heating electrically a "back yard" report
Hi, This is a test of a cold soaked RV, ambient temperature -31 C (-23.8 f) The test started at 2:00 but I had difficulty getting the cords "run". I'm plugged into one 30 amp and two 15 amp outlets...
Forum Discussion
Good info, Tuna. Of course, these temps seem otherworldly to me, but you may have pushed me into putting in a second 20A aux inlet (30a+20a+20a). I can never see myself needing that much power, but if I did and didn't have it, I would be out of luck.
My own experience in milder temps (teens and 20s), is that the electric space heaters have a unique benefit: Position them so that they are blowing directly on humans as they heat the cabin. Humans warm first, cabin warms second.
If the separate bedroom has no plumbing in it I would remove the heater and let the bedroom warm up slowly via conduction. I am betting that your overall warmup time is not much increased, and you might not even need that additional space heater in the cabin.
I'm sure you menmtioned it somewhere, but what are you using underneath? I recently downgraded from a 250w heat bulb to a 100w, but tightened up the skirt. Judging by the reduced power use of the tank heaters, it is all in the skirt. My total power usage underneath, in steady low twenties with a wind, is 100w bulb+50wblack tankk heater+50w grey tank heater.
Tuna, did you go with the foam gym pads? They seem to make a big difference, particularly when the feet first hit the floor in the morning.
IMO, the dead cold warm up is an extreme case. I'd be more interested in the power cost of maintaining a heated cabin. In teens/20s, I can comfortably manage this on a 20A supply.
My own experience in milder temps (teens and 20s), is that the electric space heaters have a unique benefit: Position them so that they are blowing directly on humans as they heat the cabin. Humans warm first, cabin warms second.
If the separate bedroom has no plumbing in it I would remove the heater and let the bedroom warm up slowly via conduction. I am betting that your overall warmup time is not much increased, and you might not even need that additional space heater in the cabin.
I'm sure you menmtioned it somewhere, but what are you using underneath? I recently downgraded from a 250w heat bulb to a 100w, but tightened up the skirt. Judging by the reduced power use of the tank heaters, it is all in the skirt. My total power usage underneath, in steady low twenties with a wind, is 100w bulb+50wblack tankk heater+50w grey tank heater.
Tuna, did you go with the foam gym pads? They seem to make a big difference, particularly when the feet first hit the floor in the morning.
IMO, the dead cold warm up is an extreme case. I'd be more interested in the power cost of maintaining a heated cabin. In teens/20s, I can comfortably manage this on a 20A supply.
