Campers Millivolt heating

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Baja SS

Froze Member
Although the camper has a forced air heater in it, it requires lots of power to run the fans so.......

Baja rearranged the space where the dual power water heater is and installed a millivolt heater also. No need for power for that heater just a few extra thermocoupls stored in case one goes bad.

Check out your local scrap yards and ask if they get campers in. If so you can buy the heaters cheap (if you cant find one Baja has dozens but not so cheap) :D
 
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Baja SS

Froze Member
A millivolt system provides it's own electricty

A heater gas valve has two circuits a pilot circuit and a main valve circuit.
On a millivolt heater you provide the energy needed to open the pilot valve
by manually pushing the button in.
As the thermocouple gets hot it produces
very small amounts of electricity enough to electromagneticly hold open the main valve as the thermostat calls for heat.

Mind you that these types of heaters have no fans and work by the old heat rises and cold fall method. the heat can the be circulated around the room by any movement in the space or stirred up by a simple hand fan waved a few times.

The best place to sleep at night would therefore be as high in the space as possible, the higher you get the less fuel will be needed to keep you comfortable at night.

Help any ?
 
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Baja SS

Froze Member
WARNING WARNING WARNING

Sorry gang I forgot one of the most important things SAFETY.

If you even think about attempting something like this you MUST be 100% positive that the heat exchanger in these things are not cracked. If there was to be a crack it could allow carbon monoxide
into the living space.
 
R

RJC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Baja SS said:
Sorry gang I forgot one of the most important things SAFETY.

If you even think about attempting something like this you MUST be 100% positive that the heat exchanger in these things are not cracked. If there was to be a crack it could allow carbon monoxide
into the living space.
Click to expand...
Well that's true of any fuel burning furnace.

How are you venting this unit? Is what you are referring to as a millivolt heater, a RV water heater? This is not a forced air unit without the fan, right? I presume some millivolt heaters in small campers must just radiate heat and this is what you are referring to.
 
B

Baja SS

Froze Member
yes this is a radiant heater out of an old camper. I turned the water heater 45 deg. to allow space for a second heat sorce to be added. It's vented thru the outside wall just like all others. My camper is not always located where there is electric to run the main furnace. So as a backup....
 
R

RJC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you

That is an excellent backup prep.

As you said earlier, extra thermocouples should be secured and also for the refrig, WH, furnace as well.
 
D

DrJerry

Inactive
Baja SS said:
Sorry gang I forgot one of the most important things SAFETY.

If you even think about attempting something like this you MUST be 100% positive that the heat exchanger in these things are not cracked. If there was to be a crack it could allow carbon monoxide into the living space.
Click to expand...
I think that's what killed Johnny Cash's daughter. She was just getting started as a Musician and was living in her camper. Missed a gig, they went looking for her, and... <sad>
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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My RV has a built-in CO detector/alarm. You cannot use the propane unless the CO alarm is turned on.
 
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Relic

Veteran Member
Dennis- CO detector

Got a backup?
That's EXACTLY the kind of thingy that will fail/break/wearout at the worst possible time.

AND depending on the sensor type, the half-life can be either 5 or 10 years- just like a smoke detector, you must replace the whole unit after a certain period.
 
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