Next item...space heater

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by smlranger

Not sure about the particular inverter in the OP's coach but most modern inverter/charger combo units used in motorhomes have an internal transfer switch. So, when the coach is connected to shore power (or with generator running) the inverter function is bypassed and those 'inverter' outlets are shore power. Only when there is no shore power connected will the inverter actually use battery power to provide AC to outlets on the inverter circuit.

At least that is the way my Magnum Energy inverter/charger works.

Yes, very true indeed. But what happened to us was the campground lost electrical power for a few minutes and the inverter kicked in and zap, there went the blanket controller. The old electric blankets had mechanical controllers and were not effected, but all but a few now use electronic controllers.

If you happen to have a good quality "pure sine wave" inverter you don't have to worry as much.

BTW, our new Keurig coffee maker doesn't like the modified sine wave current either. Nor does the electric heater.

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by marjoa

We're going on a 10 day Christmas trip and will be in a CG. We will have 50amp service. Our dual Coleman overhead ducked heating system works fairly well but my wife like its toasty. I have read other posts for insulating tips and will be using plastic over all the inside windows but would like to also get a nice space heater that we'd put in the galley, point it towards the bedroom and let it blow that way.



So thinking out loud here concerning the available 50amp:

• approx. 28-30amps goes to the Colemans at night

• 8amps or so to a heated blanket

• 8-10amps to a space heater



So with that approx. power draw, yet a heater large enough with a good fan to blow towards the bedroom can anyone suggest a proven space heater that they have used?



Thanks everyone.

The heat pumps won't heat when outside temp is much below 40....why not just use your propane furnace?

You say you have a small dog.....makes me think a portable electric heater is not a good choice around pets .....to much chance for it to get tipped over, or cord to get chewed, etc...

[Kiawah]

On many coaches, the heat for the wet bay comes from one of the furnaces (rear). I use a fireplace and space heaters, but if temperature is below freezing make sure that the temperature adjustments are such that your propane furnace that feeds the wet bay is running.

Else, better put an electrical light in the wetbay to keep things warm .

[sbleiweiss]

We use small fan driven electric heaters from Vornado (750 watts) and we have three of them, one in each room/area, including the bedroom. The lower wattage allows you to have more of them and that is the ultimate way to heat every room. The only thing I wish is finding ones like this that have a thermostat. Ours are just on/off and high/low.

[Labrat46]

Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater, 1500-Watt

very happy with this unit. Quiet and safe for pets.

[Brad W]

Originally Posted by mackwrench

I prefer a oil filled heater. Quiet and no red glow to have to look at when in bed

I think it is a better quality heat too. Not as dry, less fire hazard, all good

[Easyrider]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Two concerns regarding space heaters

1: Many RV's do not have a lot of "Circuits" and all outlets or most may be on the same breaker, a 1500 Watt herter is 12 amps.. you can quickly go over the 15 amp limit if anything else is plugged in and CLICK it goes dark.

2: I found that the outlets in my RV, which are the common Quick Box.. Really did not like 12 amp loads.. Ok with the heater on low but on HIGH I smelled overheated wiring... Did not take me long to correct it but be very cautious using space heaters in RVs.

That's one of the things we like about our oil filled electric radiant heaters, there is a 900 watt setting and 1500 watt setting, we've never even tried the 1500 watt setting as we started out with them on 900 watts and they worked so well we've never felt the need to go with 1500. We're using them with a 30 amp RV and have no problem using the rest of our electrical appliances including the water heater while using the heaters to stay comfortable.

[twogypsies]

Be careful with a small heater around bedding. A friend of ours had his blanket slip down and it touched the heater at the foot of the bed. He woke to a smoldering smell - very lucky.

[gatorb8]

another happy vornado owner here
it's so quiet
variable speed fan
hi/lo
thermostat
tip protection
luv it!

[oatmeal]

Originally Posted by marjoa

So thinking out loud here concerning the available 50amp:
• approx. 28-30amps goes to the Colemans at night
• 8amps or so to a heated blanket
• 8-10amps to a space heater

Your 8 amps for an electric blanket is way off. I just plugged mine into a kill-a-watt and it's using .92 amps.

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

1: Many RV's do not have a lot of "Circuits" and all outlets or most may be on the same breaker, a 1500 Watt herter is 12 amps.. you can quickly go over the 15 amp limit if anything else is plugged in and CLICK it goes dark.

In that vein...our inverter circuit has a 30-amp breaker on it. So when we use three space heaters, we're very careful about which outlets we use. We have one non-inverter plug available, so we use that. For the other two heaters, we make sure each one is on a different circuit (but both are on the inverter circuit).