heating pads for water tanks

TedsCanoe · 10-06-2023, 02:04 PM

OK, the 12v heater pad webpage says one pad per 50 gallons and my tanks on my TT are all 30 gallon and come with an adhesive.
Under the entire tank, including the pad, I'd like to add some reflectix. After that maybe corrugated plastikote (leftover political signs) for protection. The heater pads come with a glue but what should/could I use to get reflectix and plastikote glued/stuck on? Would HD double faced tape work?
Do I even dare to insulate under those pads or am I asking to start a fire or short circuit?
Thanks and cheers, Ted

CAG · 10-06-2023, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedsCanoe

OK, the 12v heater pad webpage says one pad per 50 gallons and my tanks on my TT are all 30 gallon and come with an adhesive.
Under the entire tank, including the pad, I'd like to add some reflectix. After that maybe corrugated plastikote (leftover political signs) for protection. The heater pads come with a glue but what should/could I use to get reflectix and plastikote glued/stuck on? Would HD double faced tape work?
Do I even dare to insulate under those pads or am I asking to start a fire or short circuit?
Thanks and cheers, Ted

I think you need to determine what you are trying to accomplish.
If you are camping in temps that are below 25F for several hours you need pads if not they are worthless.

TedsCanoe · 10-06-2023, 06:04 PM

Yep, definitely below 25F - below freezing at night at some of the day.
cheers

CAG · 10-06-2023, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedsCanoe

Yep, definitely below 25F - below freezing at night at some of the day.
cheers

Unless it is staying at that temp for 24 hours you have no worries with a full water tank.

TedsCanoe · 10-06-2023, 07:14 PM

Yep, staying in one spot and temperature in mid-November for about 8 nights at a latitude about the same as North Dakota.
Am also thinking of doing the same to the grey tank but will use a portable camping toilet instead of the black tank that I can empty at a outhouse.

I'm putting the pads on tomorrow. The question is how and should I be adding insulation like reflectix and/or plastikote over the pads.
cheers

Jagiven · 10-06-2023, 07:51 PM

I would think 3M Super 77, would work nicely. I found if you spray it on really light, its like contact cement, touch and bonded right now. Apply thick it allows you to push your object around for a while.

I would still apply some tape, maybe found duct tape, along all the edges to keep the road wind from damaging the reflex.

TCNashville · 10-06-2023, 08:14 PM

Be sure to insulate all other exposed water lines as they will freeze much faster than the tanks.

TedsCanoe · 10-06-2023, 09:35 PM

Big time thanks for the info on that adhesive and piping.
Time to get to work.
Cheers Ted

youracman · 10-08-2023, 09:56 AM

Ted- Not the question you asked, but just a thought, FWIW- All the pads I know about have a sensor/tstat that turns them on at about 40 degrees; i.e., you can have the switch "on" inside your RV but they will not start to heat until about 40 deg ambient. They also have a turn-off feature. That sensor is usually located at one end of the pad (at the pwr cable) and you can feel it under the surface (mine were rectangular in shape.) You may want to keep that area free of any insulating blanket you apply so it can sense ambient conditions.

Good luck with the mod and safe travels to ya.

ON EDIT: Disregard my comment, Ted. I think the mind may, in fact be the second thing to go. lol My memory did not serve me well.

On the "Ulta Heat" pads website, I see they say the pads turn on based on the fluid temp in the tank..... not the ambient temp. In that case insulating the tank should have no effect. Again, best of luck on your mod.

TedsCanoe · 10-08-2023, 10:58 AM

Really good info so big-time thanks.
My real problem at age 75 is not getting under the trailer and working - it's getting back out again and standing up after!

Johnynorthland · 10-18-2023, 12:46 PM

My pads were coming off on my 19 RedHawks tanks. I used Gorilla duct tape. Still holding up for the past 3 years. I also installed heater coil cords and insulated all my exposed water lines and sewer pipes/dump valve. I also added an outlet to my wet bay and have 2 heating options, a very small space heater, or a chicken coup plug In thermostat With a spot light plugged into a plug adapter. My wet bay is tiny, doesn’t take much to heat it. I also have a remote thermostat in there, I find it keeps me up on cold nights! I tend to stare at it! Lol!.

