Electric heater vs using furnace in fall?
Need advice from experienced campers since wife and I only started this year and have camped only 10 nights due to P/T job getting in the way after retiring....We have a 2014 Keystone Bullet 285 RLS T...
Forum Discussion
temccarthy1 wrote:
That's my plan until I get my progressive Industries electrical management device next year that will give me constant amp readings, then I'll know what my cushions are on each appliance and electronics.
SoundGuy wrote:
Certainly an EMS will provide power draw measurements but so to will an inexpensive Kill-a-Watt Meter. Rarely will an electric heater labeled as "1500 watts" actually draw anywhere near that ... I've got several and they range from ~ 950 watts to ~ 1400 watts on the highest setting. Measure what you have and you'll know, not just be guessing. ;)
temccarthy1 wrote:
Yes.. I plan to measure them with the EMS I am getting for Christmas. . The main reason for wanting the EMS rather than just the surge protector I currently have is to prevent damage to my TT systems from all the frequent low voltage situations I am reading about from Rv'ers that can wreck or shorten the life of my AC compressor, microwave and electronics.
While an EMS certainly serves a valuable role in protecting your trailer's electrical system it's ability to monitor & display various parameters is limited, particularly current draw which is only accurate to the nearest ampere ... the Kill-a-Watt's current draw resolution is in hundredths. Yes, an EMS will monitor incoming voltage but a Kill-a-Watt will also measure power in watts, power factor, and volt / amps - none of which the EMS is designed to do. Bottom line - while you're waiting for Santa invest $20 in a Kill-a-Watt that will tell you a lot more about your electrical devices than any EMS. ;)
