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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: holding tank insulation
I installed Ultra Heat brand tank heaters. I went with 120v heaters as if it is that cold I plan to be plugged in. The fresh water tank I did the combination 12v/120v for additional heat and heat while in transit. Add up the 12v amps before you buy a bunch and need to add a second converter. You can find lower cost stuff on ebay but watch the wattage as you may need two pads for larger tanks. My tanks have been good down to about -5F in my fair weather trailer.
I used 120v heat tape to wrap the waste pipes and covered that with self stick foam insulation from Home Depot.
My trailer underbelly is fully exposed.
www.ultraheat.com
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smkettner
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05/07/12 06:30pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: HTT water tank insulation
And the "not cheap" part is what I dread...
I've been continuing to research this. I looked at the UltraHeat system which basically runs over $1000 if you were to do everything. Additionally, it seems that if I am dry camping I will be out of juice on my single 27M battery by about 7:00PM the first night out....
So, what does the minimalist do? Heat the FW tank, leave the grey tank open to the outside and use heat tape on the BW outlet pipe so it doesn't explode? Or maybe, pour a couple of gallons of windshield washer fluid into the Gray and black tanks at the beginning of the trip and leave them closed. It seems that I am certainly not going to be able to avoid the tank heater for the FW tank.
Considering the battery issue - is this a case where (since I am dry camping), I definitely will need to have a generator so that I don't kill my battery the first night even if I am just heating the FW tank?
So many nuances to consider....
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vicblaze
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04/03/12 06:05pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: What did you do to your Class A MH today???
Busy winter. Weekend RV'd up north into the snow, every weekend. Also dealt with constant generator problems, sadly. Finally just as the lame winter warmed, I determined that it wasn't getting spark. Now I have a new coil & wires and it runs fine. there many other stops along the way; fuses, new fuse blocks, a new carb, new rubber fuel lines...
I would consider my wild project a huge unmitigated success however; RVing every weekend all winter, in snowy cold ski weather. I learned a lot about freezing water & trying to keep ahead of it using ultraheat tank blankets and pink stuff in the traps. I "winterized" my RV, and washed it, every week at the end of the weekend. You get good at it with so much practice. A notable product is the sewer solution. this device works very well.
We had a huge year long plan to go to SW CO to go skiing but we are looking at a thin snowpack and a terribly warm forecast. Plan B might go to Yellowstone, Bozeman & Driggs. Plan C might go to Washington DC & VA. I think we'll postpone the SW CO trip for one year.
My family & I have had a great time and we look forward to next winter, with a lot of learning and parts optimization behind us. thanks for all the help that I've received from forum friends.
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anemic
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03/21/12 01:58pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Disaster strikes truck camper
I'm finally getting more time to repair my camper. Here are a few pic's.
I have't glued anything yet. I have a gallon of Stabond E-183.
I am also in the process of figuring out what I need from UltraHeat to harden my water system.
I will keep posting until I'm done. If anyone has any suggestions please chime in.
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/74/162xk.th.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/9052/168rm.th.jpg
http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/2607/219rh.th.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8238/235n.th.jpg
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nutmg1
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03/13/12 09:27am |
Truck Campers
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RE: winter time and it's COLD out there! data from a test
Probably the pad tank heaters would be ok to say 20 f. I believe the web site for them lists their effective temperature range, and that would be better than my "guess".
This link from their WEB site;
http://www.ultraheat.com/why_ultraheat.html
says they have been "Cold room tested to protect down to -11 degrees F (-24 degrees C) on exposed tanks, pipes, & elbows.". (One could probably double up on them for colder temperatures.)
I'm happy to read that. This means I'm protected without messing around with enclosing the tanks and running extra heating/light bulbs (hard to power when drycamping) in the tank areas.
It sounds like these Ultraheat pads are the simplest way to winter-proof your RV liquid systems in a simple and straight-forward way. A great systems addition to the ready-for-anything-anywhere-anytime rig ... expecially the 12V versions for unexpected cold weather drycamping or by leaving them turned on while traveling in cold weather.
Sire is; As long as you've got enough battery or a Genny?
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rehoppe
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01/24/12 07:47am |
Tech Issues
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RE: winter time and it's COLD out there! data from a test
Probably the pad tank heaters would be ok to say 20 f. I believe the web site for them lists their effective temperature range, and that would be better than my "guess".
This link from their WEB site;
http://www.ultraheat.com/why_ultraheat.html
says they have been "Cold room tested to protect down to -11 degrees F (-24 degrees C) on exposed tanks, pipes, & elbows.". (One could probably double up on them for colder temperatures.)
