Chicago Parabolic 400W/800W Heater.

vanman10x2 · Nov 3, 2013

I was doing some shopping at Harbor Freight yesterday and when I came across a Chicago 400/800 watt heater for $29.95. I never liked using a 1000/1500 watt heater because they were to hard on my generator and did not put out enough heat. This heater has a broad area of heat and it even oscillates, and not hard on my 2000i generator. This things is great! Will be plenty of heat for me, I'm hot blooded though.
Check them, might work ok for some of you.

Keep warm!

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billg27 · Nov 3, 2013

Do you think this heater will warm the van better then the 1,500 watt "milk house heater" I'm using now? I could easily run 2 of those with my generator.

vanman10x2 · Nov 8, 2013

So tonight I am trying my new parabolic heater with my Honda 2000 gen. On high, 800w, it barely increased the idle on my gen and warmed my cold van in about 25min enough to lay down and read before bed. I just backed the heater down to low, 400w, for the night and if no load will see how how the night goes and how long the gas last.
So far I am super happy with this cool find and crossing my fingers for a successful test.

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Murraycroexp · Nov 8, 2013

Please keep us posted. I'd love for my generator to not have to cycle to high-idle under the 1500 watt load. I've only used it a couple of times, so far, but occasionally it wakes me when throttling up.

OntarioVanMan · Nov 8, 2013

Murraycroexp said:
Please keep us posted. I'd love for my generator to not have to cycle to high-idle under the 1500 watt load. I've only used it a couple of times, so far, but occasionally it wakes me when throttling up.

when I did do Electric heat I took my Honda OFF Ecomode and run full open....the up and down all night drove me crazy...about 5 hrs is all you'll get at that rate
READ the Honda manual....they will tell you DON'T exceed 10% of wattage output for extended periods of time....you'll burn out the converter/inverter.....Hence a 2,000 watt gen - 10% =1800 watts....so NO having heater on at 1500 watts and using a 700W Microwave at the same time...

Murraycroexp · Nov 8, 2013

My Sunbeam heater works great. Auto temp. Only about 25-30 bucks. But it's only been used twice. Seriously thinking about trying that Chicago heater. I never sleep more than 5 hours without at least waking briefly. But it would be nice not to wake up cold and have to go fill the tank.

OntarioVanMan · Nov 8, 2013

Murraycroexp said:
My Sunbeam heater works great. Auto temp. Only about 25-30 bucks. But it's only been used twice. Seriously thinking about trying that Chicago heater. I never sleep more than 5 hours without at least waking briefly. But it would be nice not to wake up cold and have to go fill the tank.

honestly...if you can just use a 750 or 800 watt setting you might get 7 hrs approx.....at best....depending on your personal likes...waking up to freezing air or not...putting up with the situation...

Murraycroexp · Nov 8, 2013

Mine is thermostatically controlled. 5 degree increments. But I think the actual heat is either on or off. I should check before I bail on it.

T270_Dreamin · Nov 8, 2013

These heaters all look nice, anyone out there that have used these with good results with a eu2000i or yamaha ef2400is?

LifeSmart Low-Profile Infrared Portable Heater (Black) | LS-3ECO : VMInnovations.com

Big-Heat Heater by Broan-Nutone Llc : RV Parts Nation

iControl

Presto® HeatDish® Plus Parabolic Heater

vanman10x2 · Nov 8, 2013

Ok, test one complete. I got about 9 1/2 hours with heater on 800w for a 1/2 hour and 400w for 9ish hours. I love this heater. 400w seems like much more because of the parabolic reflector that radiates heat like a big mirror. I am glad I got the 2 year warranty in case it can't handle a season of expediting abuse. Going to purchase a second also for backup or in case they drop off market.
Test 2 will be how long gas last if I use heater on high and oscillating if temp drops down to teens, single digits or worse.
By the way, I had Honda on econo mode and never heard any accelerating and don't expect much at 800w based on the first 1/2 hour of test 1 when it was at 800w.
Also, this to me is not a replacement for and Espar, which I plan on putting in my new van this spring. Those Espars are like home heating system's....Nice! But this Chicago heater solution makes surviving the night without freezing your booty off a lot easier.

Take care and be safe.

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OntarioVanMan · Nov 8, 2013

vanman10x2 said:
Ok, test one complete. I got about 9 1/2 hours with heater on 800w for a 1/2 hour and 400w for 9ish hours. I love this heater. 400w seems like much more because of the parabolic reflector that radiates heat like a big mirror. I am glad I got the 2 year warranty in case it can't handle a season of expediting abuse. Going to purchase a second also for backup or in case they drop off market.
Test 2 will be how long gas last if I use heater on high and oscillating if temp drops down to teens, single digits or worse.
By the way, I had Honda on econo mode and never heard any accelerating and don't expect much at 800w based on the first 1/2 hour of test 1 when it was at 800w.
Also, this to me is not a replacement for and Espar, which I plan on putting in my new van this spring. Those Espars are like home heating system's....Nice! But this Chicago heater solution makes surviving the night without freezing your booty off a lot easier.

