Has anyone tried one of these, I found several different kinds, I would like to try one but not sure what to expect as far as performance. Ive got a 33 ford pickup. Small area to warm up. If your lookin for one, I found'm by doing a google search for "electric golf cart heater" Even found an AC unit. Anyway, let me know if anyone has tried one out.
The Mojave Heater will work for most applications. JC Whitney sells them http://www.jcwhitney.com/FLEX-A-LITE-MOJAVE-HEATER/GP_2002903_N_111+10201+600002307_10101.jcw
That jc whitney unit is a hot water deal, Im talkin bout a strictly electric unit with no water. Im not running any heater hoses through my firewall.
Sounds like a good idea,the electric one would be probably good for defrosting windshield plus a little cab heat.thanks.
I had a daily in highschool with no heat. Got cold in the Ohio winter and tried one of those 12-volt plug in lighter dash units. It was 2000 watts I believe. Basically a beefy hair dryer that put most of the electricity toward the coil as opposed to the fan. Let's just say it was nicknamed the "warm breath machine" because that's all it was good for. It would take hours to warm up the interior a few degrees. I'm sure a quality unit may do more, as this was a 15 dollar POS, but I would be weary of anything that runs 12volt to try and make heat... it takes a lot. If it has a wattage rating, compare it to a hair dryer for perspective.
Don't electric golf carts run more than 12 volt electrical systems? I did a google and their are Coleman butane units that might work well and be cheap.
When I was lookin at the ones targeted for cars, they all seemed on the jankey side. The golf cart heaters look more industrial, and I would think if you put a cool lookin heater shell from say 40's-50's over it, you might have somthin there, if it does warm the cab up.
i have an electric heater out of a backhoe or other piece of equipment.workswell in deuce roadster with side curtains. i am thinking of trying it in my sedan,but think the sedan may be too big. i bought mine through southern rods.
Better have a real good charging system for any electric heater. I tried one made for 12 volts in a 58 VW , the ampreage draw was huge.
I have used this one before. They call it a back seat heater becuase they are selling it for Jeeps that have heaters. Work pretty good. http://www.quadratec.com/products/92060_00.htm
I have a small underdash electric heater in my 32 sedan,,, I got it from southern rods a few years ago and it will keep ya from freezin' to death,,but it won't keep ya warm on a cold day. HRP
Think about the cord size you're gonna need for any noticable output, and the subsequent 30 amp draw. Now consider a moving vehicle has constant airflow so the heater has to compensate for that too. You got a 600lb heater up front already, the engine! All it needs is tapped. Good luck
heat from the motor is the way to go. ever think of running the hoses way down low through the fire wall? like almost at the floor pan?
what about a corvair heater? I don't know anything about them, all I know is that I saw one under a trunklid(front) once ,and it took me a while to figure out what it was.
There's a Toyota/Nissan pickup that has an electric heater; don't know the year or model however. I imagine it would have to be fairly small to fit in an import truck.
Don't like hoses through the firewall? What about running hard lines and using hoses only to connect them so the motor can move around? Don't think you can find a heater that works better than using the heat the coolant needs to dissapate anyhow.
Think about the electrical energy needed and you will realise that they just can't work. Hot water from the engine block or air heated by the exhaust manifold (a la VW beetle) is the way to go.
What he said. Hard lines to an under floor entry,find/build a heater core to fit under/behind the seat,(don't know the vehicle),and harvest the heat from the cooling system!
Electric heaters are feasible, new electric cars coming out such as the Tesla roadster (very bad-*** car by the way) are indeed doing it, but like mentioned before this will use LOTS of current. Think big supply cables, bigger alternator, etc. It's hard to beat hot coolant for heat though, except an electric heater would blow warm air instantly.
I'm curious why you don't want neatly routed hoses involved, you'll certainly enjoy the ride better. I got front and rear heat in the 50 Burb, and a seat heater for the wife's ****. (Driver's seat, it's her car). It really helps arthritus having that heater. Speedway Motors sells them, draws like 15 amps. Don't know how durable it'll be, maybe cost $100 bucks............?
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