Yeah I’ll be trying one soon too but I like the idea of the whole van being warm and not just the bed. But definitely want to try one for when it’s even colder
Living in TN, house didn't have central heat so winter got cold. Electric blankets was indeed a game changer....just made one not want to get out of bed though. Best sleep ever.
Thanks Just heard you say you're going to try to make more videos and to make a go of making it full time TH-caming . So I'd like to wish you all the best for the future.
Pro tip for oil heaters, you got to put it on full blast until the top of the heater is a little warm then turn it down to lowest setting to maintain the temperature.
Yeah I was thinking that could be a good idea. But for the test I wanted to keep it simple. But I’m glad the fan heater seemed to do better because it’s so much smaller!
@@pwfraleyfor mine I use a 9-in lithium powered fan I got for 20 dollars US at Walmart and it got plenty of settings on it for all sorts of lights, timers and fan modes. I believe on low it runs for 9 hours and on high it runs for 4 hours I think and then medium I guess about 6 hours but then it's got this mode that's sort of a random speed mode and it makes you feel like you're getting sort of a natural breeze but it's not as efficient as just low speed. I find the fan to be quite efficient and so far it's been holding up well for me says it's a DC 5 volt 2 amp has input and output has a hanger on it so you can hang the fan has a clamp on it so you can clamp the fan twists it swivels it turns and I can power it with USB from anywhere with it dead. ❤ I wanted to get a second one but honestly I mean really this fan just kicks butt! I used to have a I think it's like a 3-in mini fan That's all metal construction and USB but that was only one speed and having the cord mounted to it always is a detriment because the wires could go bad. But for five bucks it did a fantastic job however mounting it above the heater was not always an easy task but I could get it done. Having a hook and a clamp and the option to swivel and twist is a total game changer cuz I don't have to deal with the crap that the small fan put me through although it was like I said a fantastic little fan for $5. That's where I got that little fan at a store called five below but it doesn't seem like they're carrying it anymore.
That’s a good idea! I was thinking a silver reflective sheet. Although it’s so much bigger than the fan heater so I’m going to stick with the dimplex for now I think
Get a couple fire bricks that will hold and radiate heat. Whenever you're cooking, surround your pan with the bricks they will heat up and then radiate for quite a while.do this in front of any heat source to conserve and transfer heat. even a bag of sand can help with this. I've known people that keep them near the engine while they're driving and then bring them inside when they stop.
Dude, I so appreciate you. It's getting cold and I don't have the room for a gas heater in my SUV. It's just too small. I only need to keep my vehicle above freezing and I have a 1500 watt Jackery. I'm thinking the 250 watt heater should work for me. For what it's worth, I think you're making the right move on concentrating on your channel. You're cute, funny, and personable. Your channel took off with almost no effort. I can imagine you hitting 100,000 subscribers in the next 6 months easily. Good luck and thanks again!
Thank you! Yeah I mean insulation will play a big part in it so could be worth getting insulated window covers if you don’t already. But yeah if you are able to re charge the jackery easily enough I’d definitely recommend trying the 250w heater!
@@Adz I have window covers from WeatherTech and two 100 watt solar panels for the Jackery plus it'll charge as I drive. On paper, I should be fine. Wish me luck. ❤️
@@darrenjones3681 I’m in a Sienna now but I don’t have a diesel heater now for the same reason as before - I’m not cutting a hole in the floor of a new vehicle.
That oil filled heater is a good idea and a simple sheet pan behind wii bounce the heat back into space. Great to see you again your sense of humor is a little "Bent" stay 😎.
Yeah I was actually thinking that about a reflective sheet. Someone also suggested a small fan behind it to direct the heat in. But with the size of that heater I think it’s easier for me to stick with the tiny 250w one for now. Hopefully it does a good job still when it gets colder!
Thats great news on going full time mate, I hope it all works out well for you! Plus it's great for us as we get to see more of your videos more often too! Great test on the heaters too, you'd think the radiator option would be the best looking at them so i'm sure you've helped a lot of people out there so they don't waste their money.
Thank you! Looking forward to making more videos now! And yeah I had high hopes for that radiator! I think radiators are more suited to being on a long time because of the time it takes to heat up. So for use on a battery that’s not ideal
I genuinely wish you well in your focus on full time YT. Your channel is by far my most favourite on the internet and I only hope your focus results in more of the excellent content we have come to know & love 😎👍🏻
It’s far better than the tube heater mate. Just gotta be careful of you have it on a timer or anything, that your duvet doesn’t touch it. I’ve found using the app to turn the delta 2 plug socket on and off is like having a remote for the heater too 😂 just need to set the delta 2 to not switch itself fully off
that location was one of my old spots when i was on the south coast in my motorhome. them little fan heaters are great. if you get cold you just move closer to it lol or..... you could use a second one at the back if the van. try a couple of mile west, at cooden you can park on the beach and in winter time the sea comes close :D or... if you want views and a walk try firle beacon as it over looks newhaven port and you can see all the boats come and go at night
I love your videos and am happy to hear you will be spending more time in them. your channel will grow quickly I'm sure of it. get your sidekick, Becky back out and go on adventures!!! Thanks
Just subscribed. The content and work that went into your experiment was great, but your delivery top notch! Enjoyed it and your beautifully timed comic lines. Best of luck going forward with your new plans.
Nice! I have a small 300w ceramic heater that is similar to the 250w you used. One thing I noticed is that you have to turn it off with the power switch so that it can run the fan to cool it down since it is made of plastic. It would be nice to be able to run it with a remote switch but that would be dangerous if you just cut the power to it after it got hot.
Catylitic gas heaters are superb and don't kill you which is a bonus! Can get them in cabinet (black cat) or as a small separate unit (Alke)...very little condensation as well, I use one in van and at home.....take care & keep the excellent content coming
I have been looking at catalytic for a while,waiting for someone to talk about them.Flo gas have a good buy incl cylinder and hose all in,any thoughts from anyone else?
Yes fella, was hoping for some mayhem from you and Queen Bectoria but enjoyed the informative content with this one! Great news to hear we may see more regular uploads. fingers crossed for ya! 🤞🏻👍🏻
Definitely my kind of content, cheers for the van heater review. Do similar stealthy van camps as yourself. I look forward to more content Adz. Mike in County Durham
I have to say that I simply love watching your videos. You come across so well and you strike me as a very affable chap! Good on you sir and please, keep up the great work.
