Most Efficient Electric Heater

[sgtjoe]

Looking for suggestions on the most effective and cost savings to run electric heater for my motor home. Anyone have one they use that is cost efficient?? I'll be using it in the front larger area of the mh.

[docj]

All electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient. Despite claims by some expensive heaters that they are more efficient than others the heat ANY heater outputs is just the wattage rating. Most heaters are in the 1500-1875 watts range. The fans, if any, on most heaters are so small as to use an insignificant amount of power.

[jauguston]

I believe portable electric heaters are limited to a maximum of 1500w by law. The 20 dollar ones and the multi-hundred dollar ones are all the same potential output.

Jim

[palehorse89]

Nothing efficient about 1500 watts of electric....Any resistive AC load makes heat....... Hair dryers, heat guns, electric heaters,......etc. is going to make the meter spin When run all day.....
Think of the new spiral bulbs.......13 watts of electric being used, providing the same lighting of a 60 watt bulb.........it would take 115 of these bulbs being on to equal the electric usage of a 1500 watt electric heater......

[Gerryl]

I read a study on this once regarding the so-called 'Amish made' and infrared electric heaters. This report concluded that they are no more efficient than a regular $20 heater. They use the same power for the same output.

Amish and electric????????? Who could be so naive
But it must be someone, as I see full page ads all the time .

[bailiff]

There is lots of post regarding electric space heaters. What I found is those with an adjustable fan makes them more comfortable to use. I have a cheap one I use in our MH bathroom that is 750-1500 watt. Being able to distribute that heat instead of it rising to the ceiling is most helpful.

[Dupdyke]

We bought the heat a lot infrared from menards in mn for less than 80.00 in the spring. It has a thermostat that works and will keep the front of our 42' nice and cosy I spin it and point it to the bathroom and close the door to the front and do not heat the front unless it is below 35 deg.

It is a lot less cost than the heat pumps or the aqua hot and I am a freeze baby since the cancer. It shuts off the red lights and pushes the built up heat from the coils and I can watch the amps on the meter go to 1 when the red lights are off and up to 10 amps when tv computers lights and heater are all on.

They have a similar one on sale at harbor freight.

[vettenuts]

I have been looking as well. I plan to get one that looks like a wood stove with the fireplace. However, many say not to use on carpet because the heater is under the stove and near the floor. I have found one where the heater is at the top and away from the floor.

[Pusherman]

A watt is a watt is a watt. 1 watt of electricity produces 3.412 BTU's/hr.

No electric heater is more efficient than another (other than a heat pump - different story).

Buy a good inexpensive ceramic heater. It will cost you no more in electricity to produce heat than an expensive unit (such as an Amish unit).

I agree with the posts which recommend 2 settings with a fan: 750W and 1500W. They work well.

[pasdad1]

I like the oil filled type......very versatile since they have 3 heat settings ( 600, 900, 1500 watts) and are silent because they have no fan.

[mrt_1111]

Since the amount of heat electric heaters put out is the same, maybe the focus of electric heaters should be the safety devices installed on the heater.

[scep]

[QUOTE=pasdad1;2383349]I like the oil filled type......very versatile since they have 3 heat settings ( 600, 900, 1500 watts) and are silent because they have no fan.

An additional benefit of them is no dry sinuses.

[wrapperman]

There are two different types of heaters, radiant and forced fan heater. Different strokes for different folks. Radiant heaters are nice cause they heat the surrounding furniture. Forced fans are nice cause they can heat the coach faster and will not produce a wind chill affect.
I prefer the ceramic heater. They are quiet, cheap and small in most cases. We have 2 small ceramic heater that we place on the counter and kitchen table and most of the time I set them to medium. They do a great job in out 378 XL. 2 heaters and the fireplace is generally all we need till it gets super cold.
We purchased two small ceramic heater at Lowes for 20 bucks each. They are 10" tall, 7" wide and 5" deep and you hardly hear them running. If you like I'll post pics of them tomorrow.
Oh, and an electric blanket is nice too.



2013 Georgetown XL 378

Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by docj

All electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient. Despite claims by some expensive heaters that they are more efficient than others the heat ANY heater outputs is just the wattage rating. Most heaters are in the 1500-1875 watts range. The fans, if any, on most heaters are so small as to use an insignificant amount of power.

Exactly!