Heat for UTV's with cabs

[ededic]

Just a word of warning, small planes use exhaust for heat with a heat exchanger. They have carbon monoxide detectors on some of them in case one would develop a crack. Just thought I would mention that with that Y in the cab.

Thanks. I get a cm detector for the cab.

 

[GolfAddict]

i've got a tuckaway heater in my rtv 500 its plumbs into the water cooled systems, its very small and was not too high either, looks a little smaller than the one listed above and its also has the window defrost.

Sounds pretty interesting. Was this something you purchased? If so, can you tell us what it is and where you found it?

 

[pane056]

Hello;

Looks like finally I'm zeroing in on an electric heater. Someone directed me to the DC Termal site. I found one
12 volts, 50 amp and 10,???? btu #SD 12000 50. Available ducted or direct. I understand the space under the front bench seat is empty. Was thinking about using the ducted model and cutting holes in the front panel. The heater has 3 outlets.
One on the front and one on each side. Run a duct to each end of the seat and the front out the front center.

I'll do a temporary hook up to test the heater before I start the install. Who know's maybe a temporary hook up will take us to spring so I can do the install in nicer temps. Right now it's 12 below.

thanks, nicholas

 

[jejeosborne]

Hello;

Looks like finally I'm zeroing in on an electric heater. Someone directed me to the DC Termal site. I found one
12 volts, 50 amp and 10,???? btu #SD 12000 50. Available ducted or direct. I understand the space under the front bench seat is empty. Was thinking about using the ducted model and cutting holes in the front panel. The heater has 3 outlets.
One on the front and one on each side. Run a duct to each end of the seat and the front out the front center.

I'll do a temporary hook up to test the heater before I start the install. Who know's maybe a temporary hook up will take us to spring so I can do the install in nicer temps. Right now it's 12 below.

thanks, nicholas

The numbers to me are not adding up. 600 watts only equals about 2000 BTU/hr. which is 1/5 of what you quoted. That is going to take some #6 wire to power that thing with this low of voltage. It will be equivalent to those small cube ceramic heaters on the low setting. Just wanted to warn you that something doesn't look correct but I am getting tired.

 

[ptgdigger]

50 amps @ 12V is 600 watts , 600 watts can make about 2049 BTU, I looked at their specs and it does say 10,020btu, Their math is WRONG , to get 10,000btu of heat you need 3000 watts of electricity, at 12v it takes 250 amps to make 3000 watts !! The one thing about electric resistance heating is it is easy to calculate out because it is all fixed formulas , there are no magical more efficient elements they can use, the numbers either work or they don't.

Electrical resistance heating simply doesn't work out at 12v, you will need all your horsepower to generate electricity, about all those heaters are capable of is getting you defrosted and on the way before the engine warms up and the real heat is ready. Unless that cab is super tight and very well insulated I doubt you would notice if that 600 watt heater was running or not at -12f .

Even if it were practical does any UTV really have 50A continuous to spare ? That would really surprise me.


Ray

 

[jejeosborne]

50 amps @ 12V is 600 watts , 600 watts can make about 2049 BTU, I looked at their specs and it does say 10,020btu, Their math is WRONG , to get 10,000btu of heat you need 3000 watts of electricity, at 12v it takes 250 amps to make 3000 watts !! The one thing about electric resistance heating is it is easy to calculate out because it is all fixed formulas , there are no magical more efficient elements they can use, the numbers either work or they don't.

Electrical resistance heating simply doesn't work out at 12v, you will need all your horsepower to generate electricity, about all those heaters are capable of is getting you defrosted and on the way before the engine warms up and the real heat is ready. Unless that cab is super tight and very well insulated I doubt you would notice if that 600 watt heater was running or not at -12f .

Even if it were practical does any UTV really have 50A continuous to spare ? That would really surprise me.

Ray

That is what I thought. Like I said I am tired today so glad you backed up my math. His alternator says 75 amps at 6000 rpms. I wonder what it makes at 1500 because that is probably where it will average out running. 6000 is high. I predict a dead battery after 15 minutes of run time.

 

[pane056]

Hello;
Boy am I glad this forum exists. Brings such a wealth of knowledge together. I'm going to see if I can figure out how to send the math post to DC Thermal and see what they say.

Regarging my alternator output. I thought the advantage to an alterenator over a generator was that it's output would remain constant regardless of the RPM. Looks like I was wrong again.

Who knows? I just may end up with a coolant heater afterall. But for sure I won't deal with that until spring.

Thanka a whole bunch, nicholas

 

[jejeosborne]

Hello;
Boy am I glad this forum exists. Brings such a wealth of knowledge together. I'm going to see if I can figure out how to send the math post to DC Thermal and see what they say.

Regarging my alternator output. I thought the advantage to an alterenator over a generator was that it's output would remain constant regardless of the RPM. Looks like I was wrong again.

Who knows? I just may end up with a coolant heater afterall. But for sure I won't deal with that until spring.

Thanka a whole bunch, nicholas

Interested in what the manufacturer says about their claim. Not sure about your alternator output levels at low rpms but find it interesting they quoted a specific rpm with the rating so I could only imagine a lower value.

 

[pane056]

hello;

I sent them all of the figures you used and they promptly sent an explaination which satisfied me. Give me your email address and I'll forward it to you.

As for the bsttery and alternator specs I got those out of the JD owners manual. They also use the 75 amp figure in all of their literature.

They said if I don't like it a return is no problem. Also that they have put many in Kabota's

What is GTX electrical wire?

thanks, nicholas

 

[ptgdigger]

Feel free to send it, email is my TBN username @comcast.net , all lower case. I suspect they're using some kind of Quartz unobtanium infrared element and are using the close proximity in the cab to their advantage keeping the infrared aimed at the occupants so it "feels" warmer and not heating the air, but feeling warmer won't keep the windows de-fogged/frosted and if their using 600 watts of power they are making ~2050 real btu and their marketing voodoo will wear real thin at -12f.

Believe me when I say if they figured out how to make 10,000 btu hr using 600 watts they wouldn't have time to be making cab heaters between the Nobel prize acceptance and the speaking engagements.

Ray