Motorhomes are generally equipped with a factory-installed heating system in the form of a Trauma or Alde system. Depending on the year/model/make of the van, the type of system fitted will differ. More recent vans tend to have much more efficient systems than older ones. Furthermore, they often have much better insulation in the vans, which is very important if you want to travel in the winter in your motorhome.
One of the most common motorhome systems is the combi system, which consists of both a heating system (usually blown air) and a hot water system. In the majority of vans, the heating and hot water are controlled by a panel in the van, and you can choose whether you would like just heating, just hot water, or both. These are generally powered by either electricity or gas (propane or butane). There is no doubt that burning gas will be much warmer than using electricity, particularly if you have a low amp supply of electricity. Additionally, you can connect your heater to the main’s electricity and still utilize gas as a heat source. There are buttons or knobs on older gas systems (such as caravan heaters) that control the heat. In spite of these being older models, there are still new versions of these systems on the market.
Can you tell me how much electricity my combi heating uses in my van?
Convert watts to amps with a handy calculator, or use this very basic guide to determine how many amps your heating might consume.
- 12v heating system with 1000w will use about 83 amps
- 240v with a 1000w system will use approximately four amps
Is it possible to use a gas heater in a motorhome or camper?
Absolutely! You can use a gas heating system in our motorhome, which works very well. Essentially, it is a blower system that circulates warm air through ducts and exits through vents throughout the van. Consequently, the entire space is heated. Alternatively, you can use free-standing gas heaters in your campervan.