When I had the capacity to use electricity in my cargo trailer conversion, I found out that oil-filled heaters were the best for my situation. I found that the heaters with fans did not give me as consistent a heat throughout the trailer, five foot by eight foot. The oil-filled heater at about 600 watts was filling the entire trailer with a very consistent heat down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I did not do experiments below 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside. My trailer is fully insulated. One other tip is to put the heater on the ground, if you have clearance to combustibles. This is of course because heat rises. Without the capacity for electricity, I use propane with a very large skillet on top of an open burner. It keeps the heat from rising and is not oppressive and too much like using a Buddy heater. I can set the burner on the very lowest setting and the pan radiates the heat much more efficiently. I use less propane this way.
It would’ve been good if the radiator worked well in my van because it’s the only one I’d trust when I’m asleep. Although I also have an electric blanket now to run through the night and that’s a great addition to the small fan heater for my situation!
With all these heaters you can get a plug in thermostat with a remote. That way you choose your minimum temperature and leave it switched on all night. Then the Thermostat turns it on and off when needed.
Adz, Absolute quality mate and pleased to hear that you are upping your game 👍 I think you will fly it just comes naturally to you. Take care and all the best
Good luck with the channel man. I'm the same about heaters - Diesel not stealthy, and almost overpowered in a microcamper. I'm running a 600W ducted heater from my lithium setup. Was stupidly expensive, more of an experiment but works super well. Nice testing btw. Owners of bigger vans flat out deny that battery-heating is viable in some cases. I made myself a 12v timer circuit powering some relays, set to 10-min. Means I don't kane the battery from falling asleep. via 240v there's good cheap timer plugs as you mentioned.
Thank you! And yeah I think in bigger vans that’s when electric becomes less viable but I’m determined to get through the winter without a diesel heater 😂 although if it’s too much of a struggle I may end up giving in. But for now the fan heater is working well!
@@Adz You can do it! Wondering how you charge your power unit - I have direct-to-alternator charging so i get monster rates of about 70A, but a 50A DC-DC charger should get your battery charged in ~2hrs of driving, which is easily done if not sitting on a campsite which you don't seem to do.
Adz….I love your videos pal. Inspired me to build my van and go out. I look forward to every video and your sense of humour is awesome. If you ever come to Hampshire way I know some epic spots for you. Rich
I bet that was lovely staying and waking up there right near the sea . I can't wait for you to bring out some merch , maybe a shirt with 'Now that's the one !' on it or something lol take care and good luck with doing more videos 👍
Yeah it was! Luckily it was clear blue skies too :) and I have some sample merch being made now but I want it to be good quality so I’m doing a bit of testing/research before I create the shop. Hoping to have something before Christmas though!
Great ideo Adz & a good test of those heaters, it would be good to see how much an electric blanket uses and if one would be any good for van life. You missed one van heater out of your test and surely the best heater of them all...........Becks, she must keep you warm & toasty all night long ; ) All the best.
Good luck with the channel. Good review on the heaters. I'd personally just fling the stove on for 15 minutes to take the chill out the air and get Bectoria under the covers for added warmth.
That does seem like a good option but I like the idea of having a heater running whilst the doors are shut and I have the projector out. But the stove can always be a backup
This is the first video I’ve seen of yours. Keep up the good work man enjoyed watching your heater reviews and I hope the channel pays enough for you to do it full time 👍
Adz Try an argos silent night electric blanket for around £20, although 230v it's safe to use all night. At 20w on low it hardly uses any power. I now would never go back.
I looked them up and they look good but they all seem to be under blankets. Which apparently aren’t safe on memory foam. I’m going to find a regular heated blanket to try but a lot of them have reviews of catching fire. If silent night do a regular one I’ll get it though!
Good info. When we change car next time we are considering to get something like a caddy or ford transit connect or similar. I have wondered a bit what to do about heating. No winter camping would be considered.
you are a sound guy. for me you are a sliding doors moment for tom hardy. bet you hear that all the time. ive subscribed. being down to earth is why i did. ever in n wales ? come for a beer - stay safe geez
Other than comfort OUT of the bed, no heater needed at those temps and even much colder for just sleeping. I got caught in my Ram Promaster City (similar to yours) conversion (well insulated also) with a cold snap down from Canada one night outside of Yellowstone. Overnight low was 5C, yet I slept warm and comfortable in a summer sleeping bag with no heat source at all. How? Bought a fluffy full size blanket (just fluffy and a bit heavier, not quilted) that came also with a smaller throw blanket in the same nice fluffy material. I rigged the blanket as we did as kids, as a "tent" over my sleep area by rigging a rope taught end to end overhead and then some clips to hold the blanket out past my sleeping bag to the sides. Basically it didn't touch me at all, so wasn't bothered when asleep, but it created a much smaller cavity to capture body heat escaping all night. The smaller throw was rigged at the end past my head and the pillow (large enough to double thickness it folded as your head is the most critical to keep warm) to insulate the wall at the back doors. Coldest part of the night, my "tent" was about 17C inside, plenty comfortable for sleeping in a summer sleeping bag. Slept like a baby. Invest in a blanket and the time and changes to accommodate such a "tent" on short notice and you'll never worry about cold temps. A King size blanket could be similarly arranged to span across two people also and I'm certain a double layer would get you below 0C. Oh, and one of the "hooks" to hold the rope was a large magnet with an eye bolt so you can use those on metal for a quick setup in a van.
Planar diesel heater. Set on low they are surprisingly quiet. Unless your ‘stealth’ camping in someone’s back garden I don’t really know who is gonna have an issue with it.
Great video your a natrul I have a Delta river good backup power . Also have the same plug in heater they are so good to save energy just move about to the room you want to heat not using my gas those mini green house radiators you have in your van I use in my bedroom hold the temperature. .keep up the good work van life freedom.
Thank you! Yeah I’m loving my current set up with the ecoflow and that fan heater. And now with an electric blanket too it’s easy to sleep in the cold!
