12v heat tape

Tips and tricks for cold weather use of your Avion
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KYAvion
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12v heat tape

Post by KYAvion »

Anyone have a good source for 12v heat tape? I found some by Heat Line called Kompensator that'd do the trick, but they want $210 for 10ft which is absurd. I can find 110 volt tape easily, but 12v seems hard to come by. I'd like to wrap my p-traps to elimate the need for antifreeze.
KYAvion
1984 Avion 30R
silverloaf
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Re: 12v heat tape

Post by silverloaf »

Are you trying to do this when boon docking in cold climate or for winterization?

Bob
" Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel.”


Silverloaf (Bob)
Dawsonville, GA
1988 30P
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KYAvion
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Re: 12v heat tape

Post by KYAvion »

I use mine routinely throughout the winter, and I'm hooked up to 110. I'd prefer 12v just in case the power were to go out, so that way the heat tape would run off the batteries for awhile.

I go through about $50 worth of rv antifreeze a year, so the 12v Kompensator heat tape at $20 per foot would pay for itself. That said, I still think that's a ridiculous amount to spend on heat tape.
KYAvion
1984 Avion 30R
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Re: 12v heat tape

Post by silverloaf »

Ever think about using a salt solution instead of antifreeze?

Here's an excerpt of an article on the freezing point of a saline solution:

"The freezing point of any saline solution depends upon the concentration of NaCl in water.

As an example, the freezing point of water is lowered by 1.85 degrees Celsius (38.33 degrees Fahrenheit) when 29.3 grams of salt is dissolved in each kg of water. This is a 0.5 molal solution of salt; molality is the amount of solute (expressed in moles) divided by the mass of solvent (expressed in kg), for mol/kg."

https://sciencing.com/freezing-point-wa ... 16047.html

Bob
" Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel.”


Silverloaf (Bob)
Dawsonville, GA
1988 30P
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KYAvion
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Re: 12v heat tape

Post by KYAvion »

Thanks! I will have to look into that.
KYAvion
1984 Avion 30R
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