240v heater for campsites?

[WillC]

Am thinking about a small mains heater for use when hooked up to 240v on a campsite. There’s a variety of fan heaters about so (a) any particular recommendations and (b) given they pull quite a bit of current I think are there any issues with this (like blown fuses/tripping)?
Thanks all.

 

[Dellmassive]

This is the best option IMHO.

Low power,
Oil free.
Fanless.
Branded
I've had two of them.

I had one in a tent and one in the van, before finally getting a diesel heater fitted.

So sold one, but keeping the second for a rainy day.

https://amzn.to/4shh1Xq

.

 

[WillC]

Thanks for that. Why better than a fan heater though? Wouldn’t it take longer to heat the place up? Probably more efficient I guess.

 

[Dellmassive]

No moving parts or fan to get blocked and overheat.

Silent operator too.

We just left it on all night using the thermostat to set the temp.

....

Yes a fan heater will originally heat up quicker.... But I wouldn't feel safe leavingz one running if sleeping in the van?

 

[Lubrown]

This is the best option IMHO.

Low power,
Oil free.
Fanless.
Branded
I've had two of them.

I had one in a tent and one in the van, before finally getting a diesel heater fitted.

So sold one, but keeping the second for a rainy day.

https://amzn.to/4shh1Xq

.

View attachment 319504

We’re on our second one of these. First one stopped working after about six years. Seemed to fail in a safe manner though (not like a Chinese psu we had that went with a pop and a cloud of smoke).

 

[WillC]

All that makes sense. And agree about leaving it on overnight - wouldn’t be comfortable about doing that with a fan heater.

 

[Lubrown]

Thanks for that. Why better than a fan heater though? Wouldn’t it take longer to heat the place up? Probably more efficient I guess.

To be fair it heats up the space pretty fast.

 

[Ayjay]

Personally, I don’t know enough about the technical aspects to say whether or not an oil filled radiator is good or bad but we’ve used one in the van for a few years now and it works very well indeed - only 700W but kept us nice and warm when it was around 4 outside. IIRC I paid about £17 in The Range at the time and it was one of the best (and cheapest) things I’ve ever bought for the van.

 

[WillC]

Yeah I was wondering what was wrong with oil-filled. Heavier and slower to heat up maybe? But stay hot longer I guess.

 

[Lubrown]

Yeah I was wondering what was wrong with oil-filled. Heavier and slower to heat up maybe? But stay hot longer I guess.

You’re right - oil filled are heavier and much slower to heat up than oil free. There is also the (probably tiny) risk of leaks and pressure issues. If it’s at the foot of your bed and goes wrong a hot oil shower might be a rude awakening!
Oil filled do keep their heat much longer, which can be a bonus and might make them more efficient (no idea how long you need to run them to recognise overall efficiency in terms of abstracting and transporting the oil around etc) but also means they can’t be put away until cool enough.

Our van is so well insulated we don’t use a heater in there. The only time we drag that oil free one out the loft is at Christmas when we have a real tree right next to the lounge radiator who we turn off to reduce needless drop (and keep the dog warm - the tree is in her bedroom after all, lol).
If your van is also well insulated the ‘stays warm longer’ benefit might not be as much use? Might even be a downside if you overdo it with heat to start with as it would take a while to cool back down.

 

[Dellmassive]

The main reason is that oil filled rads "can" leak the oil.

If they did then that's your interior floor ruined.

So no chance of ruining your van with a Chico.

Fyi I only found out about this when I was researching what 240vac heater to get for the van.

I come across loads of bad reviews about leaking oil rads, including branded units from Delonghi and other known brands.

Then come across the Chico as recommended by Van Dwelling types as a good bet for a campervan as it's oil less.

So I got.one, and never looked back - until I got a Autoterm diesel heater.

 

[Srea064]

We have the Outdoor Revolution Eco Electric Heater 600W / 1200W. Excellent little heater that heats the van up very well indeed.

Electric Eco Heater 600W / 1200W

The Electric Eco Heater is a travel fan heater, which has been designed to swiftly warm up smaller spaces, such as your caravan awning, drive away awning or family tent, whilst easily packing away into your travel bag, due to the compact dimensions, making it an ideal cold weather companion for...

www.outdoor-revolution.com

 

[Stay Frosty]

Got a £10 2kW two setting fan heater as we rarely get hookup and have a Webasto but prefer not to use either one as we're trying to save the planet.
Plan C then is just the three speed electric under blanket which flat out burns 65 Watts of electric so barely more than the fridge and works a treat without killing the leisure battery, we do have to wear gimp masks to keep our heads warm but hey ho.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Whatever you get make sure it switches off if it tips over.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Got a £10 2kW two setting fan heater as we rarely get hookup and have a Webasto but prefer not to use either one as we're trying to save the planet.
Plan C then is just the three speed electric under blanket which flat out burns 65 Watts of electric so barely more than the fridge and works a treat without killing the leisure battery, we do have to wear gimp masks to keep our heads warm but hey ho.

We have a very similar setup. £10 2kW fan heater, 700W oil filled radiator, leccy blanket, Webasto. Covers all the bases and never been cold yet, even when skiing in the Alps in -20C. If we have EHU, then the fan heater during the day/evening. Switch to oil radiator and leccy blanket at night, Webasto when we’re off grid.

 

[RichyJ91]

We have the Outdoor Revolution Eco Electric Heater 600W / 1200W. Excellent little heater that heats the van up very well indeed.

Electric Eco Heater 600W / 1200W

The Electric Eco Heater is a travel fan heater, which has been designed to swiftly warm up smaller spaces, such as your caravan awning, drive away awning or family tent, whilst easily packing away into your travel bag, due to the compact dimensions, making it an ideal cold weather companion for...

www.outdoor-revolution.com

I'm tempted by this also. Still going strong? I like that it doesn't look shit, and that it would look nice in the corner.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Looks swish but very much form over function as 600 or 1200 Watts is pretty modest for heat output whereas up to 2,000 watts from a heater a quarter of that £40 price will surely send the campsite bankrupt and have you opening the windows to let the heat out.
All being daft apart so many times with electric heaters there's so much nonsense spouted about digital smart control making them so modern and economical when the reality is they're not an heat pump, you don't get out more heat out than you put energy in, they're just a resistance across the live and neutral, a kilowatt of electric in and a kilowatt of heat out, that 16A blue EHU should give you 4kw to play with... two £10 heaters.

 

[Milky12345]

Id recommend a Kampa Diddy, very quite and powerful. Soon warms the space up. I have found oil rads don't effectivly warm up such a large space with the poptop roof up.

 

[DXX]

600W is plenty for a small van, be aware that many overseas campsites have a 4A EHU limit.

 

[Stay Frosty]

600W is plenty for a small van, be aware that many overseas campsites have a 4A EHU limit.

9 electric blankets then.