I'm happy to read that. This means I'm protected without messing around with enclosing the tanks and running extra heating/light bulbs (hard to power when drycamping) in the tank areas.
It sounds like these Ultraheat pads are the simplest way to winter-proof your RV liquid systems in a simple and straight-forward way. A great systems addition to the ready-for-anything-anywhere-anytime rig ... expecially the 12V versions for unexpected cold weather drycamping or by leaving them turned on while traveling in cold weather.
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pnichols
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01/23/12 06:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: MOST FAVORED HEAT SOURCE ?
Ok, we spent over 50,000 miles with our hybrid. Lowest temps about 10 F.
Ours did not have a belly heated by furnace, so we got heated waste tanks, and heated waste pipe stuff from Ultraheat. It all was easy to install and worked great. Fresh water tank was inside under front, so I installed a 60 watt light near tank which turned on whenever we turned on tank heaters. Used a remotte thermometer to be sure that was enough, and it was.
If temps were above 40 F we used our heatpump. Always set furnace for a lower temp just in case it got cold enough heat pump turned off. ALSO set a electric heater on stove aimed into tent end whenever heat was needed.
We also had Popup Gizmos which helped a lot to keep us warmer in tent end.
Hope that helps.
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Chuck&Gail
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12/19/11 04:14pm |
Hybrid Travel Trailers
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RE: Motor-home plumbing...
If you can access the lines I would add some pipe heat not just insulation.
www.ultraheat.com :http://www.annodindustries.com/shop/pipe-heaters
I added a recirculating system to resolve the same issue.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24843579.cfm
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smkettner
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12/19/11 10:22am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Cold Weather Camping and Grey Tank Piping
x3 on Ultraheat. Successfully used their products on last two TT's. No problems.
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Chuck&Gail
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12/07/11 09:26am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Cold Weather Camping and Grey Tank Piping
Hi,
This is a concern. I'd add tank heaters, pipe heaters and elbow heaters.
Here is one firm that does this:
http://www.ultraheat.com/rv_products.html
X2 the Ultra heat tank heaters are great products but doubt if they're going to be very effective without an enclosed belly. Certainly would be better than nothing but you'd probably be better off winterizing the trailer and carrying water.
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skipnchar
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12/06/11 08:15pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Cold Weather Camping and Grey Tank Piping
Hi,
This is a concern. I'd add tank heaters, pipe heaters and elbow heaters.
Here is one firm that does this:
http://www.ultraheat.com/rv_products.html
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pianotuna
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12/06/11 05:50pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: how to prevent black tank drain from freezing
I use this self regulating heat tape:
http://www.morelectricheating.com/contentonly.aspx?file=images/items/easyheat_psr_l.jpg
http://www.morelectricheating.com/default.aspx?page=item%20detail&itemcode=EASY10065
Coil it around with about an inch spacing and then you need to insulate. It is slow, so leave it on the night before or continuous.
Here is some wrap:
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/73/7324e35a-72a5-4985-b7a6-afe78c28a956_300.jpg
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100174724/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Also Ultraheat has some product just for the valves:
http://www.annodindustries.com/shop/elbow-gate-valve-heaters
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smkettner
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12/05/11 09:51pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Has anyone ever installed their own winter package,
Check out ultraheat.com I take my 5er to our local ski resort every weekend. They have about 40 electrical hook ups. My camper has the "Polar Package" but my water tank and lines still freeze up after the third night. I just put the large tank heater on my 60 gal water tank and waiting for the snow to drop so I can test it out. Since the electricity is provided we try not to use the propane heater. Looking for a way to add an electric heating coil to my furnace duct. That way I could heat my basement with electric heat only.
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franknbeans
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11/03/11 10:23am |
Toy Haulers
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RE: What did you do to your Class A MH today???
ordered: stereo amp & head unit to replace the antique, wagan 3000w inverter & associated gear (fuse, cables etc), tank blankets from ultraheat (3 x dual voltage tank pads for fresh black & greywater tanks, 1.5" & 3" valve body heaters & a forthcoming product, the waterpump blanket), ordered a cable actuated valve so I can retain the greywater contents in the tank thus no need to heat that run. It was fun. Now trying to pull trigger on solar charge system. the panels I had chosen are out of stock. researching options.
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anemic
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11/01/11 08:24am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: TT underbelly heating alternative compared to ultraheat
I did four tanks. UltraHeat parts about $550, another $104 for 120v heat tape for waste pipes, ~$100 for various wire and supplies so maybe $750/$800. Self install.