Take care and be safe.

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that sounds about right for 400w....which is really not much.....900 w is about 1/2 the output....

WanderngFool · Nov 8, 2013

Murraycroexp said:
My Sunbeam heater works great. Auto temp. Only about 25-30 bucks. But it's only been used twice. Seriously thinking about trying that Chicago heater. I never sleep more than 5 hours without at least waking briefly. But it would be nice not to wake up cold and have to go fill the tank.

Pelonis Heater/Fan - Amazon.com

I just got this heater from Amazon - you might like it. I bought it for the 3 heat settings and people say it's quiet. Maybe you can find a heat setting that allows you to get a full night with your generator?

I haven't had a chance to try it in the truck yet, I'm off the road for a bit. But I'm using it to break-in my new generator in the garage and it sure is quiet.

Edit - and since we're doing heaters I also bought this mega monster:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XDTWN/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hand warmer? Run it off the invertor for a leg warmer while driving? I dunno. But I bet I'll be glad to have it sometime this winter.

Edit redux: Again on the heat tangent. I want one. I like digital when it comes to temps.

http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Heating-C...52529&sr=8-5&keywords=digital+110v+thermostat

T270_Dreamin · Nov 9, 2013

WanderngFool said:
Pelonis Heater/Fan - Amazon.com

I just got this heater from Amazon - you might like it. I bought it for the 3 heat settings and people say it's quiet. Maybe you can find a heat setting that allows you to get a full night with your generator?

I haven't had a chance to try it in the truck yet, I'm off the road for a bit. But I'm using it to break-in my new generator in the garage and it sure is quiet.

Edit - and since we're doing heaters I also bought this mega monster:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XDTWN/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hand warmer? Run it off the invertor for a leg warmer while driving? I dunno. But I bet I'll be glad to have it sometime this winter.

Edit redux: Again on the heat tangent. I want one. I like digital when it comes to temps.

Lux WIN100 Heating & Cooling Programmable Outlet Thermostat - Amazon.com

you can only go so cheap, see the listed heater above, much better!

WanderngFool · Nov 9, 2013

T270_Dreamin said:
you can only go so cheap, see the listed heater above, much better!

Good links - I like the looks of the first 2 anyway. I like the fact that they can be mounted.

vanman10x2 · Nov 11, 2013

Before I do a test with the heater at 900w I decided to get a 3 gal extended run tank for my Honda 2000. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I can.
I have to admit though, this heater really magnifies the heat at 400w and I could just live with that, and get 8ish hours of heat.......but just to be prepared!!! And I always have a backup buddy heater.

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Murraycroexp · Nov 12, 2013

I returned my 1500 watt Sunbeam and bought this heater yesterday at Harbor Freight. Looking forward to trying the parabolic 800 watt heater on my generator. I also stopped at a metal fab shop today to get them to price out building me a "hitch carried generator box" out of diamond plate like Tony & Bill's. Walmart has a universal Reese Class 3 hitch (#37096) that can be modified for later Express model front mount applications. $125 for hitch. $??? for generator carrier.

Murraycroexp · Nov 20, 2013

Ran this heater for the first time last night. Most of the night was around 39-40 degrees. Not horrible.
I ran it on low (400 watt) for the first 4 hours and it only got my van up into the high 50s.
I then ran it on high (800 watt) for a couple of hours for comparison. I pointed it in my general vicinity to feel the most benefit. I think that got it up in the mid 60s in my bunk area of the van.
*Note - my van is not insulated.

asjssl · Nov 20, 2013

Bought one the other day...currently in Laredo so real need for it @ this point..does not pull on the gen. hardly...we will see..

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vanman10x2 · Nov 21, 2013

Well, got my 3 gal tank at West Marine and BERG extended run kit for my Honda generator online at Mayberry.com. It hasn't been cold enough for me to justify using it yet. My van is insulated well and I use a nice comfortable double wide -30 degree sleeping bag down to mid 20s because I don't like to setup generator unless its super cold or I plan on staying put for a while. Looks like I might have the opportunity to use 3 gal setup for a night at 800w in the next couple days.

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WanderngFool · Nov 21, 2013

vanman10x2 said:
Well, got my 3 gal tank at West Marine and BERG extended run kit for my Honda generator online at Mayberry.com. It hasn't been cold enough for me to justify using it yet. My van is insulated well and I use a nice comfortable double wide -30 degree sleeping bag down to mid 20s because I don't like to setup generator unless its super cold or I plan on staying put for a while. Looks like I might have the opportunity to use 3 gal setup for a night at 800w in the next couple days.

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You might want to test that system at home to make sure it won't give you grief on the road. My berg (the 6 gal, didn't know they made a 3) leaked at the quick-disconnect and I had to contact IPI for a replacement. They were quick and friendly about it though and the replacement parts work well. The nice lady I talked to at IPI said they just get a bad batch of hose fittings once in awhile.

Edit: Good prices at those stores btw. I could have bought my setup at Mayberry for a lot less than I paid at Northern Tool ($158 w/sales tax).