Autoterm heater - leisure battery?

[MarkS25]

If I wanted to have a 2kw autoterm heater fitted, whats the feeling about needing a leisure battery (& DC-DC charger) fitted to work with it? The van doesn't have any additional outlets/wiring (sockets etc) other than 2-3 USB's dotted around. Would it be necessary for the additional expense to run the heater nicely? Realistically only be using the van for single/couple of nights at a time at the moment as it's a Kombi with bed rather than full camper.

Thanks

 

[t0mb0]

The specs for that Autoterm heater quote a power draw between 10 and 29W. If we assume this is accurate, at a nominal 12v you're looking at a draw of around 0.8A to 2.4A. Therefore, over a 24h period you're looking at a hit of somewhere between 19 to 58Ah. Given a standard starter battery is around 75Ah (and probably a maximum of 80% of that actually charged in reality), running it straight from the starter for a weekend would run a significant risk of completely flattening it.

My own experience of running a diesel heater is that I don't recall seeing that kind of hit very often, so it might be that those figures are somewhat conservative for mild usage scenarios - not something I'd want to chance with the starter battery however.

 

[MarkS25]

The specs for that Autoterm heater quote a power draw between 10 and 29W. If we assume this is accurate, at a nominal 12v you're looking at a draw of around 0.8A to 2.4A. Therefore, over a 24h period you're looking at a hit of somewhere between 19 to 58Ah. Given a standard starter battery is around 75Ah (and probably a maximum of 80% of that actually charged in reality), running it straight from the starter for a weekend would run a significant risk of completely flattening it.

My own experience of running a diesel heater is that I don't recall seeing that kind of hit very often, so it might be that those figures are somewhat conservative for mild usage scenarios - not something I'd want to chance with the starter battery however.

Thanks very much. Reinforces my own feelings really - leisure battery it would be then.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Accepted wisdom is the starter battery is sacred, it has one purpose and only one purpose. Everything else = leisure battery. If you order a factory van with a parking heater, you also have to spec the second battery.

 

[Drive Wayne]

I'll match your diesel heater and raise you a small compressor fridge. Defo Leisure battery required!

 

[Salty Spuds]

I'll match your diesel heater and raise you a small compressor fridge. Defo Leisure battery required!

…and lights and USB chargers…..

 

[StratosFearXX]

My Autoterm pull around 8 amps on startup then very little when it's actually running, it's only an electric fan you're rimming plus electronics of course.

But yeah you need a leisure battery really, and some means of charging it of course.

 

[Drive Wayne]

My Webasto pulls around 10A at start up and similar when turning off, very little whilst running.

 

[doncarlyon]

Go with a power station if it's just to run a heater. Just remember to charge it from time to time.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Go with a power station if it's just to run a heater. Just remember to charge it from time to time.

But then you have to find somewhere to keep it, and wire it into the heater, so some kind of connector. A proper leisure battery installation will be a similar price, depending on the make and models involved. The LB installation will be a more elegant solution.
Purely IMHO of course.

 

[t0mb0]

But then you have to find somewhere to keep it, and wire it into the heater, so some kind of connector. A proper leisure battery installation will be a similar price, depending on the make and models involved. The LB installation will be a more elegant solution.
Purely IMHO of course.

I think this is true in general, if you really need the portability of a power station then get one. If you don't, then a proper leisure battery install is neater.

In this case, of course, the heater is a 12v device anyway so unless you've got some other need for 240v you're literally paying for a powerful inverter that you're not actually using in a power station.

 

[Salty Spuds]

it's only an electric fan you're rimming plus electronics of course.

I bet that stings..

 

[StratosFearXX]

I bet that stings..

Dammit

 

[Dellmassive]

Yes you need a leisure battery to effectively run a diesel heater..

As above it will run off the starter but 100% you will kill the starter battery and then up with a flat battery....

Unless that is you planning on doing a 2-hour drive every single day.

 

[Bigsidavies]

The van doesn't have any additional outlets/wiring (sockets etc) other than 2-3 USB's dotted around.

Thanks

That's because you don't have a LB. The easiest and neatest solution is to fit a LB under the driver's seat then you are future-proofed for all your 12V needs going forwards.
If you want additional portable power in the future buy an additional power bank. I have a Bluetti which gives me an additional 90 Ah.

 

[spooks007]

If I wanted to have a 2kw autoterm heater fitted, whats the feeling about needing a leisure battery (& DC-DC charger) fitted to work with it? The van doesn't have any additional outlets/wiring (sockets etc) other than 2-3 USB's dotted around. Would it be necessary for the additional expense to run the heater nicely? Realistically only be using the van for single/couple of nights at a time at the moment as it's a Kombi with bed rather than full camper.

Thanks

I have a similar set up but decided to go for a leisure battery under the passenger seat. Just gives me that extra capacity further down the line