12 volt heater for cab

[K man]

Hi all as the Summer is almost 1/2 over I am starting to think about heater for my CK30 tractor cab. Anyone know of a good makes of 12 volt heater that will work great in my cab. I don't want to be overly hot just enough to keep the window from fogging up. I saw one 300 watts on the net but so much bias against it so I will wait to hear from you guys. Also where is the best location to mount this heater inside the cab. My cab is a soft one. Thanks

Gilles

 

[George2615]

I used this ceramic heater in my previous tractor cab. It draws 15-20 amps. I wired it direct to the battery with an inline toggle switch to shut it off. It was more than enough to keep the frost off the windows and was warm enough not to need gloves inside the cab. Shop around for the best price. I paid around $50.
I'm not sure how many amps your CK alternator puts out but it should be enough to keep the battery charged while using it.

Amazon.com: RoadPro RPSL-681 12V Direct Hook-Up Ceramic Heater/Fan with Swivel Base: Automotive

 

[Al 2]

Another option might be a small heater core and fan . Easier on the battery. You could get one from a car in the wrecking yard or whatever or a new one ready to mount in a box with a fan from a auto parts supplier. Years ago I got a rear seat heater from an old school bus with the hoses and all and put it behind the drivers seat in a Dodge Ram to help warm up my co workers in the back. Put a valve in the line to shut off the coolant in the summer and a toggle switch to turn the fan on as needed.
Al

 

[PILOON]

Another option might be a small heater core and fan . Easier on the battery. You could get one from a car in the wrecking yard or whatever or a new one ready to mount in a box with a fan from a auto parts supplier. Years ago I got a rear seat heater from an old school bus with the hoses and all and put it behind the drivers seat in a Dodge Ram to help warm up my co workers in the back. Put a valve in the line to shut off the coolant in the summer and a toggle switch to turn the fan on as needed.
Al

I also used a school bus rear seat heater but modified it to use a 4 x 4 'muffin fan' which made the package much more compact and drew a mere 1 amp.
That has served me well for about 10 years trouble free.
That heater measures about 6" x 6" x 4" to which the fan added a mere 1".

The actual heater is made by Carter.

 

[boggen]

i would be rather cautious about 12v heater.... you will be drawing a descent amount of power from the system. and end result you may end up turning off tractor and not be able to start it backup again. more so cold batteries = less power, vs warm batteries, so you may end up with a tractor needing a jump start....

google....diy tractor heater .... you might try adding in "computer fan" into search terms. you will more likely find a decent amount of threads with notation of "junk yard" and getting a "heater core" from some vehicle.

if tractor has an option for a larger "alternator" i might push ya to go that route, if still wanting a 12V fan. so you do not end up with a dead battery. cab version of same make/model normally have a larger alternator, some times it is still an optional upgrade pending on manufacturer / make / model.

if you end up going with a "heater core" and tapping into coolant lines. make sure you add some sort of "bleeder" valve in highest location, so you can bleed out the air. and would suggest if room installing a bypass for summer.

 

[K man]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I am not sure which route to take for now. 12v sounded like the fastest way of doing it compared to a heater core with lines to the rad. I found out the Ck30 has a 50 amp alternator is that good enough to run a 12v heater.

 

[George2615]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I am not sure which route to take for now. 12v sounded like the fastest way of doing it compared to a heater core with lines to the rad. I found out the Ck30 has a 50 amp alternator is that good enough to run a 12v heater.

My Mahindra had either a 40 or 50 Amp alternator (can't remember which) and the 12V ceramic heater worked fine for many years. I didn't have a lot of cab space to run heater hoses so chose the 12V route.

 

[buickanddeere]

As previously stated . 300watts is awful scrawny and will only clear a peep hole to look through. At the expense of using up most the alternator's charging capacity .
Some sort of bulk heating from engine coolant is required . Although some applications successful use the instant heat from engine exhaust . The shops that supply parts for home built aircraft carry the heater units.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I too think that 300 watts is not enough heat and yet too much continuous draw for most tractor electrical systems. Especially at night with lights in use. I can't begin to imagine the grief and cost that such an experiment might cause.

 

[tman1020]

I have tried both of those electric heaters that you are considering and my cab seals up very well. Don't waste your time for your money. It will help keep the window defrosted if it is shooting directly along it but that's about it. I added be heater made by cozy cab that hooks to the tractor cooling system and that thing is amazing plus it is a very powerful fan that I use to keep cool in the summer.
One thing I used to do before I had a heater was put 110 V Space heater inside the tractor with an extension cord run to it for about five or 10 minutes before I wanted to use it. That helped take the chill off as long as I didn't have to run the tractor too long. But I am very very happy with my heater now I can go all day. Most times I have to cycle it on and off because it will get too warm.

 

[K man]

Thanks tman I was considering the heater core too. I don't have a factory cab just a soft one. Where would I put this unit in the cab. Do you have pics of yours cause I think your tractor is equal in size as my CK30. How hard of a job is it to install one. I also was thinking just putting in a 12 volt fan so when the windows start to fog up I could turn it on. I only spend maybe 1 hour at a time in the cab during the winter months and ususaly try to do it when it is not too cold. Thanks for any input that would help me.
Gilles

 

[tman1020]

I'll try to send you a picture but it mounts to the right of the steering column about 2 feet to the top above the floor. I wasn't so sure about it at first but it is nicely out-of-the-way and the fan is in a nice location for the windows and they are adjustable kind of like the vents on an automobile. It was a little bit pricey but I plan on keeping the tractor a long time so I'm glad I did it. It was very easy to install kind of fun actually.

 

[tman1020]

View attachment 436536

I'll bet if someone were color blind it would be hard to tell the difference between our model tractors. They are both Dae Dong machines. I don't think it would be hard to adapt this to yours.
I would check to see if surplus center has a version of this it probably would be a lot cheaper. It is a very simple design. I have found the mounting plate handy for mounting my extra light switches as well.

 

[tman1020]

View attachment 436539

Here's the pic

 

[tman1020]

The pic is not sending

 

[tman1020]

Trying again

 

[tman1020]

 

[tman1020]

Something is wrong with the site can barely get pictures to post and for some reason they are sideways best I can do sorry

 

[K man]

Thanks tman I can see it pretty well cause I can copy it to my picture file and from there I can turn it around the right way.Your tractor interior is the same as mine as Kioti and Bobcats are the same identical tractors except like you said the colors. What make is this unit? Did you have to cut a hole in the floor to bring in your rad hoses? Don't mean to be a pain but could you post pics of where your hoses run from rad connection to cab and the wiring. I am not too mechanically inclined but am willing to try to install one if I find. Your heater is the right size and fits in there nicely. Did you have to bolt the heater to the side of the steering cover or to the frame. Thanks
Gilles

 

[tman1020]

I will be glad to try to post some more pictures but the problem seems to be with the app and the website. I've posted pictures many times before but it seems they are continuing to have problems. It would be easier if you PM me your email or # number I can text them to.

As far as the mount goes my cab came with knockouts built into it for the hoses and the steel framework on the front of the cab had a spot for the mounting bracket. but I don't think it would be very difficult to build a pedestal to mount it to. I did not have to drill any holes into the tractor at all and there is a space between it and the steering column. If you go to the cozy cabs website I believe you can download a copy of the installation instructions for it. This would help to you to see if it's something you want to tackle.