12v heaters?

[1990LTD]

Anyone have any experience with these? I don't expect them to heat up the car instantly but to have even a bit more warm air moving around in there in the mornings would be great.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Dash-Mount-Heater-Fan-Portable-12v-12-volt-car-truck-RV_W0QQitemZ370320686198QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCar_Audio_Video?hash=item5638d53c76

http://cgi.ebay.ca/200W-12-VOLT-CAR-FAN-HEATER-12V-12volt-DEMISTER-DEICER_W0QQitemZ230411278636QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a595192c

Not those ones exactly, but at least similar to them. Like I said, I know it's not going to heat the cabin of my car instantly, as long as they're not fire hazards and won't pop fuses on me constantly. It actually looks like some of them have fuses built in.

[GoodSamaritan]

They may have improved some over the years, but the one I bought about 12 years ago wasn't worth the box it came in. If you put your hand right in front of it you could sorta feel that the air coming out of it wasn't as cold as the air going in, but that is it.

It might have defrosted the rearview mirror if you had the patience to hold it right in front of it for 20 minutes...

Lets put it this way, the cigarette lighter is 12vdc fused at 15 amps. That makes for an absolute maximum load of 180 watts continuous. That isn't a whole lot of heat.

[gadget73]

Don't waste your time. Light the box on fire, and you'll get more heat from that.

[pvillese]

They are pretty crappy. I bought one a few years ago when the heat would come and go in my Jeep thinking I could use it to warm my hands or defrost the windshield and it was pretty useless. I still have it and I do have it in my GM and sometimes I'll place it on the dash while I scrape the windows and it will help a small area but it does not throw enough heat you would feel any warmer in the car.

[1990LTD]

thanks mates

[pantera77]

1. Buy 120v inverter
2. Buy hair dryer
3. ??????
4. Profit!

[1990LTD]

Will that work? That would be fuckin hilarious.

[Nathan in MI]

I highly doubt the inverter would handle enough current to power the hair dryer. Those are mostly intended for pretty low-current stuff.

[gadget73]

Strap a propane heater to your back seat. It will warm you up until the car catches fire.

[grandpaslincoln]

I highly doubt the inverter would handle enough current to power the hair dryer. Those are mostly intended for pretty low-current stuff.

Most hair dryers are 1300-1600 watts. The good ones anyway.

[91grandmarquis]

Defrost every window in under 3 seconds.