Bug Out Vehicle Heater Solution

There are many BOV’s to choose from, the most common are converted Utility/Work Vans, Pick-up trucks and RV’s, either a trailer or motorhomes. One of the biggest issues with all of then is having a safe way to heat the interior. In a cold climate it becomes a serious issue, nothing I can think of is worse than being wet and chilled to the bone all day and all night.

The commonly used propane catalytic heaters have several issues, one being the humidity they create while burning propane is so bad the walls of your BOV are wet sometimes to the point of dripping, that dampness is also in your clothes, blankets and mattress. Another is you must have a window partially open to let oxygen in the BOV, kind of defeats the purpose of the heater. Still, another is they are either on-or-off so trying to maintain a comfortable temperature is not possible by their design.

I recently came across a Hot Air Heater that resolves all the issues. It is propane fired, has a thermostat you can set to your temperature liking, is relatively inexpensive and uses very little propane and 12-volt electricity. It uses outside air for combustion and exhaust making it very safe and efficient.

This heater is called “Propex HS2000”. Cost about $500.

Manufacturers Link:

https://www.propexheatsource.com/heaters/hs2000-furnace/

A user demo video link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VEBR8fh-Bo

Specifications:

Average propane consumption = 5 ounces per hour

Heat Output = 6,483 BTU’s (equivilent to a 1,900 watt electric heater)

Voltage = 12 volts

Current Consumption = 1.9 amps continuous running and .04 amps standby

Air Throughput = 60 CFM

Fuel = Propane

          An 8.6-pound cylinder of continuous use = 27.5 hours of heat

          A 29-pound cylinder of continuous use = 91 hours of heat

These are continuous running amounts. Once the inside temperature is reached and the furnace is cycling about 50% of the time to maintain the space temperature the propane and 12-volt current should be reduced by about 50%.

Tent Heater, Propane

For your BOV, [Bug Out Van] you may want a little heat once in a while to keep from becoming ill or simply miserable from cold temperatures, especially if you went to the desert where it can get below 20f degrees at night. In that case to have a small propane heater to take the chill out of the air would be welcome. Yes, they can burn 1lb of propane over 5-6 hours of running, but it would be worth it once in a while.

A Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy 3800-BTU heater may be just what you’re looking for.

Link to Purchase:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-Buddy-Heater-2pk/20450314?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=6978&adid=22222222227017563449&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=45287097152&wl4=pla-88657616432&wl5=9011571&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=20450314&wl13=6978&veh=sem

Cost: $60.00

Manufacturer Spec’s:

Indoor-safe portable propane heater for rooms up to 95 square feet.

Continuous odor-free heat for up to 5-1/2 hours.

45-degree heating angle.

Simple on/off buttons.

Uses 1-pound disposable propane cylinder.

Low-oxygen sensor and accidental tip-over switch with auto shut-off for safety.

THE USE OF UN-AUTHORIZED ACCESSORIES/ATTACHMENTS WITH THIS HEATER ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED, MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, AND WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.

Ventilation:

Manufacturers instructions about how much ventilation is needed when operating this heater in a closed space such as my van:

“This heater requires a vent area of 4 square inches (example 2‰ x 2‰ opening) minimum for adequate ventilation during operation. Do not use other fuel burning appliances inside”.

In other words, if I open only my drivers window ¼ inch that is more than enough ventilation to be safe. HOWEVER, I DO USE A ‘CO’ DETECTOR IN THE VAN. I’M NOT TOTALLY STUPID and believe everything I read!

How Much Heat Do You Need Calculator:

You can calculate the amount of BTUs required by using the following method: Measure the space’s dimension to determine cubic feet. (Length x Width x Height = Cubic Feet). Subtract the outside temperature from the desired inside temperature to determine the temperature increase. If you have measured temperature in Fahrenheit, calculate the required BTUs with this formula: (Cubic Feet x Temperature Increase x .133 = Required BTUs) If you have measured temperature in Celsius, calculate the required BTUs with this formula: (Cubic Feet x Temperature Increase x .2394 = Required BTUs).

