Back Seat Heat Plus (???)

-Has anyone had experience with this product?
-Is it a big deal that it draws 25amps. ?
-Anything special that needs to be done other than install it and crank it up?
-Is there a better suggestion for heat?

I was about to reinstall the heat boxes on the Envemo (they were removed by the prior owner). Then, this item was brought to my attention as an alternative. I really don't want to do any harm to the electrical system in the car, but in NJ it gets cold in the evening in about a month.

Please, don't anyone respond to this post by suggesting a move to SoCal. All my wife needs is one more person to suggest that, and she's there with or without me. Just tell me how to keep the feet warm in NJ.

Herb, A few of the guys are using this unit, and depending on whether they are in the north ploe or south pole, they seem to work pretty well. I followed the advice of one of the members and installed my under the dash/over the co-pilots legs, and it seems to squelsh co-pilots complaints.....and strangely enough, I have a brand new one/in the box/never used, that I would be willing to sell. When I was needing one, I chased two( not wanting to lose one) on ebay, and won them both.....so I ended up with two. E-mail me if your interested in a bargain


Gclarke "The Vacaville Guy"

Anyone installed a VW gas heater? I'm working on a TIV conversion and apparently the heat exchangers (from a 412) are actually just preheaters. Are any models better for the Speedster? I understand the Thing, later Buses, and the 411/412 came with them. Seen Stewart Wasrner and Erbacher.

I'm doing a gas heater install now. There are two pictures in my file that show the heater and the entire kit. It includes a diverter so I will have defrost and heat.

If you install a 25a electric heater, you might want to upgrade your alternater to one of the new 70a units, or you may be drawing on your battery and not just your alternator when you run it.
Ron

HI G CLARKE,HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT?

Jud E-mail me....ClarkeG@crcindustries.com

Ron, Thanks for the suggestion. That is the kind of information I am looking for. I am taking the car in for some work in a couple of weeks.

Gary, I am going to taker you up on the offer (if the unit is still available), and I sent you an email with my address for shipping. Thanks.

Wolfgang, I have bought three vw heaters. After a little cleaning
they all work like champs. I have two bn4's and one bn2 that I'm keeping. My plan is to install it in my speedster (someday). They are
well engineered, provide almost instant heat (and plenty of it). Some of the benefits of this type of heater over htr boxes;
1. you have heat without engine running
2. less weight (much)
3. it can recirculate interior air for quicker warm-ups
4. not that i would, but you can install a timer to preheat your car
for you

I like it.
p.s. I paid between $70----$140 for each, a bargain

Herb,

I'm not familiar with these heaters. Is there a website that explains their use and installation?

David

Dave, They are called "Back Seat Heat Plus" , and are made by Therm technology Corp, in Grandville Mi. They are usually sold in RV, and Marine outlets. They are 2 speed 12 volt fan heaters with probably the most output for any small heater.


PS I have a unit that I had installed in my speedster, that i never used ( under dash) I'm replacing it with a hidden sound cd player.
The heater is for sale.....works great.


Gclarke

Those electric heater that plug into a lighter socket offer very little heat...maybe enough to defrost your windshield over time. You are not going to get any usuable heat to heat up the cockpit and combine that with the drafts you'll still be uncomfortable.

For any decent electric heat you need to look for one that's running, fused, direct off the battery. It takes a lot to even get 500 watts out of a 12 volt system.

Brian

Yeah, like 42 amps for a resistive load like a heater. Do the math- and after coverting watts to btu/hr, you'll find that 500w just isn't very much heat.

Your right Stan...these little electric heaters just will not heat your interior. They make an adequate defrost but that's about it. Even for defrost I'd go for one of the coil demisters that I've seen for sale in the UK. Suction cups on either end, bar with coiled element right next to glass...

Brian

I remember reading somewhere on the forum about someone using a Type 4 oil cooler as an interior heater. Thought that might be a pretty good idea, if you could come up with a suitable housing with fan for it, and some way of modulating the temperature.

Actually, using a larger T-1 or T-4 oil cooler inside of a conventional small car heater box might work well. Then the temp modulator and blower would already be there. Should be pretty easy to find a place to mount it, too. Assuming that it's mounted somewhere in back, bring in the air from the back of the cockpit and blow it back out at the front, using the existing outlet ports and defrost ports.

For that matter, you could get a suitably sized heater box , with the right features for you, in a salvage yard and then get a Derale or other cooler the same size as what's in there (but it would handle the oil pressure and have the correct fittings). THAT would make a cool, custom heater assembly and much more efficient than the original heater boxes.

Dear Mrs. Kruttschnitt,
I live in southern California. Yes, it is warm here all year round. I own a yellow speedster. I am financially independent . . . . .
(Sorry man, I just couldn't let that one go by!)