@@Adz you probley know this but iff you can't charge the eco flow with solar in Winter while driving about use the ciggrette socket I did this on my last car but now have electric. What do use to edit your video is slick. The one epic
I’m really hoping I get to do a snow camp this year! But if not I’m heading to Europe to find snow next year for sure. I may have to give in and get a diesel heater for that though haha
It came up as a separate comment mate. I did reply to that one too. It’s appreciated!! I assumed they’d put super likes at the top of the comments but they are always more difficult to find! Plus the don’t show up on my studio app so I have to look for them on the main app or computer. That’s partly why I set up the brain cell website.. but I’ll always keep an eye out for the comments because I’d feel bad if I missed one!
Very informative thank you, sure you have covered this : buts what that amazing projector? I think the Amo box convection heater ,running on candles is a good try
Glad your back buddy, keep uploading please, I've literally copied the design of your camper, and mine is about 90% done now, inspiring as well as entertaining lol!! Ps. Get Becky back, its getting cold now 🤣
the tests i watched, most of the heaters were the same efficiency. They all burn up the power, depends on how much they demand (most are either 1500w or 500w, anything smaller dont do much but your van is small which might work). Oil heaters are also not the greatest, for the house i like oil because they are quiet, they keep the heat more consistent imo but it takes longer to heat the room up. The tests i saw you want to raise the temperature up to where you want it as soon as you can. instead of a small heater that doesn't have a thermostat, i have chosen a 1000w ir that has a thermostat. It should run 1000w to get temp up then off (0w) and it turns back on low (500w) after the temp goes -5C. I am trying to increase my efficiency with a new inverter. i will be testing it out tomorrow, should be +1C, i have chosen a place i can plug in. And i plan in setting it around 65F, maybe 62. the hour or so i have run it seems to take alot of power. i was hoping it would shut off more like my fridge but perhaps its my incomplete insulation? I love what you have done to your van, it looks fantastic. Did you run a fan? What was the final stats on the energy consumption for that night? I doubt i can run my heater more than 1.5 days, we shall see. i am looking at a very low watt heater, put it on a 12v timer, and put it near the bed. Hopefully have that setup for the next outing.
Same, i slept in my uninsulated van. Woke up because of being cold. Temperature was -5°C Put on a spare jumper kept inside my sleeping bag pulled the bag hood over my head. Zipped up all round. Snug as a bug and back to sleep,👍
Space heaters are better than nothing, sure, but for me the most viable stealth vehicle-camping all-night heating options are : warm clothes and a 12V electric jacket with an extension wire (for when you are still up and moving a bit around inside) and warm duvet and a 12V electric blanket (for when you are in bed). Zero noise, no energy wasted with an inverter, under 100W power usage so hours of heat with the sort of capacity battery you talk about in this video and safe enough, in my opinion, to run while sleeping (though sustained heat from the electric blanket in bed may in fact be overkill...so many have timers on them... which you can program to switch themselves off later in the night).
I have just subscribed, keep selling your intention to go full time. people like me don’t understand how youtube works. I just keep watching your videos and wait for the next. So keep saying or selling the point of “ hit the subscribe/ like button “ love your cockney voice and the way you deliver the commentary. By the way I am a grandad and married 😅
They are all 3 exactly the same efficiency. They just distribute the heat differently. In your situation a electric blanket or heating pad would be your best bet!
I understand a watt is a watt no matter what (no pun intended). But the way they distribute the heat is what makes them more or less efficient as heaters for the van. But yeah the 250w one is definitely best for me but I’m looking at adding a heated blanket to the mix as well soon
That dimplex was pretty impressive getting 22c on a frosty night. Been tempted for a while. You'd probably find a diesel heater way too hot in such a small space.
It wasn’t frosty the night I was doing the actual tests. But yeah I definitely don’t want a diesel heater in this van. Probably in the next one though!
I was thinking of going the other way and getting something a little bigger soon. The caddy does look bigger on the videos than in person so I’d definitely take a look at some before committing to it!
Yeah to be honest if it was always just me in it I’d probably want to stick to the caddy. But when I have someone with me it gets a little difficult with clothes storage
I have a Webasto diesel heater in my van which is enough for my needs during occasional winter camping trips in the UK but next winter I'm parking the van up for 2 weeks at 2300m in the Alps at an Aire close to a ski resort. It could get very cold (average lows are -10°C) so I'm looking into a good backup heating system should I have any problems with the diesel heater. Sadly I won't have access to an electric hook-up so my options are limited to what I can get via my battery (and solar), and any potential propane solutions. If I had hook-up available for the trip I'd be golden! Enjoying your content. You got a sub. P.S. The problem with the stove-top heater you mentioned is caused by the shitty paint on the top section. If you burn this paint off completely before use you won't get the problem with the smell.
Just found your channel, but if you're still using that fridge (I'm pretty sure I have the same one, and incidentally mounted in exactly the same way as yours), go into the app >settings>advanced settings, and change the start delay from 0mins to 5 or so, it'll stop the compressor from kicking on immediately when the temp sensor detects a change, and if your batteries ever get low, it'll stop it from constantly trying to start, which can really reduce the life of the pump. The fridge internally holds temp well enough that it won't affect the food. Because of how that fridge works, it's expecting 15v (on a 12v system), so even 13v is considered 50% battery level by the fridge itself, and because it draws a lot of start-up current it can often cause enough voltage drop to stop itself from starting up, and without the delay set, it can get into a loop of trying to start every few seconds.
Do I own a camper? No I need to heat one in the winter?No Did I enjoy your video far to much for someone who just scrolled across you? Ohh yes 😂 I have no clue why but, you earned a sub from me my guy, you're very easy to watch! I'm yet to look through your videos but I hope you do a variety! If not... you should consider it, maybe just your day to day activities, hobbies, idk man, but you'll do well I'm sure!
Thanks! I’m glad to hear this.. especially with this particular video because I thought it’d be pretty boring to anyone that doesn’t need to know about heating a small van 😂
It’s not really possible in the current van unfortunately but yeah I have thought about at least doubling up the curtain. So far it’s been all good though
My grandmother would just tell you to put a jumper on. Diesel heater run on kero/ATF/brake fluid is way cheaper than electric and more efficient. It's too difficult to find useable electric in a van, it's ok for quick missions, but no good full time. Nothing beats a little wood burner on those grounds.
