Ceramic Heater Safety

[Dernhelm]

Not sure where I should post this; please feel free to move it? I did a forum search for the subject, but couldn't find it.

Basically, I'm looking for a supplemental space heater that's "safe" to use in a trailer. By "safe" I mean it has a tipover switch, an overheat switch and if your dog wags his fluffy tail against it, it might not ignite.

Do "ceramic" heaters fit the bill?

[Naio]

1. In my experience, the overheat and tip over switches do not always work. After buying a heater, I would test them before relying on them for safety.

2. Heaters with fans are designed to rely on the fan to blow the heat out. I have had a fan motor die, on a heater. The result was that the heater caught fire, because the heat built up in a casing that wasn't designed for it.

For these reasons, I don't trust anything other than oil heater to be in my camper unattended.

[deadticket8]

A lot of campgrounds used to have rules about electric heaters for non metered people. But heck, an RV ac unit sucks power, they are 1/2 as efficient as a window unit. I used to use a window unit when I lived in Las Vegas. A 5000 BTU that drew 5 amps was as good as my rooftop that drew 13 amps. Anyhow now that campgrounds want $60 - 80/ night well who cares?

[wa8yxm]

I like to go small on space heaters and the ceramic cubes are that. One caution follows this.
Tip over switch/sensor and Thermal fuses are not mandated on them far as I know so you should not be able to buy one that does NOT have those features.

now the caution.
I've had one outlet overheat from 1500 watts. I replaced it (thankfully no damage) and I also made another change (Follows) I've seen a few that were burned up. and I mean DANGER type burned up from use of space heaters.. I do not trust the Uni-box type outlets at high current. the punch down type connection is just not enough for the job.

What I did to "Fix" it was install a pair of 15/20 amp outlets one in main room one in bedroom and a 2nd Kitchen circuit (GFCI 15 amp outlets but read on)

All 3 are fed with 12ga, not 14ga and bent around screws, not punch down. Each has a circuit breaker dedicated to just that outlet Or pair in the kitchen One is 20 amnp. the other two 15 (kitchen is 15) No smell of hot wire since.

[Dernhelm]

Oil-filled! I never thought of that. Thanks folks! Will go look at those, and also some small ceramics.

[JRscooby]

Only 1 heater? We plug in 2 or 3 depending on how cold. The oil radiator is slow, but doesn't make noise. Come in to a cold trailer, turn on all 3. As it warms turn the thermostat on the loudest one down to shut off. Warmer, down the next. Unless the wind is blowing often the oil will keep yes comfortable.

[ScottG]

We don't like the slowness of radiator style heaters but some do. They're also larger but if that fits the bill for you, they're a good choice.
Our preference is a ceramic heater. They are very safe and wont cause things to burn just because they touch it like some open-element heaters will. They also have tip over switches.

[BarabooBob]

I carry a ceramic heater for the rare times that we have electric hookup. I have a couple utility heaters in the garage that have been given to me. They all have tip over and overheat protection. The ceramic heater kept our 17 ft TT comfortable when it was 20 degrees outside. We like to keep it about 55 degrees when we are sleeping.

[CaLBaR]

GDS-3950BH wrote:

jkwilson wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:
Don't worry about the dog. Once his tail bursts into flames once you can rest assured he'll not go near that heater again.

I hope you are happy!

Your post has condemned me to hell as I snorted diet Mountain Dew laughing from thinking about a dachshund running around the camper with its tail on fire.

LOL.

We had a cat that had an unbreakable habit of jumping on the kitchen counter. One day he jumped and landed with his rear paw square on the burner of the flat ceramic cooktop. The burner was just shut off. He never jumped on the counter again after he hobbled around for a month with a huge bandage on his foot. It took about 5 years before he would jump up on anything, including a bay window, the bed, anything.

On topic, I have not seen many electric heaters that do not have a tip over switch other than utility types, such as what they call milkroom heaters.

They are wiener dogs for sure. :B

[Terryallan]

RoyB wrote:
I use a couple of these low profile oil filled portable heaters...

These have no open flame or red-hot cores to deal with. They have same BTU rating as the other heaters have... May take alittle bit longer to bring up the heat...

Being low profile fits my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer just right...


Google image

If I need to move some heated air around the room I can sit my O-2COOL 10-inch fan behind it...


Works good for us...

Roy Ken

I second these. They give a constant heat. No cooling off, and heating up. You hear it click every now and then as it cycles. They are super safe, and no fire risk. Works great.

[tomman58]

We've used a regular 1500 watt heater. We've used them for years and years. I have retired a couple do to the heater coils seemed to be less effective after about 5 years. Been using them for 30 years. I always look for the US testing lab id on the units UL listed is not given out without proper testing.

[pianotuna]

Oil filled are possibly the safest--and a nice even heat, too.

[GDS-3950BH]

jkwilson wrote:

GDS-3950BH wrote:
Don't worry about the dog. Once his tail bursts into flames once you can rest assured he'll not go near that heater again.

I hope you are happy!

Your post has condemned me to hell as I snorted diet Mountain Dew laughing from thinking about a dachshund running around the camper with its tail on fire.

LOL.

We had a cat that had an unbreakable habit of jumping on the kitchen counter. One day he jumped and landed with his rear paw square on the burner of the flat ceramic cooktop. The burner was just shut off. He never jumped on the counter again after he hobbled around for a month with a huge bandage on his foot. It took about 5 years before he would jump up on anything, including a bay window, the bed, anything.

On topic, I have not seen many electric heaters that do not have a tip over switch other than utility types, such as what they call milkroom heaters.

[SoundGuy]

GDS-3950BH wrote:
Don't worry about the dog. Once his tail bursts into flames once you can rest assured he'll not go near that heater again.

Does that make him a "hot dog"? :W

[RoyB]

I use a couple of these low profile oil filled portable heaters...

These have no open flame or red-hot cores to deal with. They have same BTU rating as the other heaters have... May take alittle bit longer to bring up the heat...

Being low profile fits my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer just right...


Google image

If I need to move some heated air around the room I can sit my O-2COOL 10-inch fan behind it...


Works good for us...

Roy Ken

[Lwiddis]

Electric heaters are nice except you need to run the RV's propane heater to keep the tanks from freezing if it gets really cold.