pianotuna wrote:
First, try not to be rude.
2nd 1800 watts only yields about 6141 btu's. Not nearly enough to keep warm in serious cold. It is only 1023 btu's better than a 1500 watt heater from Walmart which costs $9.99. Or you could use one 1500 watt and add a 1000 watt heater. That yields 8530 btu's, and leaves enough head room to run the fridge on the electric setting.
3rd the 3750 watt only does 12795 btu's. That's a little better but still not what I'd call wonderful.
4th the 5000 watt only does 17060 btu's. It is unclear to me whether they wire this as a balanced load. Perhaps you could enlighten us?
5th if the voltage sags (and it will), you won't get nearly the same amount of heat.
6th, in order to successfully heat my RV at -27 c (-16.6 f) I require up to 7000 watts of electricity (peak load 23884 btu's). I do use a sola basic autoformer to keep the voltage up on the OEM 30 amp service, and have added 20 amp and 15 amp auxiliary shore power cords which I run from a 50 amp "break out box".
So the Cheap Heat is not terrible useful to anyone who lives where there is serious cold, partly because it may not be run in parallel with the propane furnace. Nor does it fail over to propane heating if the power goes off.
BTW where I live it gets to -40. That means I've added extra insulation, Insulbright covers for all windows, vents, skylights and doors. Other cold weather modifications include adding insulated pillows for vents and skylights. I've also added an Insulbright divider to eliminate heating the cab on my class C.
rhagfo wrote:
If you don’t know what you are talking about, you should stay out of the discussion!
#1. It DOESN'T require a 50 amp service to operate, on the 1,800 watt setting it works on a 30 amp service, through a 20 amp breaker.
#2. On the 5,000 watt setting, yes a 50 amp 208 volt service is required, but the system runs on a 30 amp 208 volt breaker.
We have a 32’ 5er the we heated to 70 degrees easly with outside temperatures in the low forty’s on the 1,800 watt setting on a 30 amp service used other electrical device without issues.
Currently on a 50 amp service, and the 5,000 watt setting and will heat us down in to the teens.
Well I don't like those that state bad information.
While your information, and arguments are factual you situation is an extreme case.
I agree 1,800 watts is not enough to heat in serious cold, but I would not expect that. When on the 5,000 watt setting and 17,060 btu it is still short of the 24,700 btu the furnace will put out on gas.
When heating in the low 40's with 1,800 watt setting the furnace did run longer to raise temperature, but it didn't run continuously.
When on the 5,000 watt setting it doesn't take long to correct the temperature. The OP states they have a Super Slide, which are heat suckers, no insulation on the floor, and minimal insulation in the walls and ceiling. We have one also and we still do fine at 17,060 btu.
The main reason we have it is SAFETY, 5,000 watt is wired with 10 gauge wire and the 1,800 watt is wired with 12 gauge on a 20 amp circuit. This is NOT 14 gauge 15 amp wire for circuity. Look at your $9.99 Wal-Mart heaters, likely has 16 gauge wire.
In addition we have two very mischievous beagles that I don't want to worry about them starting a fire with space heaters. way too many people die due to space heater caused fires each year.
I don't use any more electricity with the furnace, than I would using small space heaters to keep the same temperature. The little heaters need to run continuously or almost. The furnace cycles much like when on gas, T-stat controlled. This means step down at night, and step up in the morning.
I am not sure why the 3,700 watt setting likely for small rigs, with small duct work, as there are air flow and duct size requirements.
Keep in mind your case is extreme, not all of us live in -16 degree weather.
I also like not having the clutter of a bunch of electric space heaters sitting around.
Heck, I am not going to attempt to tow/carry a 17,000# 5er with my 2001 Ram 2500, just not in the cards, BUT it does just fine with the 12,360# GVWR 5er we have.