Well you’ve just got another subscriber, I stumbled across your Halloween camp at the woods and grave yard, noticed your little heater and was about to ask where you got and hey presto another vid from you popped up testing heaters!!! Nice little test, off now to look at the desk heater myself. Great content you have on your videos, I will be watching more and hope your venture works out, I’d Love to be able to do it. Keep the vids coming!!
The one that you chose only use 6% of the battery, what did the other ones use??? I've been thinking a lot of using and oil heater and setting it to 200 W and leaving it all night. Or using the 350 watt Amazon special with a thermostat. Currently I am using a 75 W mattress heater, and I'm pretty happy with my -15 sleeping bag unzipped just as top blanket. I also have three USB handwarmers that are 6000 mA Chargers that double as a hand heater at 40°C that last 12 hours. Another thing I do when it is really cold, I boil some water outside and fill two or three of the thermal water bottles. I also throw them inside the sleeping bag.
Where the oil heaters beat other kinds of heaters is ,,,,,, setting it on a low 200watt setting and then adjusting the thermostat so that it warms up and then instantly turns off,,,, cools down and then warms again, , over and over . I does mean that it takes ages to warm up compared to a fan heater,,, but once warm,, it uses little energy to maintain the heat. I heat my house with one and only use about 2 kWh on a night (during Nov Dec, before using the central heating for Jan Feb)
Try an electric blanket, they use about 12 Watts on low and are a real game changer. :)
Yeah I’ll be trying one soon too but I like the idea of the whole van being warm and not just the bed. But definitely want to try one for when it’s even colder
+1 on electric blanket, but the game changer for me was when I found that 12V heated mattress pads were available. Amazing!
@@ScotDouglas where would I find these 😊
Living in TN, house didn't have central heat so winter got cold. Electric blankets was indeed a game changer....just made one not want to get out of bed though. Best sleep ever.
@@ScotDouglas do you have a link to these? iwould appreciate it.
Thanks
Just heard you say you're going to try to make more videos and to make a go of making it full time TH-caming .
So I'd like to wish you all the best for the future.
Thank you so much mate! I’m hoping I can make things work! Always wanted to do this so fingers crossed!
@@Adz 🤞
Pro tip for oil heaters, you got to put it on full blast until the top of the heater is a little warm then turn it down to lowest setting to maintain the temperature.
Yeah I was thinking that could be a good idea. But for the test I wanted to keep it simple. But I’m glad the fan heater seemed to do better because it’s so much smaller!
And adding a ventilator also helps distribution the Heat, but the vent also uses energy
Hi do you recommend any particular oil heater? tar
12v heated car seat cover ,works great put it underneath the bed cover best wishes dave chubb
@@pwfraleyfor mine I use a 9-in lithium powered fan I got for 20 dollars US at Walmart and it got plenty of settings on it for all sorts of lights, timers and fan modes.
I believe on low it runs for 9 hours and on high it runs for 4 hours I think and then medium I guess about 6 hours but then it's got this mode that's sort of a random speed mode and it makes you feel like you're getting sort of a natural breeze but it's not as efficient as just low speed.
I find the fan to be quite efficient and so far it's been holding up well for me says it's a DC 5 volt 2 amp has input and output has a hanger on it so you can hang the fan has a clamp on it so you can clamp the fan twists it swivels it turns and I can power it with USB from anywhere with it dead.
❤
I wanted to get a second one but honestly I mean really this fan just kicks butt!
I used to have a I think it's like a 3-in mini fan That's all metal construction and USB but that was only one speed and having the cord mounted to it always is a detriment because the wires could go bad.
But for five bucks it did a fantastic job however mounting it above the heater was not always an easy task but I could get it done.
Having a hook and a clamp and the option to swivel and twist is a total game changer cuz I don't have to deal with the crap that the small fan put me through although it was like I said a fantastic little fan for $5.
That's where I got that little fan at a store called five below but it doesn't seem like they're carrying it anymore.
With the radiant heater put a small fan behind it to circulate the heat. It will heat twice as efficiently.
That’s a good idea! I was thinking a silver reflective sheet. Although it’s so much bigger than the fan heater so I’m going to stick with the dimplex for now I think
@@Adz Get a small USB fan for something like that so its not draining ur battery on ur generator.
Get a couple fire bricks that will hold and radiate heat. Whenever you're cooking, surround your pan with the bricks they will heat up and then radiate for quite a while.do this in front of any heat source to conserve and transfer heat. even a bag of sand can help with this. I've known people that keep them near the engine while they're driving and then bring them inside when they stop.
This kind of thinking is soo helpful to the overall problem, and I like to cook outside
Dude, I so appreciate you. It's getting cold and I don't have the room for a gas heater in my SUV. It's just too small. I only need to keep my vehicle above freezing and I have a 1500 watt Jackery. I'm thinking the 250 watt heater should work for me.
For what it's worth, I think you're making the right move on concentrating on your channel. You're cute, funny, and personable. Your channel took off with almost no effort. I can imagine you hitting 100,000 subscribers in the next 6 months easily. Good luck and thanks again!
Thank you! Yeah I mean insulation will play a big part in it so could be worth getting insulated window covers if you don’t already. But yeah if you are able to re charge the jackery easily enough I’d definitely recommend trying the 250w heater!
@@Adz I have window covers from WeatherTech and two 100 watt solar panels for the Jackery plus it'll charge as I drive. On paper, I should be fine. Wish me luck. ❤️
Check out a far infrared heater, i was super sceptical, got a cheap 180w one to heat my boat and wow, it works amazingly!
If you spend that much on a power bank and heater solar ect why not fit a diesel heater?
@@darrenjones3681 I’m in a Sienna now but I don’t have a diesel heater now for the same reason as before - I’m not cutting a hole in the floor of a new vehicle.
That oil filled heater is a good idea and a simple sheet pan behind wii bounce the heat back into space. Great to see you again your sense of humor is a little "Bent" stay 😎.
Yeah I was actually thinking that about a reflective sheet. Someone also suggested a small fan behind it to direct the heat in. But with the size of that heater I think it’s easier for me to stick with the tiny 250w one for now. Hopefully it does a good job still when it gets colder!
