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MacGyver coach heater [message #111457] Sun, 09 January 2011 16:11 Go to next message
hertfordnc is currently offline  hertfordnc   United States
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
Senior Member
I just thought I'd share this, some might find it useful or amusing.

There is presently no working heat in the Revcon.

I could buy a Space heater at walmart for $20 but what fun is that?

I happen to have an extra RV electric water heater and a heater core with blower from a toyota pickup.

So,i primed the water heater, connected it to the heater core, added and RV water pump and the whole thing blows out fairly warm air.

It gets it up to where you can no longer see your breath.

The water heater is 1500 watts so I guess that's around 4000 BTU's, minus the inefficiencies.

Besides wanting to warm the coach up right now, i'm considering a hot water heating system instead of the furnace.

This give me a baseline for what it will take.









Dave & Ellen Silva Hertford, NC 76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021 It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111458 is a reply to message #111457] Sun, 09 January 2011 16:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
Senior Member
here is some research, I did a few years ago,
http://gmcmotorhome.info/hydronic.html

I did not follow up, because it was expensive and difficult, but you can see
what the "others" did ---- includeing our newest "bring-er-home" Mark

gene



On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 2:11 PM, dave silva <david.j.silva@uscg.mil> wrote:

>
>
> I just thought I'd share this, some might find it useful or amusing.
>
> There is presently no working heat in the Revcon.
>
> I could buy a Space heater at walmart for $20 but what fun is that?
>
> I happen to have an extra RV electric water heater and a heater core with
> blower from a toyota pickup.
>
> So,i primed the water heater, connected it to the heater core, added and RV
> water pump and the whole thing blows out fairly warm air.
>
> It gets it up to where you can no longer see your breath.
>
> The water heater is 1500 watts so I guess that's around 4000 BTU's, minus
> the inefficiencies.
>
> Besides wanting to warm the coach up right now, i'm considering a hot water
> heating system instead of the furnace.
>
> This give me a baseline for what it will take.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Dave & Ellen Silva
>
>
> Happy owners of a 1972 Flatnose Revcon
> Here by the generosity of the GMC community
> http://www.davesilva.com/revcon
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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Re: MacGyver coach heater [message #111476 is a reply to message #111457] Sun, 09 January 2011 18:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chr$ is currently offline  Chr$   United States
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
My two cents: Hydronic heating is nice, but you have all that extra water weight floating around (no Pun intended), however, with the right amount of BTU,s a baseboard heat system should be nice and quiet.

-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
Re: MacGyver coach heater [message #111486 is a reply to message #111457] Sun, 09 January 2011 20:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
idrob is currently offline  idrob   United States
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
Senior Member
hertfordnc wrote on Sun, 09 January 2011 14:11



The water heater is 1500 watts so I guess that's around 4000 BTU's, minus the inefficiencies.




Each watt of electricity will convert to 3.41 BTU. Some of that may "leak" out of the hot water system where you don't want it, but all will be inside the coach somewhere.


Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
Re: MacGyver coach heater [message #111509 is a reply to message #111486] Mon, 10 January 2011 07:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Just remember. If you are camping and hooked up, electricity is (usually) free!

But I think I'd be happier with a portable electric. It would bother me having to wait to heat up the tank of water before getting any benifit


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111512 is a reply to message #111509] Mon, 10 January 2011 08:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
powerjon is currently offline  powerjon   
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Keith,
As a traveler headed to Tucson with 2 other GMC's were are presently sitting is a KOA campground outside of Memphis, TN with 6" of overnight snow. The Southern snow makes for extremely hazardous road conditions.

Now back to subject, we heat our coach with 2 1500W cube heaters and when extremely (14F) cold like it was in Benton, IL the night before we also have a 5000W heat strip in the AC unit which really picks up the load.

I know of several GMC in our club which use heated liquid (typically not water, but a antifreeze fluid) in the floor to heat their coaches and it works very well.


--
J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker
Michigan
1977 Eleganza Custom (Pending sales Contract)
1975 Avion under Reconstruction
Sitting in the snow in Memphis, TN


> Just remember. If you are camping and hooked up, electricity is (usually) free!
>
> But I think I'd be happier with a portable electric. It would bother me having to wait to heat up the tank of water before getting any benifit
> --
> Keith
> 69 Vette
> 29 Dodge
> 75 Royale GMC
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111514 is a reply to message #111512] Mon, 10 January 2011 08:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
comcast is currently offline  comcast   United States
Messages: 604
Registered: August 2009
Karma: 0
Senior Member
JR, I think I'd just stay there for a while. I'm sitting here nice
and warm watching folks down in the valley behind the house slipping
and sliding on the hill. Glad I went and got milk, eggs, and bread
last night. <G> TDOT didn't get the salt down last night so I expect
it's a mess on the roads heading into and out of Nashville.

