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Mason2504
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2021 11:54
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I built an 8X8 shed to use as a bathroom at my off grid cabin. I have 1 solar panel and a 12V battery to run the fan on the toilet and overhead light. The cabin is in northern Minnesota and can get rather cold. I intended to run a propane heater, but I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a decent electric heater that would run off my set up. Thanks.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2021 12:13
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Any 12v heater of any consequence (watts) will suck your battery down waayyy fast.
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zorro
Member
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2021 12:48
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Not a 12V heater, but these do work well and can either use small canisters or hook up to a larger propane tank
https://bit.ly/2R6JnGY
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mj1angier
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2021 17:24
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Quoting: zorro Not a 12V heater, but these do work well and can either use small canisters or hook up to a larger propane tank https://bit.ly/2R6JnGY
That is what we use. The 1 tank version in the crapper and the 2 tank in the shower
Electric heat is a hard loss with solar.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2021 08:43
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Like above electrical heat from batteries is very tough to do unless you have a very large system
I use a small propane heater on 1lb tanks in my outhouse as well
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2021 15:22
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Do a search for a diesel heater, I think it would be perfect.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2021 15:30
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Keep a kero lantern burning in there? Should keep the chill off and the methane down too 
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Mason2504
Member
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2021 20:29
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Thanks for all the responses. I’m going to re-assess and stick with a source other than electric. I have been using a Mr Heater propane heater. It works well other than getting too warm (tough problem to have)
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2021 21:27
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How about a 100 watt infer red bulb instant heat only when and were you need it.
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redneckpaul
Member
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2021 23:02
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Suck it up and do your business at the outhouse quick. Yes I know it can be cold, my ass has been on the crapper when it was -25 F but when nature calls you gotta go. One trick I do is wait for my wife do use it and go right after she warmed up the seat, might try that 
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2021 00:10
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One local Amish business has a public outhouse (considerate that), they use a hunk of blue Dow styro with the proper cut-out hole as a winter 'topper' for the wood seat.
It makes quite a diff.
Ime, an unheated facility that breaks the wind is Ok, one just doesnt linger.....
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Fanman
Member
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:48
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One solution some use is to keep the toilet seat in the warm cabin and carry it to the outhouse for use, then bring it back inside the cabin.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:26
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Quoting: gcrank1 they use a hunk of blue Dow styro with the proper cut-out hole as a winter
This is the only way to go. On the coldest days it feels like it’s heated
I just remove my summer seat and replace it with a sheet of styrofoam with a hole cut in it
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ketchgould
Member
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# Posted: 29 Apr 2021 10:02
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I agree, diesel heater.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 2 May 2021 17:54 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: ketchgould I agree, diesel heater
I just installed one today in a buddys enclosed cargo trailer. What a slick little unit. Man, does it put out the heat. Burner/heat all supplied by sipping a teeny bit of diesel fuel. Thermostatically controlled, system automatically starts blower on slow speed, runs pump, then igniter lights off and then as it warms up, blower speed increased. Put out really hot heat.
Installed this today
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 2 May 2021 19:03
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Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech Thermostatically controlled
If this is like the unit I have, they really don't ever shut off once started. They will throttle down to low then come back up as needed if it gets too cold. They do sip diesel but it would be nice if they came with a regular thermostat that would turn them on and off.
There is an aftermarket thermostat for them called The Afterburner that is loaded with features. Unfortunately it costs as much as the heater.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 2 May 2021 19:59
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None of the Chinese diesel heaters cycle on and completely off and then restarting again like we are used to with regular furnaces or propane wall heaters. That has to be performed with a manual initiation of a stop and then a restart. The thermostat goes down to low and back up to high as needed but not turning completely off and restarting.
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paulz
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# Posted: 2 May 2021 21:07
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First I've heard of these little diesel heaters. How is the diesel burned? Where does the exhaust go? Indoor use? Smell? What's the benefit over propane?
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 2 May 2021 21:42
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Paul, the air inlet and exhaust are plumbed outside, it does not use inside air and you smell no diesel. Had a small fuel tank, you can get them with fuel tank in the unit or remote. I installed a remote one, has a small pulse fuel pump. Fuel line is about the same size as engine vacuum hose, pretty small.
I didnt run it more than 20 minutes and it didnt turn off, fan speed slows way down as it cools down. I am not sure if the fan will ever stop? Some here say no. Put out great heat via a little fan. It was pretty hot.
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paulz
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# Posted: 3 May 2021 08:19
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Thanks TMT. Well I poked around a bit, found this video of a guy that cut one apart to see the fuel burning in the chamber. Pretty neat, worth a look. Don't know where I'd use one but I might have to get one anyway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tTr16LY_TI&ab_channel=DavidMcLuckie
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