Home Heating with Coal Burning Stoves

Buck Stove Link:

http://www.buckstove.com/model-24-coal.html

Is coal a smart replacement compared to purchased wood fuel? If you live in a long cold winter part of your country then coal, may be your preferred fuel to burn.

Why? Because it burns clean, hot and consistently long. So an evening load of coal in the stove will burn evenly (temperature wise) all night long. If you have a properly insulated house, how nice that would be not getting up every 3-4 hours to add wood to the stove to keep from freezing!

Coal stoves are similar to their wood burning cousins. Most use natural draft and have the similar chimney requirements as wood stoves. In the past, many stoves were designed to burn both coal and wood. Be sure to verify your wood stove is safe to use and burn coal.

‘Anthracite Coal’ is most efficient when burned in freestanding stoves. Coal fires are difficult to start, but once alight a fire can last for weeks or even months by just adding more coal and using the shaker grill to remove the spent clinkers and ash. For this reason, coal is best suited to those who use their stoves on a full-time basis, not just for a quick warm-up of the house but to maintain a comfortable home all day and all night long. I grew up using coal for heat and all the benefits mentioned are true.

Coal vs. Wood Cost:

One ton of coal is about equivalent to a one cord of wood in pound for pound BTU output.

Tractor Supply sells and if need be ships coal in 40 lb. bags $5.00 each or $250 per ton:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/kimmels-coal-and-packaging-nut-coal-40-lb?cm_vc=IOPDP1

Maintenance:

Coal stoves produce no creosote or tar, and the chimney and smoke pipe will usually only contain a white or brown fine ash coating. It is important to clean the coal stove, smoke pipe and chimney immediately following the burning season as this ash can be quite corrosive when combined with the heat and humidity of the spring/summer.

Coal produces 10 times as much ash per pound as wood does, so a large ash pan is a good feature. Shaking should be done at least twice a day and as many as six times if the stove is being run at high outputs.

How long will they last?

A quality coal stove could easily last ten years or more. Coal burns much hotter than wood, so it should be common to replace coal grates and liners as time passes.

Chimney Concerns:
Coal burns very efficiently, so the temperature going up the chimney is not as great as it is with wood. However, coal contains sulfur and other compounds which can cause corrosion, especially in stainless steel chimneys. Be sure to select a quality brand of Chimney and confirm that the warranty covers use with coal. Also be sure to clean the chimney every spring (some sweeps pour baking soda down to neutralize the acids), as most corrosion occurs over the humid summer months.

Types of Coal:

Anthracite, the type used for home heating:

Anthracite, also known as hard coal, is very clean burning and produces no visible smoke or creosote. Anthracite is coal with the highest carbon content, between 86 and 98 percent, and a heat value of nearly 15,000 BTUs-per-pound and is most frequently associated with home heating. There are 7.3 billion tons of anthracite reserves in the United States, found mostly in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This hard coal is packed with an enormous amount of energy

Bituminous:

The most plentiful form of coal in the United States and is used primarily to generate electricity and make coke for the steel industry. The fastest growing market for coal, though still a small one, is supplying heat for industrial processes. Bituminous coal has a carbon content ranging from 45 to 86 percent carbon and a heat value of 10,500 to 15,500 BTUs-per-pound.

Sub-Bituminous:

Below bituminous is sub-bituminous coal with 35-45 percent carbon content and a heat value between 8,300 and 13,000 BTUs-per-pound. Reserves are located mainly in a half-dozen Western states and Alaska. Although its heat value is lower, this coal generally has a lower sulfur content than other types, which makes it attractive for use because it is cleaner burning.

Lignite:

Lignite, sometimes called brown coal, is a geologically young coal which has the lowest carbon content, 25-35 percent, and a heat value ranging between 4,000 and 8,300 BTUs-per-pound. It is mainly used for electric power generation.

Link to another source to purchase coal:

http://www.penncoal.com/wst_page10.html