I'm staying put right here! I love being retired!

Roger Black
77 Birchaven
Burns, Tn




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Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111517 is a reply to message #111512] Mon, 10 January 2011 08:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
J.R.,

A 5000 watt heat strip? At a nominal 115vac that would draw 43 amps. If you
combine that with the two 1500 watt heaters drawing 13 amps each you wind up
drawing 74 amps with them all running.

The ones in the Dometic A/C I bought last summer units are only 1500 watt
which draw about 13 amps each at 115VAC.

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426


-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of powerjon@chartermi.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 1:02 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Cc: Keith V
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater

Keith,
As a traveler headed to Tucson with 2 other GMC's were are presently sitting
is a KOA campground outside of Memphis, TN with 6" of overnight snow. The
Southern snow makes for extremely hazardous road conditions.

Now back to subject, we heat our coach with 2 1500W cube heaters and when
extremely (14F) cold like it was in Benton, IL the night before we also have
a 5000W heat strip in the AC unit which really picks up the load.

I know of several GMC in our club which use heated liquid (typically not
water, but a antifreeze fluid) in the floor to heat their coaches and it
works very well.


--
J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker
Michigan
1977 Eleganza Custom (Pending sales Contract)
1975 Avion under Reconstruction
Sitting in the snow in Memphis, TN


> Just remember. If you are camping and hooked up, electricity is (usually)
free!
>
> But I think I'd be happier with a portable electric. It would bother me
having to wait to heat up the tank of water before getting any benifit
> --
> Keith
> 69 Vette
> 29 Dodge
> 75 Royale GMC
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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111518 is a reply to message #111512] Mon, 10 January 2011 08:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gmcrv1 is currently offline  gmcrv1   United States
Messages: 839
Registered: August 2007
Location: Memphis
Karma: -1
Senior Member
J.R.

Welcome to Memphis! Who are you traveling with?

If you need anything there are a couple of Black listers in the area,
including me.

I am approximately 30 miles east of Memphis. 5" of very light snow.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip.


*Happy Motoring!!!*
*
*
Tom Eckert N2VWN
73 Glacier - Covered in Snow
Oakland, TN

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:01 AM, <powerjon@chartermi.net> wrote:

> Keith,
> As a traveler headed to Tucson with 2 other GMC's were are presently
> sitting is a KOA campground outside of Memphis, TN with 6" of overnight
> snow. The Southern snow makes for extremely hazardous road conditions.
>
> Now back to subject, we heat our coach with 2 1500W cube heaters and when
> extremely (14F) cold like it was in Benton, IL the night before we also have
> a 5000W heat strip in the AC unit which really picks up the load.
>
> I know of several GMC in our club which use heated liquid (typically not
> water, but a antifreeze fluid) in the floor to heat their coaches and it
> works very well.
>
>
> --
> J.R. Wright
> GMC Great Laker
> Michigan
> 1977 Eleganza Custom (Pending sales Contract)
> 1975 Avion under Reconstruction
> Sitting in the snow in Memphis, TN
>
>
> > Just remember. If you are camping and hooked up, electricity is (usually)
> free!
> >
> > But I think I'd be happier with a portable electric. It would bother me
> having to wait to heat up the tank of water before getting any benifit
> > --
> > Keith
> > 69 Vette
> > 29 Dodge
> > 75 Royale GMC
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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Re: MacGyver coach heater [message #111520 is a reply to message #111509] Mon, 10 January 2011 08:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stick miller is currently offline  stick miller   United States
Messages: 1036
Registered: March 2010
Location: Americus, Georgia
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Keith V wrote on Mon, 10 January 2011 08:35

Just remember. If you are camping and hooked up, electricity is (usually) free!


This made sense to me from the beginning. I'm not exactly a seasoned pro at this, but if I'm paying for the hookup, it seems to me I ought to use that hookup to the fullest extent. Also since I have a propane water heater, using the Suburban furnace just uses up my propane that much faster.

