pianotuna wrote:
Hi Lady,
I invite you to comment on which of my observations is wrong. I would appreciate being corrected if a statement is false.
As to inconsequential--that is a matter of opinion and my opinion is just as valid as yours.
I now have data on a cold soaked rv that suggests that about 45 amps are needed to warm it up from -20 (-f f) to +20 C (68 f) taking about 9 hours and that at least 25 amps are required to keep it warm when the ambient temperature is -25 C (-13 f).
Anyone contemplating the 'cheap heat' system should wire it for the largest possible amperage design, if they camp in weather that is truly cold.
Merry Christmas.
Lady Fitzgerald wrote:
Hi pianotuna,
What bothers me is every one of your complaints have been debunked by several people in past threads yet you persist with the same inconsequential or inaccurate arguments.
For the last time (hopefully):
(Alleged)Disadvantages:
Can not fail over to furnace - I already told you all you need is a two stage thermostat. I also told you the reason one isn't included is not everyone will need one.
Can not replace all heating needs in the 30 amp flavor - Not everyone camps in -20° weather like you do. Most people won't even see 32° while camping. Most fulltimers go south for the winter.
Probably can not replace all heating needs in the "medium" flavor - Same as the previous response.
Can not be used with 15 amp power. Seriously? You would be hard pressed to run ANY adequate electric heater on a 15A service without turning everything else off unless it's a really tiny RV.
Can not be run to act as a helper to the furnace. Again, seriously? It's not designed to do so nor should it be. What you are suggesting is no more sensible than running a toad in gear while towing it. If you need higher heat output, get one that is big enough.
takes 5 hours to install (and that is if you have done more than one). So what if it takes that long (and I doubt that anyone who has done it before would need that long). Once installed, that's it; you're done.
Costs $500 smackers plus install (so in my opinion to call it cheap heat is an insult) - You get what you pay for. You want upfront cheap, stick with your portables. You want quality, convenience, and a non-ghetto look, you will have to pay for it. As far as "cheap" goes, not everyone wants "cheap". Campers with no access to propane or fulltimers who either can't or don't want to lug propane tanks around frequently will find not having to do so to be well worth the upfront cost.
requires a good working knowledge of electricity to diy. Yet again, seriously? You are grasping at straws again. Using that "logic", people who don't know how to fix their cars shouldn't buy them. If you don't have the knowledge to properly and safely install something, pay someone who does.
voids the warranty on the furnace - Completely wrong! Besides being against Federal law here in the USA to void the warranty (don't know about up in CA but most purchasers will be from here) unless it can be proven to have damaged the furnace, Cheap Heat will replace the factory warranty should that happen.
the three flavors are identical--just wired differently to allow different output levels - And this is a problem how? It actually makes the product less expensive because the manufacturer can maintain a lower parts inventory, manufacturing is simplified, any repairs are simplified since the same parts work on all "flavors", one can "upgrade" at a latter date for much less that replacing the entire unit, etc. Btw, there are more than three "flavors".
the 30 amp flavor does only a few more watts than a heat strip in an air conditioner - Not all ACs and Heat Pumps can have heat strips installed. Also, the fans in the ACs will still run at full speed whereas the fan on the furnace in a Cheap Heat installation will be lower.
the furnace fan gets a lot more hours on it. - Not much more than if the furnace itself had been running, possibly less if you count total fan revolutions since it runs at a lower speed when on electric heat. And so what if the fan does get more hours? A separate fan will rack up hours so we are talking about a tradeoff here.
has the same noise level as the propane furnace. - Again, wrong. The fan runs slower and there is no burner burning so your claim is completely false.
Break even even for a full time RV'er is several years of use. - So what? How long before one reaches break even depends on one's usage, the cost of propane and electricity, etc. Some will reach the break even point before others. Some may never reach a break even point but will still want the convenience of not having to deal with portable heaters, don't want the ghetto look of portable heaters, prefer the comfort of central ducted heat, don't want to or can't lug around propane tanks, etc.
Again, I and others have pointed these things out to you multiple times before. It's alright to express opinions but all you have to offer are fallacies aggravated by your insistence on repeating them after others have pointed out you are wrong.
