Looking for the best 12v dash heater - Taurus Car Club of America : Ford Taurus Forum

901-Memphis · 11-19-2012, 09:47 PM

I am looking for a cigarette lighter 12 volt heater for my car. I am trying to find a quality one that won't break on the first use.

Please spare me your thoughts on how inferior they are in general. I know 12 volt only gives you so much heat. Just want a little extra help on my windshield.

sheila · 11-20-2012, 12:14 PM

Check Harbor Freight Tools.

Markcuda · 11-20-2012, 02:09 PM

Try this.
12V Heater w/ Fan
And this.
http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt...ters-c-94.html

machineop · 11-20-2012, 03:26 PM

Trust me it takes a lot of electrical power to make a small heater put out he heat you want, any these little mickey mouse heaters dont have what it takes with only 12 volts. I had one a few years ago , what a joke!

Markcuda · 11-20-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Please spare me your thoughts on how inferior they are in general.

This is why I didn't offer my opinion

JW657 · 11-20-2012, 03:40 PM

Fact is, creating heat from an electrical source requires lots of power. Not that it's a bad idea or anything, it just seems pointless when you have 200F+ coolant flowing in the car just waiting to be cooled. Is there something wrong with the heat in your car?

The only time electrical heat in a car makes sense is if you'll be sitting in it for long periods without the engine idling.

Markcuda · 11-20-2012, 03:44 PM

Get ya one of these.

SoNic67 · 11-20-2012, 03:51 PM

The alternator cannot support any decent amount of electric heating... the maximum capacity is some 900-1100W.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 901-Memphis

Just want a little extra help on my windshield.

The defrost option in your car will dehumidify the air that you blow onto windshield. De-humidification is done with the automatic use of the A/C compressor.
Blowing only slightly heated (but still humid) air on the cold windshield (cooled from outside air) will not help as you think.

behlinla · 11-20-2012, 08:01 PM

There isn't a whole lot of power available from the cigarette lighter port. It's a 20 amp fuse, so you really only have about 200 watts to work with. The average space heater starts at 1000 watts.

If your defrost isn't working well, you might have a clogged cabin air filter or your heater core might be partially blocked and you might not be getting full heat.

901-Memphis · 11-21-2012, 06:10 PM

My core is plugged and my compressor doesn't work. I don't want to replace the core as I'm hoping to get a new car with tax return.

11-19-2012, 09:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
901-Memphis Senior Member Member Number: 18227 Join Date: Mar 2009 Chapter: Northeast Drives: 1999 Taurus SE 3.0 Vulcan Visit: My Garage Posts: 657 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	Looking for the best 12v dash heater I am looking for a cigarette lighter 12 volt heater for my car. I am trying to find a quality one that won't break on the first use. Please spare me your thoughts on how inferior they are in general. I know 12 volt only gives you so much heat. Just want a little extra help on my windshield. __________________ 1999 Vulcan Sedan with 138k / Current Fill - M1 HM 5w30 + Pureone 20195 (Blue Filter)

11-20-2012, 02:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Markcuda Member Member Number: 50963 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Clinton,Illinois Chapter: Midwest Drives: 2007 Taurus SEL Windveil blue Visit: My Garage Posts: 111 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 1	Try this. 12V Heater w/ Fan And this. http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt...ters-c-94.html __________________ 2007 Taurus SEL Windveil blue 126,500 miles Leather intirior 3.0 Vulcan motor WeatherTech side window deflectors. www.Markcuda.com Last edited by Markcuda; 11-20-2012 at 02:12 PM.

11-20-2012, 03:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
JW657 Cake monster Member Number: 18214 Join Date: Mar 2009 Chapter: Northeast Drives: none right now Visit: My Garage Posts: 1,584 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 10	Fact is, creating heat from an electrical source requires lots of power. Not that it's a bad idea or anything, it just seems pointless when you have 200F+ coolant flowing in the car just waiting to be cooled. Is there something wrong with the heat in your car? The only time electrical heat in a car makes sense is if you'll be sitting in it for long periods without the engine idling. __________________ I love cake. I AM THE CAKE BOSS!

11-20-2012, 03:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Markcuda Member Member Number: 50963 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Clinton,Illinois Chapter: Midwest Drives: 2007 Taurus SEL Windveil blue Visit: My Garage Posts: 111 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 1	Get ya one of these. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 2007 Taurus SEL Windveil blue 126,500 miles Leather intirior 3.0 Vulcan motor WeatherTech side window deflectors. www.Markcuda.com

11-21-2012, 06:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
901-Memphis Senior Member Member Number: 18227 Join Date: Mar 2009 Chapter: Northeast Drives: 1999 Taurus SE 3.0 Vulcan Visit: My Garage Posts: 657 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 0	My core is plugged and my compressor doesn't work. I don't want to replace the core as I'm hoping to get a new car with tax return. __________________ 1999 Vulcan Sedan with 138k / Current Fill - M1 HM 5w30 + Pureone 20195 (Blue Filter)

11-20-2012, 12:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
sheila Crazy Devoted Member Member Number: 10865 Join Date: Dec 2006 Visit: My Garage Posts: 8,861 Trader Score: 1 reviews Rep Power: 21	Check Harbor Freight Tools.

11-20-2012, 03:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
machineop Member Member Number: 25163 Join Date: Dec 2009 Visit: My Garage Posts: 468 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 5	Trust me it takes a lot of electrical power to make a small heater put out he heat you want, any these little mickey mouse heaters dont have what it takes with only 12 volts. I had one a few years ago , what a joke!

11-20-2012, 08:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
behlinla Technical Advisor Member Number: 14275 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wisconsin Chapter: Midwest Drives: 2006 Taurus SEL Visit: My Garage Posts: 5,699 Trader Score: 0 reviews Rep Power: 10	There isn't a whole lot of power available from the cigarette lighter port. It's a 20 amp fuse, so you really only have about 200 watts to work with. The average space heater starts at 1000 watts. If your defrost isn't working well, you might have a clogged cabin air filter or your heater core might be partially blocked and you might not be getting full heat.

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