I guess I'm making excuses right now because my gas furnace is not working and I hate to ask Ken Henderson to help me with it. He doesn't even have a furnace! In reality, I think someone who knows what they are doing (certainly not me) could diagnose the problem quickly. At the very least, it needs cleaning.




Stick Miller
'78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
'76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie" Sold
'84 Bluebird Wanderlodge - "Past Tents"
Americus, GA
Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111532 is a reply to message #111512] Mon, 10 January 2011 10:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Steven Ferguson is currently offline  Steven Ferguson   United States
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
Senior Member
JR<
You're invited to stop here for a visit if you have time. I can support
two coaches with 30A, water and sewer. I have a well equipped shop and you
are welcome in case you have any journey repairs or add-ons. We will be
headed for Quartzsite on the 24th, early. Everything is here for hookups
though if you arrive after we leave.

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 7:01 AM, <powerjon@chartermi.net> wrote:

> Keith,
> As a traveler headed to Tucson with 2 other GMC's were are presently
> sitting is a KOA campground outside of Memphis, TN with 6" of overnight
> snow. The Southern snow makes for extremely hazardous road conditions.--
>
Steve Ferguson
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111587 is a reply to message #111514] Mon, 10 January 2011 18:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John Wright is currently offline  John Wright   United States
Messages: 118
Registered: September 2008
Karma: 0
Senior Member
--
Roger,
Hope to get out of the KOA tomorrow. Will check the road condition in the
AM.

J.R. Wright
GMC Great Laker
GMCMHI
TZE Zone Restorations
77 Eleganza II (Sale Pending)
75 Avion (Under going Frame up Restoration)
Not on the road in Memphis


On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:11 AM, Roger Black <r1black@comcast.net> wrote:

> JR, I think I'd just stay there for a while. I'm sitting here nice
> and warm watching folks down in the valley behind the house slipping
> and sliding on the hill. Glad I went and got milk, eggs, and bread
> last night. <G> TDOT didn't get the salt down last night so I expect
> it's a mess on the roads heading into and out of Nashville.
>
> I'm staying put right here! I love being retired!
>
> Roger Black
> 77 Birchaven
> Burns, Tn
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111588 is a reply to message #111518] Mon, 10 January 2011 18:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John Wright is currently offline  John Wright   United States
Messages: 118
Registered: September 2008
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Tom,
Thanks for the invitation, but we are all OK and safe. Will try to get out
of here tomorrow.

JR

On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:29 AM, Tom Eckert <gmcrv1@gmail.com> wrote:

> J.R.
>
> Welcome to Memphis! Who are you traveling with?
>
> If you need anything there are a couple of Black listers in the area,
> including me.
>
> I am approximately 30 miles east of Memphis. 5" of very light snow.
>
> Have a safe and enjoyable trip.
>
>
> *Happy Motoring!!!*
> *
> *
> Tom Eckert N2VWN
> 73 Glacier - Covered in Snow
> Oakland, TN
>
> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:01 AM, <powerjon@chartermi.net> wrote:
>
>
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Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater [message #111603 is a reply to message #111587] Mon, 10 January 2011 20:06 Go to previous message
Dennis S is currently offline  Dennis S   United States
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
Senior Member

JR
Hope you all get away Tuesday -- lots of very cold weather coming our way on Wed and Thurs. I assume you are at the KOA in Marion AR?

Safe travels on to Tucson.

Dennis


Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN --- almost Memphis
USA



-----Original Message-----
From: John Wright <powwerjon@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Mon, Jan 10, 2011 6:44 pm
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] MacGyver coach heater


--
oger,
ope to get out of the KOA tomorrow. Will check the road condition in the
M.
J.R. Wright
MC Great Laker
MCMHI
ZE Zone Restorations
7 Eleganza II (Sale Pending)
5 Avion (Under going Frame up Restoration)
ot on the road in Memphis

n Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:11 AM, Roger Black <r1black@comcast.net> wrote:
> JR, I think I'd just stay there for a while. I'm sitting here nice
and warm watching folks down in the valley behind the house slipping
and sliding on the hill. Glad I went and got milk, eggs, and bread
last night. <G> TDOT didn't get the salt down last night so I expect
it's a mess on the roads heading into and out of Nashville.

I'm staying put right here! I love being retired!

Roger Black
77 Birchaven
Burns, Tn




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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
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