|
|
12-01-2020, 03:51 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 24
|
Oil Filled or Ceramic
Most of our camping season is done in mostly warm weather. Occasionally it is cool at night. Our last camping adventure got down in the low to mid 30's. We do have a couple of electric ceramic heaters that are OK under warmer conditions. The one in the bedroom keeps that area warmish even during our last trip. The one in the kitchen/living room area didn't amount to squat. We are considering one of the oil filled radiators but would like opinions on how the oil filled one might be better/worse than the ceramic heater. The ceramic one has 2 heating ranges (750 & 1500). Besides not really heating the space it made a fair amount of noise. Enough that it would awaken me.
Thoughts ??
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
12-01-2020, 03:56 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Indiana
Posts: 176
|
Having used both types.. I say 1500 watts is 1500 watts.... Makes no difference. The oil filled radiator is quieter. Takes longer to put out heat.
We ended up just staying with the little ceramic one in the main area and have a small 350 watt one in the bathroom... Both have thermostats that are adjustable.
Bob
__________________
2008 Damon Thor Outlaw
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 03:59 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 392
|
I have used both an oil filled radiator and a small ceramic heater in my MH and home. The radiator is the better of the two IMO. Once warmed up, it gives off heat over its large surface area. Kept an older class C something like warm and does the same for the upper level of my older (and yet to be really insulated with little or no air flow) 1940's home. It will do fine given enough time to warm up. Go with the radiator.
__________________
1993 Winnebago Elante 34'
PThirtysomething
454 w/4L80E
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 04:22 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: The Bluegrass State
Posts: 8,886
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by hedhunter9
Having used both types.. I say 1500 watts is 1500 watts.... Makes no difference. The oil filled radiator is quieter. Takes longer to put out heat.
We ended up just staying with the little ceramic one in the main area and have a small 350 watt one in the bathroom... Both have thermostats that are adjustable.
Bob
|
We have been using a Vornado space heater for years now. It is VERY quiet and I prefer to use it over the heat pumps or even the propane furnaces. They also have great customer service. Remember, you get what you pay for.
__________________
Good Luck, Be Safe and Above All, Don't Forget To Have Fun
Pete
Central Kentucky
2006 Fleetwood Discovery 35H, 2014 Honda CR-V, M&G Engineering Braking System
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 04:27 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 2,812
|
As mentioned 1500 watts is 1500 watts that is about 5100 btu's of heat. Doesn't matter what the source is, resistance heat of any type will produce the same amount of heat. So pick your favorite. I also like the ceramic cubes.
__________________
Foretravel tag axle 40 ft. 500 hp/1550 ft/lbs ism 1455 watts on the roof. 600 a/h's lithium down below.
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 04:31 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,311
|
I've used oil filled for the past 13 years , to avoid the noise .
Storing, the radiator, when not in use , due to the size , to me is the only draw back.
In my coach I have two , my original , with 3 heat manual control , and a newer electronic t'stat model , I prefer the manual , as in the event of a power outage , it'll come back on , where the electronic control has to be reset.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 04:45 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: MINNESOTA
Posts: 524
|
I agree 100% with everyone else. 1500W is equal either way except that I really like the oil filled with a small fan blowing over the top and circulating air around the RV on oscillate.
What I do is run the oil filled on low (750W) constant with the fan in the back bedroom. Then I have the ceramic heater up front set on high with the temp set to 60. Between the two it keeps it above 50 no problem even with a couple of cold nights down to teens.
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 04:53 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,454
|
Why not one of the small Chinese diesel heaters for $150... useful long term cheap solution.
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 05:03 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,626
|
The big difference is that with the ceramic heater the heat is gone instantly when you turn the switch off. The oil-filled heater is going to continue putting out heat for quite a while until the oil cools down.
If it is going to remain cold for a long period then the oil-filled heater will be the most efficient. Once the oil gets hot it doesn't take as much AC power to keep it hot.
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 05:18 PM
|
#10
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 24
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bpu699
Why not one of the small Chinese diesel heaters for $150... useful long term cheap solution.
|
We are gas, not diesel. Looking for electrical use anyway.
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 06:10 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
|
We use oil filled units and more than happy .
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 07:19 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lost
Posts: 568
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers
The big difference is that with the ceramic heater the heat is gone instantly when you turn the switch off. The oil-filled heater is going to continue putting out heat for quite a while until the oil cools down.
If it is going to remain cold for a long period then the oil-filled heater will be the most efficient. Once the oil gets hot it doesn't take as much AC power to keep it hot.
|
I agree. We've been using two old school, dial thermostat, on/off buttons, 1500/750 watt oil radiators for about 15 years. Once they're hot, it's easy to adjust and maintain a constant heat. If power goes out, they turn back on with the resumption of power. Added benefit is there's no moving parts, nothing to wear out and most importantly for us, no noise!
__________________
2007 Fleetwood Expedition 38L
Nowhere special to go...... and all day to get there!
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 10:19 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Livingston, TX
Posts: 1,088
|
Last night temps dropped to 29....
My radiator heater and my 1,500 watt ceramic kept my 40’ coach nice and toasty....
I avoid using the furnace because it sucks propane like a race horse!!!
(It’s a pain in the butt to either call for a high-dollar mobile propane delivery OR break camp and go find propane...)
Using my current system, I only use propane to cook and to power my fridge when I’m on the road... I heat with the above mentioned heaters.... A tank of propane can last me months and months....
AND - if I’m using the CG elec all the better....
When Boondocking I rely on my generator and during quite time lots of cover until I can fire up my generator in the AM....
I have a large Mr Buddy heater that I’ve really not used yet.... (a tad concerned about sleeping with something that sucks oxygen from coach). Silly I know.....
|
|
|
12-01-2020, 10:53 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,321
|
Small ceramic cube heaters for me as well.
The fan running on low is like a white noise, so not a problem.
1500 watts is 1500 watts, and the ceramic heaters are pretty much instant heat.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|