Space Heaters

Do exercise caution using electric space heaters (or other high-current appliances) with the typical RV outlets. If the plug is getting more than a tiny bit warm, use a different outlet or preferably upgrade/replace the outlet with a good quality spec grade one. The connection between the common RV outlets and the Romex (a sort of vampire tap arrangement) isn't always the best electrically.

For overnight heat, if it's not too cold, you might want to consider an electric blanket or electric mattress pad.

naturist wrote:

2oldman wrote:
Depends on what else is running at the time. IF your WH and Converter come on at the same time, that will severely limit the heater power. Plus, the plug may get hot at the pedestal.

I don't understand why folks don't just use the furnace. It heats so much better and doesn't present these problems. Just to save a few pennies?

Yep, what he said.

Almost all the small electric space heaters you might buy are 1500 watts, and you can only use one at a time in a 30 amp rig. Consider that the cost of the electric heater is going to be ever so much more than your furnace will burn in propane.

I can run three of them on low on a 30amp service - zone heating, just like your furnace.

enblethen wrote:
A standard 1500 watt heater should be no problem! That would be about 12.5 amps at 120 volt.

In theory yes, in reality rarely will any "1500 watt" electric heater actually pull a full 1500 watts @ 120 vac and therefore nowhere near 12.5 amps. I've got several we use for a variety of purposes in both the house and the trailer and only one is even remotely close, drawing no more than 1400 watts on it's highest setting. I happened to measure one of my other "1500 watt" electric heaters just a 1/2 hr ago as I was locating where I most wanted my Kill-a-Watt meter to be located in the camper ... ~ 720 watts on LO, ~ 1150 watts on HI, even though the heater itself is labeled as "1500 watts". 1150 watts is only ~ 9.5 amps @ 120 vac, nowhere near the theoretical draw of 12.5 amps, and it obviously produces less heat energy since there's a direct relationship between electrical energy in (measured in watthours) and heat energy out (measured in BTUs) - 1 watthour = 3.412 141 479 9 Btu When selecting an electric heater for use in a camper I want a ceramic heater with at least 2 heat settings, one with a quiet fan, a tip over shutoff feature, and one that is closest to actually drawing 1500 watts on it's highest setting.

You may not be able to run electric heater, refer on electric, microwave, converter and electric element in water heater at the same time.
Converter should be left alone. Water heater should be running on LP.

KenMast wrote:
I have an aversion to propane. I'm trying to convert to electric as much as possible.

You are, of course, entitled to feel that way, Sir.

But you'll excuse me for thinking that you are a sick, sick man!

But entitled to be so.

2oldman wrote:
Depends on what else is running at the time. IF your WH and Converter come on at the same time, that will severely limit the heater power. Plus, the plug may get hot at the pedestal.

I don't understand why folks don't just use the furnace. It heats so much better and doesn't present these problems. Just to save a few pennies?

Yep, what he said.

Almost all the small electric space heaters you might buy are 1500 watts, and you can only use one at a time in a 30 amp rig. Consider that the cost of the electric heater is going to be ever so much more than your furnace will burn in propane.

I have an aversion to propane. I'm trying to convert to electric as much as possible.

Depends on what else is running at the time. IF your WH and Converter come on at the same time, that will severely limit the heater power. Plus, the plug may get hot at the pedestal.

I don't understand why folks don't just use the furnace. It heats so much better and doesn't present these problems. Just to save a few pennies?

I have both an 800w and a 1500w, the 800 does not provide enough heat for the whole trailer whereas the 1500 does.

A standard 1500 watt heater should be no problem! That would be about 12.5 amps at 120 volt.