Also check ebay for low cost items.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=rv+tank+heater&_sacat=See-All-Categories
My UH pads are holding onto the fully exposed tanks just fine after 3 years.
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smkettner
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10/29/11 09:11pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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TT underbelly heating alternative compared to ultraheat
An electrically heated trailer underbelly alternative. Here’s my idea. Purchase 120V Electric “3 ft. x 29 ft. Slab Heating Mat Warmly Yours WSHM-120-03029” ($649.57), tile floor underlayment heating pad.
3 ft x 29 ft slab heating mat
UltraHeat option cost.
My TT has 4 tanks, 2 gray, 1 black, 1 fresh h2o:
UltraHeat 40 gal tank pads approx. price:
13.5vdc – approx. $160
120v – approx. $175
Dual voltage – approx. $190
Pipe heaters of various sizes – approx. $70
Elbow heaters – approx. $50
Switch pak – approx. $100
Total approx. cost using UltraHeat option:
4 tanks 12v approx. price - $1320
4 tanks 120v approx. price - $1380
4 tanks dual voltage approx. price - $1440
Slab heating mat option:
So my thinking is to run the “slab heating mat” down the length of the trailer under belly, backed by the suppliers “Cork Underlayment Sheet Warmly Yours CORK-SH6MM-2436” in 36” x 24” sections. I would need 15 of them. Approx. cost $80.
Cork underlayment
You can even add a “Circuit Check Warmly Yours SS-01” approx. $10.50 to ensure there are no shorts in the slab mat.
Circuit check
A controller for dual voltage - Dual Voltage Power Module Warmly Yours CT230-GA. Approx. cost $110.
Dual voltage controller
Total cost for slab heating mat w/ cork underlayment approx. $850.00. This installment would provide a full length of trailer heating source that would generate warmth by convection and conduction and radiation to keep the entire underbelly of the trailer warm/prevent freezing and eliminate the need to run gas heater.
Another option from this same company would be the foil “Electric Environ II 2 ft x 10 ft Radiant Floor Heating Panel Warmly Yours 210-10-240” at approx. $176 per sheet. This option would require 6 sections with approx. cost of $1056. Total cost approx. $1250.
Foil heating pad
Rumor has it that tank heaters that are adhesively attached to the tank will eventually fall free and fail to operate as designed.
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gktsuda1956
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10/29/11 12:52pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: ultraheat tank/pipe heaters - Do you really need 120v & 12v
Here's the response from UltraHeat when I asked them about wattage.
Hello Glenn,
I'd be happy to help you, what heat panels are you looking at? Each
panel would have a difference wattage usage based on operational voltage and ampere draw. To find the wattage use of any item I refer to Ohm's Law, I (amperage) X E (Voltage) = P (wattage) I X E = P
We do list both the Amperage and Voltage on all items we sell, these are the most common technical electrical references used. If you need more help in finding your answers please contact us again.
Michael J. Lewis
Vice President
UHI Worldwide, Inc.
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gktsuda1956
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10/28/11 12:33pm |
Tech Issues
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ultraheat tank/pipe heaters - Do you really need 120v & 12v
Getting ready to add tank/pipe heaters to the trailer. An expensive endeavor, especially when paying a shop to do it. I could save some money by putting only the 12v heating pads. But on the UltraHeat website they recommend putting both 120v and 12v:
Q-7) What is the advantage to the Model 3600 Tank Heater vs a single voltage heater?
A) When you are parked, the 120v (AC) side of the heater can be used eliminating any undo stress to be placed on the 12v converter.When traveling, the Tank Heater can utilize the 12v (DC) power from the alternator of the vehicle allowing you to maintain liquidity in the tanks.
Is there really going to be "undo stress" to the 12v converter? Would that cause premature failure of the converter?
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gktsuda1956
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10/27/11 07:33am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Heat Wraps
we have the ultraheat packs on our fifth wheel( it came with them) and we have never turned them on. We stay the winter in SW Arizona and have never needed them, but good insurance for the just in case times!
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D&E Johnson
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10/18/11 03:38pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Heat Wraps
For waste tanks, google ultraheat. They have all you need, AND advise on how much you need.
For sewer hose, disconect and drain before freezing, or you will not be off to a fast start come morning. Do not ask how I know this.
Thanks for the Ultraheat info, that looks like some cool stuff.
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calewjohnson
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10/18/11 03:05pm |
General RVing Issues
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