If that oil heater had a thermostat, that just might be the best way to stay warm overnight.
Good news on going full time Good luck Becky is a Big part of your channel hopefully we can see more videos with the two of you
Thanks! And yeah she’ll be back in some vids real soon!
Thats great news on going full time mate, I hope it all works out well for you! Plus it's great for us as we get to see more of your videos more often too! Great test on the heaters too, you'd think the radiator option would be the best looking at them so i'm sure you've helped a lot of people out there so they don't waste their money.
Thank you! Looking forward to making more videos now! And yeah I had high hopes for that radiator! I think radiators are more suited to being on a long time because of the time it takes to heat up. So for use on a battery that’s not ideal
I genuinely wish you well in your focus on full time YT.
Your channel is by far my most favourite on the internet and I only hope your focus results in more of the excellent content we have come to know & love 😎👍🏻
Thanks Richard, I appreciate you watching and glad you enjoy it!
A well conducted test on them heaters mate 👍 you've convinced me to get that 250w heater and swap out my 80w tube heater 🙂
It’s far better than the tube heater mate. Just gotta be careful of you have it on a timer or anything, that your duvet doesn’t touch it. I’ve found using the app to turn the delta 2 plug socket on and off is like having a remote for the heater too 😂 just need to set the delta 2 to not switch itself fully off
converting my vw caddy and your build is pretty inspiring, keep it up iam here to follow your journey
Thanks! I’ll be adding a new but to the electrics in the next video
Hahaha 'identifies as a micro camper' love it. My favourite part is your £80 supermarket shops for a meal Adz 😂 Legend.
Hahaha I always think that. Like I could’ve got a full on takeaway 😂 but the way I see it, it’s an investment into the videos haha
that location was one of my old spots when i was on the south coast in my motorhome.
them little fan heaters are great.
if you get cold you just move closer to it lol
or..... you could use a second one at the back if the van.
try a couple of mile west, at cooden you can park on the beach and in winter time the sea comes close :D
or... if you want views and a walk try firle beacon as it over looks newhaven port and you can see all the boats come and go at night
There’s a clip of me on the beach at cooden but it was too windy to film. Haven’t heard of the other place though so I’ll check that out! Thanks!
I’m sure your going to be a success Adam,being watching for a few months,good luck mate,Chris
Thanks Chris.. I appreciate the support!
Brilliant. That heater will keep you and Bacteria nice and warm over the winter.
Just came across you mate, well impressed with your work, I'll be spending my morning watching the rest of your work.. Nice one.
Thank you Gary!! It’s appreciated!
I love your videos and am happy to hear you will be spending more time in them. your channel will grow quickly I'm sure of it. get your sidekick, Becky back out and go on adventures!!! Thanks
Thank you! And yeah she’ll be back real soon!
Just subscribed. The content and work that went into your experiment was great, but your delivery top notch! Enjoyed it and your beautifully timed comic lines. Best of luck going forward with your new plans.
Thanks Ben, it’s appreciated!
nice vid man. GL with the going full time. I like the vibe of the channel
Thank you! Fingers crossed I can make it work!
You do a good job mate...ya have that special genuine delivery...
Nice! I have a small 300w ceramic heater that is similar to the 250w you used. One thing I noticed is that you have to turn it off with the power switch so that it can run the fan to cool it down since it is made of plastic. It would be nice to be able to run it with a remote switch but that would be dangerous if you just cut the power to it after it got hot.
Catylitic gas heaters are superb and don't kill you which is a bonus! Can get them in cabinet (black cat) or as a small separate unit (Alke)...very little condensation as well, I use one in van and at home.....take care & keep the excellent content coming
Not heard of them but I’ll take a look!
I have been looking at catalytic for a while,waiting for someone to talk about them.Flo gas have a good buy incl cylinder and hose all in,any thoughts from anyone else?
Yes fella, was hoping for some mayhem from you and Queen Bectoria but enjoyed the informative content with this one! Great news to hear we may see more regular uploads. fingers crossed for ya! 🤞🏻👍🏻
She’ll be back real soon so I’m sure something mad will happen haha
She’ll be back real soon so I’m sure something mad will happen haha
She’ll be back real soon so I’m sure something mad will happen haha
Definitely my kind of content, cheers for the van heater review. Do similar stealthy van camps as yourself. I look forward to more content Adz.
Mike in County Durham
Thanks Mike! Glad you enjoyed it!
Always nice to see my home town in the background, found your channel via Mel and his small van big world channel. Enjoying what I’ve seen so far.
Thanks mate! I should hopefully be back in the barn soon too!
Great news bud, look forward to seeing the winter vids. As mentioned a electric blanket would be great too!
Thank you! And yeah I’ll be adding one to the mix soon!
I have to say that I simply love watching your videos. You come across so well and you strike me as a very affable chap! Good on you sir and please, keep up the great work.
Thank you Rob! Glad you think so and that means a lot!
I came here to look for heaters but that is one beautifully crafted van interior.
When I had the capacity to use electricity in my cargo trailer conversion, I found out that oil-filled heaters were the best for my situation. I found that the heaters with fans did not give me as consistent a heat throughout the trailer, five foot by eight foot. The oil-filled heater at about 600 watts was filling the entire trailer with a very consistent heat down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I did not do experiments below 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside. My trailer is fully insulated. One other tip is to put the heater on the ground, if you have clearance to combustibles. This is of course because heat rises.
Without the capacity for electricity, I use propane with a very large skillet on top of an open burner. It keeps the heat from rising and is not oppressive and too much like using a Buddy heater. I can set the burner on the very lowest setting and the pan radiates the heat much more efficiently. I use less propane this way.
It would’ve been good if the radiator worked well in my van because it’s the only one I’d trust when I’m asleep. Although I also have an electric blanket now to run through the night and that’s a great addition to the small fan heater for my situation!
@@Adz It does take longer to heat up than the other options, which can be harder if you can't set up somewhere for several days.
With all these heaters you can get a plug in thermostat with a remote. That way you choose your minimum temperature and leave it switched on all night. Then the Thermostat turns it on and off when needed.
