cold But Ash wet or Ash dry a king shall warm his slippers by.
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Sept 15, 2013 20:15:16 GMT
Sorry Jess, couldn't resist! Marie, I saw another poem about the Ash, can't find it at the moment but will post later. when the oak comes before the ash be ready for a splash when the ash come before the oak be ready for a soak dregeded up from the depth of the old grey matter
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Post by n brown on Sept 15, 2013 20:22:57 GMT
i'm embarrassed now,and I've been away.i only built it it quick as an experiment as I had a nice bit of chrome tube and wondered how well it would draw.not very,but I haven't sealed the doors yet.not sure i'll bother with it,but i'll do a pic to give you a laugh,it's made from a small compressor.i've made them from lorry air brake tanks before,and fire extinguishers and they used to have gas fired tampon incinerators in some ladies bogs that were great to convert,and white enamel too !I must take a pic of my daughter's burner,my son made it,but to show how close to wood furniture you can put them .
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Post by n brown on Sept 15, 2013 20:37:19 GMT
as you can see bloody website wouldn't post,but it did but didn't tell me ! stupid 'puter
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Sept 15, 2013 20:38:40 GMT
He's rather embarrassed !!!
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Post by robmac on Sept 15, 2013 20:44:59 GMT
He's after being top poster!
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Sept 15, 2013 21:13:58 GMT
He's after being top poster! not if ican help it
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Sept 15, 2013 21:14:33 GMT
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Post by n brown on Sept 16, 2013 9:45:44 GMT
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Post by robmac on Sept 16, 2013 11:39:13 GMT
Nice one Nigel, flue could be cleaned easily enough by pulling through a cloth on a length of rope. Was it a fire extinguisher?
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