laserblazer Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Does anyone use one of these or similar? Browse for Products | CPC Our minibus takes hours for the heater to start doing anything and when I take the kids swimming and it's cold, even though I de-ice the windscreen, it mists up inside, once the bus is full of kids.
Disaster Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Yep I bought one for about a tenner when my heater packed in. It was rubbish for de-misting the windscreens. Kicks out a little bit of heat if you put your hands right on it, like a candle... 1
twin--turbo Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 waste of time. At most your Cigar lighter will be rated at 30A @ 12V which works out at 360W. A domestic fan heater is rated usualy at 2-2.5KW. Now given that 1)Domestic fan heaters don't do a great job (I ran one in the car for 40 mins a few weeks ago as My heater packed up and the car was only WARM) 2)This has 8 time less power. 3) Your in a big cold bus 4) You want to be careful drainging that much power constantly on cold days. It is not worth the effort. Rob 1
twin--turbo Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Similar one on Maplin "2m power cord with 15A in-line blade fuse" So that's a Max of 180W Rob 1
crc-ict Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 I was given exactly one of those a few years ago as a gift. It was completely useless - virtually no heat and pathetic airflow. Not even any good as a fan in the summer! 1
laserblazer Posted January 8, 2013 Author Posted January 8, 2013 I thought about a mains fan heater but it means running a cable across the carpark. I guess I'll just have to run the engine for 15 minutes or so.
MatthewL Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 I would speak to your local garage and see if they can loo to install a night heater in there similar to what is installed in a lorry, they kick out the heat and you can set them on timers.
Ketlane Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Unhelpful for your immediate problem, but long-term it's worth specifying a heated windscreen when the school buys/leases a new minibus. Justifiable on safety/visibility grounds. Surprisingly good value.
laserblazer Posted January 8, 2013 Author Posted January 8, 2013 I would speak to your local garage and see if they can loo to install a night heater in there similar to what is installed in a lorry, they kick out the heat and you can set them on timers. Still got to plug it in. The parking space is a long way from a mains socket.
3s-gtech Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Diesel powered 'truck' heater can be a good investment, perhaps also a new thermostat in the engine if that one is sticky. Full of kids on a cold morning, it'll still mist up though.
laserblazer Posted January 8, 2013 Author Posted January 8, 2013 Diesel powered 'truck' heater can be a good investment, perhaps also a new thermostat in the engine if that one is sticky. Full of kids on a cold morning, it'll still mist up though. I only use it first thing on a Thursday, usually it doesn't go out until later in the day and has defrosted, so it wouldn't be worth spending a lot of money. I have considered the thermostat and I'll get it checked the next time it's serviced.
MatthewL Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 Still got to plug it in. The parking space is a long way from a mains socket. A night heater works off the vehicle, doesn't need any mains just pulls from the fuel tank.
twin--turbo Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 From recent experience, I found that Deisel cars run way way cooler than petrol and can take an age to warm up normaly. The intenet is littered with owners complaining of cool running during winter months. TT
kili Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 (edited) Does anyone use one of these or similar? Browse for Products | CPC Our minibus takes hours for the heater to start doing anything and when I take the kids swimming and it's cold, even though I de-ice the windscreen, it mists up inside, once the bus is full of kids. It sounds like your engine thermostat may have failed. Fortunately they fail in the open position hence the reason it dosent close to allow the engine to get up to temperature. When working correctly once at temperature it opens and closes to allow water to flow through the radiator to cool or closes the valve to keep it at temperature. Just replaced mine last week for that very reason. Might be simpler to get it checked out and or replaced. Mine cost me £29 for the part and 20 minutes to replace. Edited January 8, 2013 by kili
twin--turbo Posted January 8, 2013 Posted January 8, 2013 What make is the Minibus? If it's a Ford Transit TDCI, then this is a common occurance.. Even after replacing Both thermos.. Rob
laserblazer Posted January 24, 2013 Author Posted January 24, 2013 I've had a 2KW fan heater in it since 6.20am and there's still ice on the windscreen and roof. It's starting to melt now though.
Pyroman Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 Problem is, no matter how much you heat it, you're always gonna loose bags of heat out the windows as it's such a massive surface area exposed to the cold. I've found this with my camper and installed thick lined curtains to try and help a bit.
SteveBentley Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 Agreed on those 12v heaters being rubbish - got one from Argos while I was waiting for the garage to sort my thermostat valve, couldn't even clear the screen with it. Or hear the radio while it was on.
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