Yeah that’s definitely be an idea to try. Although with limited power it’s a bit of a risk that it could drain the power station over night
Adz, Absolute quality mate and pleased to hear that you are upping your game 👍 I think you will fly it just comes naturally to you. Take care and all the best
Thank you Ralph!
Good luck with the channel man. I'm the same about heaters - Diesel not stealthy, and almost overpowered in a microcamper. I'm running a 600W ducted heater from my lithium setup. Was stupidly expensive, more of an experiment but works super well.
Nice testing btw. Owners of bigger vans flat out deny that battery-heating is viable in some cases.
I made myself a 12v timer circuit powering some relays, set to 10-min. Means I don't kane the battery from falling asleep. via 240v there's good cheap timer plugs as you mentioned.
Thank you! And yeah I think in bigger vans that’s when electric becomes less viable but I’m determined to get through the winter without a diesel heater 😂 although if it’s too much of a struggle I may end up giving in. But for now the fan heater is working well!
@@Adz You can do it! Wondering how you charge your power unit - I have direct-to-alternator charging so i get monster rates of about 70A, but a 50A DC-DC charger should get your battery charged in ~2hrs of driving, which is easily done if not sitting on a campsite which you don't seem to do.
Adz….I love your videos pal. Inspired me to build my van and go out. I look forward to every video and your sense of humour is awesome. If you ever come to Hampshire way I know some epic spots for you.
Rich
Thanks Rich! Good luck with yours! And I’m sure I’ll be there at some point! I never know where I’m going most of the time 😂
Just wanna say how much I appreciate this video! Really interesting and all the heaters well covered.
I’ve just got the dimplex one after watching your video can’t wait to test it out camping in vw t5 and the caddy maxi
Nice video 👍
Looking forward to seeing more videos !
Keep up the good work.
Blessings to You and Yours 🙏
Thank you!
get up to Scotland bro...visit Glencoe to night in van at the 3 sisters would be brilliant...oban is a must too
I really want to get up there! I’d prefer it in winter than summer I think
Well done ADZ 👍😁
Thanks!
Have been considering a heater but wasn’t sure which way to go! This video has made me want to try something electric! Thanks bro! Great channel 👍🏼
Yeah I’d definitely have a look at the options! But just remember you won’t be able to leave it running all night like a diesel heater. And thanks!!
Great little test, beats using gas for sure.
Thanks mate! Yeah I hate gas! I’m getting rid of it in my next van
@@Adz What van you looking at getting next?
The scary heater bit was sooo funny. I had the same experience with my Coleman GASOLINE stove. Not joking it’s dual fuel. Great video, thanks.
I bet that was lovely staying and waking up there right near the sea . I can't wait for you to bring out some merch , maybe a shirt with 'Now that's the one !' on it or something lol take care and good luck with doing more videos 👍
Yeah it was! Luckily it was clear blue skies too :) and I have some sample merch being made now but I want it to be good quality so I’m doing a bit of testing/research before I create the shop. Hoping to have something before Christmas though!
Great ideo Adz & a good test of those heaters, it would be good to see how much an electric blanket uses and if one would be any good for van life.
You missed one van heater out of your test and surely the best heater of them all...........Becks, she must keep you warm & toasty all night long ; )
All the best.
Yeah everyone is always talking about electric blankets so it’s definitely something I’ll try! Haha she’ll be back soon!
Thanks
Ahhh thank you again mate!!
Good luck with the channel.
Good review on the heaters. I'd personally just fling the stove on for 15 minutes to take the chill out the air and get Bectoria under the covers for added warmth.
That does seem like a good option but I like the idea of having a heater running whilst the doors are shut and I have the projector out. But the stove can always be a backup
This is the first video I’ve seen of yours. Keep up the good work man enjoyed watching your heater reviews and I hope the channel pays enough for you to do it full time 👍
Thank you, and glad you found the channel!
Me 2.
I've been doing van life for almost 2 years now!
Adz
Try an argos silent night electric blanket for around £20, although 230v it's safe to use all night. At 20w on low it hardly uses any power. I now would never go back.
I looked them up and they look good but they all seem to be under blankets. Which apparently aren’t safe on memory foam. I’m going to find a regular heated blanket to try but a lot of them have reviews of catching fire. If silent night do a regular one I’ll get it though!
I've been going through your comments. You have a lot of supportive followers
Yeah I’m so grateful to have built the audience I have on this channel!
Good info.
When we change car next time we are considering to get something like a caddy or ford transit connect or similar.
I have wondered a bit what to do about heating.
No winter camping would be considered.
Hi have you tried an electric throw. Uses hardly any power and mine has 9 heat settings. I leave mine on all night on setting 1
I’ll be trying one at some point soon yeah
Have you tried the old tealight under an upside down clay plant pot trick?
I haven’t but I’m trying to avoid flames as much as possible really
@@Adz Well, yes, probably a sensible standpoint really 👍
Great job my friend on those tests. 👌
I'll probably buy the same heater for my micro camper conversion.
Thanks! And yeah I was surprised at how well it worked!
you are a sound guy. for me you are a sliding doors moment for tom hardy. bet you hear that all the time. ive subscribed. being down to earth is why i did. ever in n wales ? come for a beer - stay safe geez
Electric is definitely the way to go, no carbon monoxide to worry about 👍
Yeah that’s another reason I’m much happier with electric options
Great stuff as always. I used a oil heater and it does deplete my batteries. I use the diesel blower but its noisey and i can't sleep with it on
Other than comfort OUT of the bed, no heater needed at those temps and even much colder for just sleeping.
I got caught in my Ram Promaster City (similar to yours) conversion (well insulated also) with a cold snap down from Canada one night outside of Yellowstone. Overnight low was 5C, yet I slept warm and comfortable in a summer sleeping bag with no heat source at all. How? Bought a fluffy full size blanket (just fluffy and a bit heavier, not quilted) that came also with a smaller throw blanket in the same nice fluffy material. I rigged the blanket as we did as kids, as a "tent" over my sleep area by rigging a rope taught end to end overhead and then some clips to hold the blanket out past my sleeping bag to the sides. Basically it didn't touch me at all, so wasn't bothered when asleep, but it created a much smaller cavity to capture body heat escaping all night. The smaller throw was rigged at the end past my head and the pillow (large enough to double thickness it folded as your head is the most critical to keep warm) to insulate the wall at the back doors. Coldest part of the night, my "tent" was about 17C inside, plenty comfortable for sleeping in a summer sleeping bag. Slept like a baby.
