What Inverter to use for heater while motoring

M

mccml

New member
I am looking for an inverter recommendation for my electric west marine heater to use while we are motoring. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Heater Product Description
Melt away the morning chill!
This ultra-quiet heater is perfect for boats, homes and offices. Versatility and simplicity with three heat settings-1500W (5200Btu), 900W (3120Btu) and “energy saver” 600W (2080Btu), which draws just 5A. Adjustable thermostat control keeps you comfortable. Antifreeze setting automatically turns on when temperature drops to 38°F. Overheat protector will not clog with dust or dirt.

Heat Source: AC Electric
Draw: 5A-13A
Btu: 5200Btu @ 1500W, 3120Btu @ 900W, 2080Btu @ 600W
Material: Aluminum & Plastic
Dimensions: 11-1/4"L x 5"H x 8"D
Warranty: Three years

Thanks for any help. Never had an inverter before. Not sure how many watt inverter to get.
 
This doesn't sound like a good idea. It looks like you have a Honda 135 which puts out 40 amps of power when running above 2000 rpm. Even at 600 watts, the electric heater will draw 5 amps of 120 volt power or 50 amps of 12 volt power (Watts = Amps x Volts). Practically speaking power consumption will actually be higher because of inverter inefficiencies. At 1500 watts you'd draw 130 amps of 12 volt power!

And you'll have other electrical loads: electronics, battery charging, refrigeration, etc.

Save the electric heat for when you're hooked up to shore power. Diesel heat is a much better option when away from shore power/generator power.
 
Personally I would not recommend an electric heater like this on an outboard powered boat. On high this heater would probably draw over 100 amps from the 12 v source. The alternators on most outboards will not support this draw. You would run your batteries down very quickly and possibly damage your alternator.

I did use a Tassimo on my boat this summer. It is rated for 13 amps and drew just under 100 amps from the 12 v source. 100 amps is the max that my invertor is rated to handle. Making a coffee only takes a minute though so the draw is only for a short time. I also have an inboard which has a 75 amp. alternator.

Just my 2 cents
Rob
 
Yep, Don't do it.

I would only "try" it if the heater was tiny (200 watts) and your battery system was large and your motor was running and you could live with "spot" heating only. The results would be less than satisfying.

Better off getting a cheap little 12v heater like this: http://tweetys.com/ceramicheater12v200w ... fgodd5AA4g

or this

http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RPSL-681- ... 2v+heaters

Still not ideal but can do some warming without the losses associated with inverter 12v-120v operation.

I would still run these mainly when the motor is running and not leave them un-attended.

Greg
 
I would look at Espar D-2 diesel heater or a Wesbasto diesel heater and my third choice would be some sort of a Wallas diesel heater only or a combo heater cooktop. I would believe any of these would add value to your boat if you ever decided to part with in it. JMHO
D.D.
 
The only inverter that I would use to run a 1500w heater comes attached to a Honda eu2000i generator. Everything else is just too ... problematic.
 
I had similar desires when I first got my boat since I don't have the normal Wallas stove/heater combo. I ran an electric heater via Honda generator occasionally, primarily to defog the windows in the winter months here in the PNW. But I always had an uneasy feeling doing that so I'd only do it when things got really bad inside.

I then decided to bite the bullet and install a Webasto diesel heater. It has been, without a doubt, the best upgrade I've done to my boat. Now I just get on my boat, flip a switch, set the desired temp via digital thermostat and forget about it.
 
I have a White Westinghouse, ceramic heater I bought a few years ago at a WalMart--on "low" it uses about 530 watts, and goes slowly from 200 to 530 watts. I have run this off the Honda EU 1000, and even on low, it does a decent job of heating either the C Dory 22, or even the interior of our RV in moderate cool temps on low.

This would use about 45 amps on 12 volts, thru an inverter--and I would buy a 1500 watt MSW inveter--cheap type, if you had to have this this--although I would agree with my comrades above, that it is not a wise idea, unless there is no other option.

We use the Wallas stove, as a heater, with an ECO fan--and that works reasonably well--as a dual purpose stove/heater. (even in Alaska with a C Dory 25).

The problem is that most of the C Dorys come with a group 24 battery--maybe 60 to 80 amp hour capacity (usable 50% of that, or you will begin to deplete the battery in less than an hour to a point of damage! With the engine running, if you have a 40 amp alternator, you will have about 30 available, and maybe get half an hour. If you had to do this, then consider going to two group 31 batteries (about 110 amp hours each--or usable 110 amp hours from the two batteries. You will then want a VSR to get reliable charging….and a long use of high output may not be the best for the alternator life span….
 
Thanks again for all of the comments. The past 8 seasons we did not feel the need for a heater because I was still teaching and did our boating from June to August. Now that I am retired, we can now go anytime! (Hopefully to the Cdory gathering on the St Johns River in February). I would get a diesel heater, but I just purchased a custom made camperback. I have to watch the retirement budget. So for the present time, I will use our Honda EU 2000 generator to power our electric heater for warmth.
 
I think outside the box completely on everybodies heating. For a year I have been using a Mr Buddy it uses a small propane tank and cost about $100. It has all the safety features and really works well. I back packed all my life and have found just about all of my packing equipment works very well on a small boat and does not have the word "Marine"
attached to it to give it the 200% mark up.
 
I bought my C Dory in Nov, the prior owner did not like the Wallis heater, stove that came with boat and sold it. He had installed an inverter he used to power a really small fridge, I removed the fridge, and tried small space heater, the numbers don"t add up, bought heater buddy from wallmart, crack a window helps in keeping windows from fogging, works ok about 35 dollars. The inverter will run small crock pot. Out four of five last days on CB, put 65 hours on boat so far, love it paul Berkeley Onancock Va
 
Recently I used a Mr. Heater Little Buddy Heater when on the boat in Dec. It takes the chill off nicely but is kind of localized. Worked ok on the boat when it was 32 deg F.

The Little Buddy is bigger than it looks. It has a tilt sensor that cuts it off if tips over. If you move it while it is operating you have to be careful or you will actuate this switch.
 
All of these "buddy" type os space heaters come with warnings that they should not be used in enclosed spaces--that adequate ventillation and fresh air must be provided. There remains a risk of CO poisoning. There is also the risk of propane cartrages in an enclosed space. A broken seal on one of these propane tanks will ruin one's life--if not terminate it....by an explosion or fire.

I realize that some folks get away with using these. But I do not feel it is a good idea--too many risks. There are many other safe alternatives, with ventilated combustion chambers.
 
The Little Buddy needs 4 sq inches of ventilation. I have multiple CO detectors and don't use it when sleeping.

I think with the gasoline and butane I already carry, a couple of propane canisters don't increase the potential of an accident all that much.
 
Each of us makes our own decisions as we see risks. I just want folks to know that there are risks... 2" x 2" is very little ventillation---and I would question this as being "adequate". Part of the problem is that gas distribution is not uniform in the cabin of a boat.

The risk of propane canisters is not carring the propane, but that seals on these canisters can fail. I saw one fail at Powell this summer, and I have have one fail on me. My best friend ended up with 30% of his body covered with 3rd degree burns, was in a coma for 2 months, and on dailaysis for another 2 months. Burn center bill was over a million dollars...all from a failed seal on a propane canister. Think of a cabin full of propane gas if/when one of these leaks.
 
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