Ice castle-leaving heat on-Help

[Tonka Bayt]

How long are you able to leave your heat on in your fishhouse with out a generator. I have a two battery system, and would like to leave just the heat on for several days but my batteries go dead. Has anyone come up with a solution to this (i.e. solar panel, 6 batteries...)? Any help would be appreciated.

[luv2fish]

I am assuming you have a forced air furnace. I bought an Ice Castle and had the same concerns. I have spent 4 day/3 night trips on URL. Unfortunately 2 batteries will probably not cut it. Unless you get big a$$ batteries and only have the heat running off of it. For myself I made a few other purchases. I bought a battery switch for a boat, and a battery status indicator. Lastly I bought a generator and a 2-bank charging system. I leave the 2 batteries hooked up to the switch, and check their status every 10 - 14 hours. When one is low (%50 - %40 left) I switch to the other battery and charge the low battery.

I realize you asked "without a generator", and this uses a generator. I have heard of ways to charge off of a vehicle. but at the end of the day it made sense (and left me less paranoid) to get a generator.

[Tonka Bayt]

I have a generator but would not leave that unattended. Looking to leave my wheelhouse out on lake with heat on low, just to keep from freezing.

Thanks

[Rattler]

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[minnbowhunter]

Sounds crazy but worked for us!!

Painted a 3 inch piece of galvanized pipe black. Mounted it to the outside of the house. Put a magnet on the top of the pipe, positive side up, obviously. Put a magnet on the bottom, positive side down, and used strong aligator clamps from the pipe to the battery. Charges slow but enough to have a full charge after not being there for a day or two.

Pays to be an electrical engineer!!!

Huh? Your generating current from static magnets? Sounds like cold fusion to me.

Good luck!

[crappiekid]

Sounds crazy but worked for us!!

Painted a 3 inch piece of galvanized pipe black. Mounted it to the outside of the house. Put a magnet on the top of the pipe, positive side up, obviously. Put a magnet on the bottom, positive side down, and used strong aligator clamps from the pipe to the battery. Charges slow but enough to have a full charge after not being there for a day or two.

Pays to be an electrical engineer!!!

Good luck!

seriously? The Black? Galvanized? Alligator clamp to the positive? The black pipe screwed into a stud in the wall?

THis is a a red neck solar charger. Tonka either this a solar panel or a wind generator???

I place a solar panel in my window and i will MAINTAIN your battery for days.

[delcecchi]

What kind of electrical Engineer? Galvanized pipe and two magnets? What is that supposed to do?

[minnbowhunter]

Tonka, back to your question, I have an Ice Castle with the forced air furnace too. I run 1 battery with a generator. Without charging the battery is good for about a day. Why bother heating the house when your not in it? I have a friend that tried to run solar panels but gave up. Way too expensive to get the results he wanted. You could put in a direct vent furnace without a blower, a 20 lb propane tank would last 3-4 days if it was set real low.

[Rattler]

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[fisherdog19]

One option would be to add a ventless heater and leave it on while you're gone. Maybe 15K BTU would suffice, depending on the size of the shack.

[Pooh]

how does this work? DETAILS PLEASE!! i want to give it a try. I think the only thing i would need is a couple good magnets.

Sounds crazy but worked for us!!

Painted a 3 inch piece of galvanized pipe black. Mounted it to the outside of the house. Put a magnet on the top of the pipe, positive side up, obviously. Put a magnet on the bottom, positive side down, and used strong aligator clamps from the pipe to the battery. Charges slow but enough to have a full charge after not being there for a day or two.

Pays to be an electrical engineer!!!

Good luck!