heating and cooling

[cpowell243]

I'm moving forward with my build and on to another topic. Has anyone investigated using a thermoelectric cooling/heating device to control interior temps? I know they are less efficient and are mainly used in coolers, computer cabinets, etc., but it seems a TD is such a small space... (???)

[Greg M]

It's been discussed, but the general consensus was that it was too power hungry to be used without plug in power, and too expensive when compared to the other plug in options. Still sounds cool though

-Greg

[Shadow Catcher]

I will second Greg
They require way too much current for too little cool/heat.

I went with this for cool

and this for heat Espar diesel heater

[WhitneyK]

Granted you would always have to have access to 110V, but what about the window units (converted like shown above in shadow catchers pic) that incorporate heat AND a/c in a single unit? Haven't researched too much, but surely they're available in 110V?

I'm thinking for CRA I might want to build a "portable" a/c unit for camping in late July in Indiana.?.

[Dirke]

I saw a video of a commercial TD and they used a tubular greenhouse heater.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/ ... index.html

It looked really promising.

I also thought about just using an electric blanket or one of those 12 volt window defrosters.

[KCStudly]

Jackpot! Dirke, I think you are going to get a lot of attention from those greenhouse heaters. They look to be very well suited to small campers... at least where hook ups are available.

(...or maybe they have been discussed many times before and I have been living under a rock. )

[Dirke]

Here is the video that I saw about the greenhouse heater. They mention it toward the end so scroll to the last minute or so if you don't want to watch the whole thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om3Fazu9bsw

[Shadow Catcher]

Whitney. CRA two years ago was the acid test for the AC unit, we ran it each of the three nights and judging by the amount of condensate... Warning, we come from an area with an average 15mph wind and there was none, this year there will be a big fan, and the AC.
Yes you could include a heat strip in the AC but one of the reasons for having the hacked window shaker is that it can be left home. For the times when we have AC and want heat we have a small ceramic heater that works very well.

[WhitneyK]

I saw a video of a commercial TD and they used a tubular greenhouse heater.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/ ... index.html

It looked really promising.

I also thought about just using an electric blanket or one of those 12 volt window defrosters.

I like the idea, safety, and affordability, but are they available in the US? with 110V plug in?

I like it, I like it,....... I think?

[Dirke]

Those are some good ideas. I hadn't figured out the 12v option yet.