Community Forums

judy3972 · 11-18-2012, 09:00 PM

There are discussions on the plugs in motor homes, through the inverter etc. Has anyone found a plug in the ACE 29.1 in which it is safe to plug in a space heater?

Moonshine94 · 11-18-2012, 09:04 PM

Not sure I understand your question. You should be able to safely plug any UL Listed electric space heater into any of the 120 VAC outlets.

judy3972 · 11-18-2012, 09:46 PM

That's what I thought, but there is a thread with a currently 4 page discussion on this matter. They are talking way over my head with number of watts etc. I gave discovered that I can not use my electric frying pan and run both the microwave and stove hood fan without blowing a fuse. So I guess I'm asking if there is one plug which would be better than others. This other thread even suggested running a line just for the electric heater.

adamfolger · 11-18-2012, 09:54 PM

All motorhome 110 outlets have their amp limits. We just have to not overload them with TOO MANY 1500 wat appliances at a time. If you are tripping breakers....thats what you are doing. It doesn't matter wheather the power is inverted 12 volt or 110 shore power. The breakers only know that the amp draw is too much.

judy3972 · 11-18-2012, 10:07 PM

The thread I'm referring too is under the Class A discussion. I can not cut and paste a link on this devise. Will try in the morning when I can get to my computer.

vsheetz · 11-19-2012, 12:23 AM

Need to figure out which devices and outlets are on which circuit breakers, and connect the heater accordingly.

CampDaven · 11-19-2012, 05:55 AM

I popped a few breakers until I figured out which outlets were on seperate circuits.

fredaevans · 11-19-2012, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CampDaven

I popped a few breakers until I figured out which outlets were on seperate circuits.

+1. In a MH a 115 volt circuit will probably only have a 15 amp breaker on a given line. Doesn't take much to hit that load. As an example, here in my office, I'll have the lap top going (how much could that draw?????), the TV and three over head light bulbs (40 watt's each).

Have a 'oil boiler' type space heater (why heat the whole house to keep one room warm?) and when it kicks in the lights dim. Highly suggestive I'm right at the end of the 15 amp breaker.

Already purchased a 20, just need to get off my butt and swap out the lower for a slightly higher. 5 amps is no big deal ... beyond that? Now you're talking a whole new ball game .... don't go there!

judy3972 · 11-19-2012, 08:28 AM

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/pote...ch-115604.html
This is the link to the thread that I was speaking about.
If anyone has any idea of which plug I should try it would be wonderful.
Even though we live in the desert it gets really cold here at nights now, so on our next trip I know we will need heat after sundown. As we have not used this MH during this time of year I do not know if we will need the electric heater to assit.
Tjanks for any help from those of youwho have figured out this question.

gmadams · 11-19-2012, 10:31 AM

We used our 1500w space heater this past weekend. It was running all night with no problems. Also ran it some before going to bed with the TV and overhead lights turned on with no problems.

wa8yxm · 11-19-2012, 10:59 AM

If you have an outlet for a washing machine that is your best bet, Or the Microwave's oulet.

however I will tell you what I did in my Intruder... I put in a pair of 15/20 amp outlets (These are the ones with the "T" shaped neutral slot) Each of these has it's very own length of 12GA Romex stripped and bent around the screw and tightened. This runs to a breaker deidcated to that outlet.

Now: That said. We have plugged space heaters into the RV's original outlets in most cases with no problem,,, ONE of them gave me concern, Just one.

bodycoach2 · 11-19-2012, 02:33 PM

We've been using the Delonghi small oil-filled radiator type when on shore-power. The lowest setting is MORE than enough to heat the entire coach. And, even after the heater is turned off, it's still heating the coach for at least 30 minutes.

fredaevans · 11-20-2012, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodycoach2

We've been using the Delonghi small oil-filled radiator type when on shore-power. The lowest setting is MORE than enough to heat the entire coach. And, even after the heater is turned off, it's still heating the coach for at least 30 minutes.

I use the same thing, but two units. One in the bedroom and the other in the main cabin. As supliments to the regular floor furnace, they worked a treat. You will have to use the FF to circulate the warm air unless you also have a fan going.

But you will

when you get handed your power bill if staying long term someplace.

Moonshine94 · 11-20-2012, 09:25 AM

judy3972,

I read through the thread you referred to, and most of it discusses running an electric space heater in coaches with invertors. Our ACE's do not have an invertor (just a convertor), so it's largely a non-issue for us.