We only winter camp when we make the trek from south florida to NY in December to visit kids/grandkids for Christmas. Woke up to a frozen manifold in 2018 when temps went to 27°F, when “they” said it was supposed to be only 37°F ! But of course since I’ve installed all of this I’ve yet to use it in the past 3 years! But good to know I’m
Ready!

youracman · 10-19-2023, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnynorthland

My pads were coming off on my 19 RedHawks tanks. I used Gorilla duct tape. Still holding up for the past 3 years. I also installed heater coil cords and insulated all my exposed water lines and sewer pipes/dump valve. I also added an outlet to my wet bay and have 2 heating options, a very small space heater, or a chicken coup plug In thermostat With a spot light plugged into a plug adapter. My wet bay is tiny, doesn’t take much to heat it. I also have a remote thermostat in there, I find it keeps me up on cold nights! I tend to stare at it! Lol!.

We only winter camp when we make the trek from south florida to NY in December to visit kids/grandkids for Christmas. Woke up to a frozen manifold in 2018 when temps went to 27°F, when “they” said it was supposed to be only 37°F ! But of course since I’ve installed all of this I’ve yet to use it in the past 3 years! But good to know I’m
Ready!

Mine are separating a bit along one side also; had planned to use 3M 90 contact cement in a spray can. Thanks for posting the tip re successful use of Gorilla duct tape, Johny. Think I may go "belt and suspenders" and use both, giving the edges the Gorilla fix after a good cleaning.

Never used the heaters on my old rig and probably won't on this one, but nice to have in case I get surprised by a "blue norther" somewhere. Good times and safe travels to ya.

craigav · 10-19-2023, 07:08 PM

I have no doubt that Gorilla Tape is one of, if not the best duct tape one can purchase. I use it on many things around my ranch here. However, the tape is now deteriorating on some pipe insulation I have for my water well and it will need to be replaced soon, but I will add that it has held up well for ~4 years.

In any case, I re-secured my tank heaters with Eternabond tape. Is Eternabond tape a better choice for this purpose? I have no time tested knowledge to say that it is, but I believe it may be based on how well it has held up on my rooftop and for ~8 years now (not too mention I had some leftover eternabond that I wanted to use up). Time will tell. ~CA

youracman · 10-19-2023, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigav

I have no doubt that Gorilla Tape is one of, if not the best duct tape one can purchase. I use it on many things around my ranch here. However, the tape is now deteriorating on some pipe insulation I have for my water well and it will need to be replaced soon, but I will add that it has held up well for ~4 years.

In any case, I re-secured my tank heaters with Eternabond tape. Is Eternabond tape a better choice for this purpose? I have no time tested knowledge to say that it is, but I believe it may be based on how well it has held up on my rooftop and for ~8 years now (not too mention I had some leftover eternabond that I wanted to use up). Time will tell. ~CA

More good "real world" data on the Gorilla tape. Thanks. BTW- In your application, was the tape exposed to UV rays? If so, do you think it may last longer in the shade (for the tank heater application)?

I echo your experience on the EB tape. Used 4" on the front cap-to-roof seam and a continuous run (about 20 ft or so) of 2" along the tucked-in roof edge seams on my old Class C. Still looked almost the same after 6+ years as the day I installed it. Amazing stuff if applied correctly IMHO. The environment down there near the road for the holding tanks (road gravel, driving rain) might be a little tough for it though............dunno. Another good candidate in any event.

Best.............

craigav · 10-19-2023, 10:43 PM

The Gorilla tape I used outside of the well house didn't last past the first summer, although I think that was because it was in direct sunlight and very high heat (110+ at times) that affected the tape's glue. The tape I used inside the well house reminds me of how the furniture in my RV started flaking off years back (pleather), where the top surface failed and left a cloth like base layer.

I just looked though on the Gorilla website to see what they state regarding their tape and found that they also sell a permanent gorilla tape. It states it has a butyl adhesive, if my eternabond doesn't hold up (which it has for many years now) then I may would try the permanent gorilla tape. https://www.gorillatough.com/product...-weather-tape/

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