Invest in a blanket and the time and changes to accommodate such a "tent" on short notice and you'll never worry about cold temps. A King size blanket could be similarly arranged to span across two people also and I'm certain a double layer would get you below 0C. Oh, and one of the "hooks" to hold the rope was a large magnet with an eye bolt so you can use those on metal for a quick setup in a van.
Planar diesel heater. Set on low they are surprisingly quiet. Unless your ‘stealth’ camping in someone’s back garden I don’t really know who is gonna have an issue with it.
That’s the one I’m planning on getting in my next van. But knowing me stealth camping in someone’s back garden can’t be ruled out 😂
Do love this video. Glad you're looking at going full time. Super excited for what's to come!
Thank you, and likewise with you! X
Great video your a natrul I have a Delta river good backup power . Also have the same plug in heater they are so good to save energy just move about to the room you want to heat not using my gas those mini green house radiators you have in your van I use in my bedroom hold the temperature. .keep up the good work van life freedom.
Thank you! Yeah I’m loving my current set up with the ecoflow and that fan heater. And now with an electric blanket too it’s easy to sleep in the cold!
@@Adz you probley know this but iff you can't charge the eco flow with solar in Winter while driving about use the ciggrette socket I did this on my last car but now have electric. What do use to edit your video is slick. The one epic
brilliant vid again mate....yeah you should do more winter nights away out in van bro...we night in snow would be brilliant
I’m really hoping I get to do a snow camp this year! But if not I’m heading to Europe to find snow next year for sure. I may have to give in and get a diesel heater for that though haha
@@Adz yeah your best to mate i sent 10 over as i doo but cant see it on this now!
It came up as a separate comment mate. I did reply to that one too. It’s appreciated!! I assumed they’d put super likes at the top of the comments but they are always more difficult to find! Plus the don’t show up on my studio app so I have to look for them on the main app or computer. That’s partly why I set up the brain cell website.. but I’ll always keep an eye out for the comments because I’d feel bad if I missed one!
@@Adz cool mate i will put it through braincell next time just thought it would be nice to do it on tjis for folk to see
Either way it’s always appreciated. It’s a shame they don’t put them to the top for people to see. That’d make sense!
Good luck with the new plan 👍🏻
Thanks Terry!
Very informative thank you, sure you have covered this : buts what that amazing projector?
I think the Amo box convection heater ,running on candles is a good try
First time viewer here mate, enjoyed your video, keep them coming buddy.
Thank you Paul, it’s appreciated!
I seen this couple using pet heating mats they take very little wattage, like 5 to 7 watts the regular heating pads take at least 50 or more
Hello mate just wanted to say I love ya channel and watch every time you upload. Keep em comeing brother 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Craig! It’s appreciated mate!
Glad your back buddy, keep uploading please, I've literally copied the design of your camper, and mine is about 90% done now, inspiring as well as entertaining lol!! Ps. Get Becky back, its getting cold now 🤣
Thanks mate! Hope you enjoy yours.. And yeah she’ll be back soon!
Great video!! Loving the content. I’m stoked to watch some newer ones and see how your doin
I love your hand pizza oven ! and your recipe
the tests i watched, most of the heaters were the same efficiency. They all burn up the power, depends on how much they demand (most are either 1500w or 500w, anything smaller dont do much but your van is small which might work). Oil heaters are also not the greatest, for the house i like oil because they are quiet, they keep the heat more consistent imo but it takes longer to heat the room up. The tests i saw you want to raise the temperature up to where you want it as soon as you can. instead of a small heater that doesn't have a thermostat, i have chosen a 1000w ir that has a thermostat. It should run 1000w to get temp up then off (0w) and it turns back on low (500w) after the temp goes -5C. I am trying to increase my efficiency with a new inverter. i will be testing it out tomorrow, should be +1C, i have chosen a place i can plug in. And i plan in setting it around 65F, maybe 62. the hour or so i have run it seems to take alot of power. i was hoping it would shut off more like my fridge but perhaps its my incomplete insulation? I love what you have done to your van, it looks fantastic. Did you run a fan? What was the final stats on the energy consumption for that night? I doubt i can run my heater more than 1.5 days, we shall see. i am looking at a very low watt heater, put it on a 12v timer, and put it near the bed. Hopefully have that setup for the next outing.
Same, i slept in my uninsulated van.
Woke up because of being cold. Temperature was -5°C
Put on a spare jumper kept inside my sleeping bag pulled the bag hood over my head. Zipped up all round.
Snug as a bug and back to sleep,👍
Love it bruv...been waiting for what seems far too long, keep on stealthin 😉 👍👍
Yeah it was definitely too long! Thanks mate!
Space heaters are better than nothing, sure, but for me the most viable stealth vehicle-camping all-night heating options are : warm clothes and a 12V electric jacket with an extension wire (for when you are still up and moving a bit around inside) and warm duvet and a 12V electric blanket (for when you are in bed). Zero noise, no energy wasted with an inverter, under 100W power usage so hours of heat with the sort of capacity battery you talk about in this video and safe enough, in my opinion, to run while sleeping (though sustained heat from the electric blanket in bed may in fact be overkill...so many have timers on them... which you can program to switch themselves off later in the night).
I have just subscribed, keep selling your intention to go full time. people like me don’t understand how youtube works. I just keep watching your videos and wait for the next. So keep saying or selling the point of “ hit the subscribe/ like button “ love your cockney voice and the way you deliver the commentary. By the way I am a grandad and married 😅
They are all 3 exactly the same efficiency. They just distribute the heat differently. In your situation a electric blanket or heating pad would be your best bet!
I understand a watt is a watt no matter what (no pun intended). But the way they distribute the heat is what makes them more or less efficient as heaters for the van. But yeah the 250w one is definitely best for me but I’m looking at adding a heated blanket to the mix as well soon
good shout mate.i don't want a diesel heater for those reasons either.
