Community Forums

Easyrider · 03-01-2011, 04:20 PM

As with most things, common sense and basic safety precautions will save the day! We use 2 oil filled electric heaters in our motorhome and have no concerns safety wise because of the way we use them.

dajudge · 03-01-2011, 04:59 PM

I agree, anything you use has it's risks. If you are careful when you buy an electric heater, they are safe. I have used them for years and have never had any trouble. Follow the instructions exactly. Don't plug in an electric heater on a circuit with any other electrical appliance. With the price of propane at four dollars or more, it makes sense to use electric heaters. By the way, I only use mine when I have fifty amps.

dieselclacker · 03-01-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easyrider

As with most things, common sense and basic safety precautions will save the day! We use 2 oil filled electric heaters in our motorhome and have no concerns safety wise because of the way we use them.

Make that X2

. My motorhome is in the backyard right now and has had an oil filled electric heater going 24/7 all winter long. I have used two of these heaters for years, no problems, no fears.

Dieselclacker

kartvines · 03-02-2011, 07:47 AM

What is your opionon on the Mr Heater propane portable heater for the same purpose, as I understaning when the oxygen become limited it shuts itself off.

Triker56 · 03-04-2011, 06:53 PM

I use 2 ceramic heaters both on their low 1200W setting if it gets into the 40's or below. Neither one of of them are running 100% of the time. Thermostat adjusts on/off time.
If I leave I will turn one of them off.

With all the refrigerator fires. How many turn it off when leaving?
Probably more odds of having a refrigerator fire then one from a ceramic heater running on low.

TXiceman · 03-04-2011, 07:08 PM

There are lots of things in an RV that can cause an electrical fire. You have electrical loads form the power converter,a hair drier, a coffee pot, the A/C. It is hard to condemn the use of electric heaters based on one incident. The heater have a thermal link in them that will prevent the heater from overheating. The wiring is protected with a fused or circuit breaker. Any electrical load on the circuit can cause a problem on a faulty circuit.

If you truly want to be safe, you should unplug the power cord and disconnect the batteries as well as turn off the propane.

ken

trainsktg · 03-04-2011, 08:02 PM

When you work in areas that are always below freezing (sometimes well below) electrical heat is a must. Propane alone won't do it...the basement will freeze. Ya gotta do what you gotta do. This is why I carry insurance, even though the coach is paid for. This said, wheneven the temperatures were scheduled to be even slightly above freezing, my electric heat was OFF when I left for work. I preferred to stay bundled up for an hour after work while the coach heated up rather than risk an electrical fire.

For continuous loads (greater than 3 hours per day), never load a single circuit to greater than 80% of its rated capacity. This means 12 amps (1440 watts) for 15 amp circuits, 16 amps (1920 watts) for 20 amp circuits, and 24 amps (2880 watts) for 30 amp circuits. This 24 amp limit also applies to a 30 amp house panel as well, as none are rated for 100% continuous duty (short spikes are AOK).

And as said earlier, never leave the heater in the vicinity of a combustible material, including loose clothing and blankets which could fall on it.

Keith

Bucksmom · 03-27-2011, 10:46 AM

I have learned a TON reading this one thread alone! With the coming warm weather (hopefully soon) there will be some closeouts on some nice ceramic heaters I bet. We are really newbies, and frankly, wimps. I've had enough with sleeping in freezing tents and livestock trailers, so maybe on a chilly April night, a ceramic heater if used correctly sounds like it might be the ticket!

Cat320 · 03-27-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucksmom

I have learned a TON reading this one thread alone! With the coming warm weather (hopefully soon) there will be some closeouts on some nice ceramic heaters I bet. We are really newbies, and frankly, wimps. I've had enough with sleeping in freezing tents and livestock trailers, so maybe on a chilly April night, a ceramic heater if used correctly sounds like it might be the ticket!

Plus if you are in a CG, you are paying for electicity, so use it rather than burning your propane.

Triker56 · 03-27-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Plus if you are in a CG, you are paying for electicity, so use it rather than burning your propane.

But don't complain when the campground raises their rates.
I'm sure you ask them if they have posted extra $$ for AC.
If there is extra $$ charge for Electric space heaters.

Brigadoon · 03-27-2011, 05:25 PM

We also have ceramic heaters. We keep 3 on the mh and usually use two when needed. They are a 3 heat range model. Since I was concerned about the power they may draw, I took readings from all 3 at each range and averaged them. I came up with the following averages:

Low- 530 watts/4.4 amps
Med- 705w/6.15a
Hight- 1041w/9.3a

These heaters are marked as a 1500 watt maximum unit. As you can see they don't make the rating.

But that's ok with me. We chose to run one up front at the medium setting and in the middle/back at medium. That way we are not pulling too many amps through an outlet.

Additionally, the units have a visible plunger style cut off switch on the bottom in case they are tipped over.

As stated before, you have to know your equipment and use it wisely.

Cat320 · 03-28-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triker56

But don't complain when the campground raises their rates.
I'm sure you ask them if they have posted extra $$ for AC.
If there is extra $$ charge for Electric space heaters.

Of course I'll complain when/if they raise the rates...don't we always?

I'm certainly not going to use my heaters in anticipation of a rate increase. If that was the case...I'd never use anything...ever!

Monacoach · 03-28-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

I was just trying to post the facts;;;;; Somebody has to jump in and justafey the use of electric heaters;;;;; OK OK you all use them.. Burn the coach up, I"M sorry I posted this notice::::

No need to be sorry. Safety is always an important issue however unilaterally declaring that we all throw our heaters in the garbage is not going to be a popular solution. A little exercise in caution and safety is all that is needed.

Its Paid For · 03-28-2011, 02:11 PM

The meter where I am at is broken and the CG remembered after I had been here 2 months and came to fix it, then remembered to fix it they had to dig up the road. So they have not charged me anything for 3 months and I'll move to another space next month and pay at that point. But they said don't worry about it, as they made the error.

I lucked out this winter, hope it isn't a bad omen for the Summer lol