Yeah I’d always want to turn it off if I heard someone nearby 😂
'Angels slippers'....like real Angels slippers yeah?..🩰🪄argh love it!
It’s one level up from Cinderellas slipper 😂
That dimplex was pretty impressive getting 22c on a frosty night. Been tempted for a while. You'd probably find a diesel heater way too hot in such a small space.
It wasn’t frosty the night I was doing the actual tests. But yeah I definitely don’t want a diesel heater in this van. Probably in the next one though!
Looking at changing my t5 camper for a caddy. This is since watching your videos so keep them coming👍
I was thinking of going the other way and getting something a little bigger soon. The caddy does look bigger on the videos than in person so I’d definitely take a look at some before committing to it!
@@Adz for me it’s more about saving on fuel and as I am the only one using it at most times I don’t need the space. Thanks for your reply👍
Yeah to be honest if it was always just me in it I’d probably want to stick to the caddy. But when I have someone with me it gets a little difficult with clothes storage
Really entertaining channel, best of luck with going full time.
Thank you!
Cracking review Adz. Get more videos coming brother 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks mate! Yeah I’m looking forward to the next one!
You can also heat up water to fill up hot water bottle(s) and put them in your sleeping bag.
First vid I’ve seen of yours. Good luck 🤞👍. I’m gonna catch up with your adventures now 😁
Thanks Gary, hope you enjoy them!
I have a Webasto diesel heater in my van which is enough for my needs during occasional winter camping trips in the UK but next winter I'm parking the van up for 2 weeks at 2300m in the Alps at an Aire close to a ski resort. It could get very cold (average lows are -10°C) so I'm looking into a good backup heating system should I have any problems with the diesel heater. Sadly I won't have access to an electric hook-up so my options are limited to what I can get via my battery (and solar), and any potential propane solutions. If I had hook-up available for the trip I'd be golden!
Enjoying your content. You got a sub.
P.S. The problem with the stove-top heater you mentioned is caused by the shitty paint on the top section. If you burn this paint off completely before use you won't get the problem with the smell.
Just found your channel, but if you're still using that fridge (I'm pretty sure I have the same one, and incidentally mounted in exactly the same way as yours), go into the app >settings>advanced settings, and change the start delay from 0mins to 5 or so, it'll stop the compressor from kicking on immediately when the temp sensor detects a change, and if your batteries ever get low, it'll stop it from constantly trying to start, which can really reduce the life of the pump. The fridge internally holds temp well enough that it won't affect the food. Because of how that fridge works, it's expecting 15v (on a 12v system), so even 13v is considered 50% battery level by the fridge itself, and because it draws a lot of start-up current it can often cause enough voltage drop to stop itself from starting up, and without the delay set, it can get into a loop of trying to start every few seconds.
Do I own a camper? No
I need to heat one in the winter?No
Did I enjoy your video far to much for someone who just scrolled across you? Ohh yes 😂 I have no clue why but, you earned a sub from me my guy, you're very easy to watch! I'm yet to look through your videos but I hope you do a variety! If not... you should consider it, maybe just your day to day activities, hobbies, idk man, but you'll do well I'm sure!
Thanks! I’m glad to hear this.. especially with this particular video because I thought it’d be pretty boring to anyone that doesn’t need to know about heating a small van 😂
@@Adz nah bro! You're a natural speaker! 😌
What name should I search for to find that strange yet very interesting cooking "device" 2:25? :)
This is a great video. I have been stumped on different heat methods. Thank you!
Thank you!
Awesome Adz as usual…. Dimplex heater works great for you … cracking temp in van buddy .. good luck with channel .. cheers Chris & Sam
Thanks! Yeah it’s definitely a good heater for now. Hoping it works just as well when it gets colder!
You should do something about that curtain. That's gonna allow the heat escape out the front windows. Maybe install some sort of sliding shutter.
It’s not really possible in the current van unfortunately but yeah I have thought about at least doubling up the curtain. So far it’s been all good though
@Adz Ventures you could apply insulation to the windows in that case, will save you energy in the longer run.
Good content feller,looking forward to the adventure of it all over the winter,enjoy your journey,life's for living we onley get to do it once 👍
Yeah that’s very true! I’ve been realising that a lot recently. Thank you!
My grandmother would just tell you to put a jumper on. Diesel heater run on kero/ATF/brake fluid is way cheaper than electric and more efficient. It's too difficult to find useable electric in a van, it's ok for quick missions, but no good full time. Nothing beats a little wood burner on those grounds.
Well you’ve just got another subscriber, I stumbled across your Halloween camp at the woods and grave yard, noticed your little heater and was about to ask where you got and hey presto another vid from you popped up testing heaters!!! Nice little test, off now to look at the desk heater myself. Great content you have on your videos, I will be watching more and hope your venture works out, I’d Love to be able to do it. Keep the vids coming!!
Thank you Dave! Yeah so far that heater has been great! It’s quite easy to hear my small van though. I’ll also be trying a heated blanket soon
The one that you chose only use 6% of the battery, what did the other ones use??? I've been thinking a lot of using and oil heater and setting it to 200 W and leaving it all night. Or using the 350 watt Amazon special with a thermostat. Currently I am using a 75 W mattress heater, and I'm pretty happy with my -15 sleeping bag unzipped just as top blanket. I also have three USB handwarmers that are 6000 mA Chargers that double as a hand heater at 40°C that last 12 hours. Another thing I do when it is really cold, I boil some water outside and fill two or three of the thermal water bottles. I also throw them inside the sleeping bag.
Good luck Adz, good content and info👌
Thank you Chris!
Where the oil heaters beat other kinds of heaters is ,,,,,, setting it on a low 200watt setting and then adjusting the thermostat so that it warms up and then instantly turns off,,,, cools down and then warms again, , over and over . I does mean that it takes ages to warm up compared to a fan heater,,, but once warm,, it uses little energy to maintain the heat. I heat my house with one and only use about 2 kWh on a night (during Nov Dec, before using the central heating for Jan Feb)
Good old diesel night heater. What truckers use.
First time watching one of your videos. Great honest content.
Would you class the sign saying no caravans etc as an official one!
I have the delonghi 500 watt radiator and it's fantastic