Heat source when away for the day

[starcraft69]

I am wondering what heat source you use to keep your rig warm when out sightseeing for the day? We have electric fireplace and standard propane central heat, plus ceramic space heater. All sources are thermostat controlled. I am more concerned of safety than efficiency, I'm comfortable with both I think.

1.Fireplace electric

2.Ceramic space heater

3.Central heat propane

[2gypsies1]

dakdave wrote:
My rule is if we are not there no heaters other than furnace.I am a worrier cause @$#% happens.bad outlet or worn outlet,wire coonection shaken loose from traveling,cheap thermostat and overheat devices in heaters etc.

Our volunteer fire training told us if your not there using it unplug it.

Smart guy!

[dakdave]

My rule is if we are not there no heaters other than furnace.I am a worrier cause @$#% happens.bad outlet or worn outlet,wire coonection shaken loose from traveling,cheap thermostat and overheat devices in heaters etc.

Our volunteer fire training told us if your not there using it unplug it.

dave

[DrewE]

If it's merely cool, 30's or higher, I'd use the fireplace (preferably on low) or the furnace, or just leave everything off and warm things up when I got back. (Technically, I wouldn't use the fireplace in my RV because I don't happen to have one, but if I did I would.)

If it's cold, say much below 30°, on my motorhome at least I'd use the furnace so the wet bay with the holding tanks gets a little heat piped into it.

If not on electric, the furnace is of course the only viable option.

I would not leave a portable space heater unattended if I could help it, and if there were no way around it I'd leave it on low rather than high. Yes, the fireplace is just a space heater with a light show, but it at least cannot tip over, is mounted such that it's not dangerously close to combustibles, and presumably the wiring for it has been verified to be solid and tight.

[ifd22]

As a fireman for the last 25 years I don't see a problem at all using a space heater, and regularly do myself. I use a ceramic heater with a tip over sensor. If the heater is UL listed, not used with an extension cord, not near any combustible materials, and running off of a circuit rated to handle the electric load there shouldn't be an issue.

[Jim_Shoe]

I have a couple of electric space heaters that I take along in the RV and use at home as well. Both of them stop immediately if they tip over. I found them both in stores out in the country. Farmers use them in their milk houses. Cows hate cold hands in the winter.

[rv4jimnme]

rv2go wrote:
This is why I like the basement heat/air unit in my Winnebago. I just set the thermostat to the desired temp and go. If it gets too cold outside for the heat pump, the gas furnace will come on and maintain the set temp.

We just got our Winnebago and I guess during the nite it got too cold and the electric heat went off. So I guess I should have left the propane on and it would have switched automatically?

[pnichols]

Paw Paw John wrote:
I'm like Cummins12v98, I use the Cheap Heat System all winter while plugged in at he house. I keep it set at 50 degrees and it keeps everything happy. My basement is also heated by the cheap Heat System, so no worries about draining tanks, pipes. You will hear all about that it's not a cheap system but think of it as an investment in your camper and your safety. Good luck and a very safe New Year !!!,

I took a look at the Cheap Heat system and it looks like it pretty much boils down to an electric resistance heating coil mounted in the propane furnace system's ducting such that the ducts are conveninently used to distribute electrically heated air with the propane burner kept off - which of course permits campground electric to be used for distributed heat comfort while at the same time keeping any RV tanks heated via the ducts just as if the propane furnace was being used.

It looks like only one of their three models can be used with 30 amp RVs - the 1800 watt model. This won't keep an RV very comfortable in really chilly weather, as the BTU level from 1800 watts is not anywhere near as much heat as the typical propane furnace delivers.

I believe someone in these forums some time ago suggested something like aiming or mounting an electric heater into the propane furnace's intake opening to supplement the propane furnace so as to keep the burner running less - thus saving some propane while at the same time getting high BTU levels into the RV. I guess the propane furnace would be on less, but the air coming out of it's outlets during it's on time would be hotter - due to the electric heater's boost while the burner was on. I don't know how one would automate turning off the electric heater between between propane furnace cycles.

[pianotuna]

Hi Phil,

Yes you could--but I'd only do it as a adjunct to needed battery recharging. It would be far cheaper to simply run the propane furnace.

pnichols wrote:
This whole thread seems to assume camping with hookups. I wonder how the responses would change when drycamping - such as in the desert around Quartzite in the winter?

We sometimes leave our RV in warm weather with the built-in generator running powering an air conditioner for our dog. I suppose we could do the same with the generator powering electric heaters.

[Paw_Paw_John]

I'm like Cummins12v98, I use the Cheap Heat System all winter while plugged in at he house. I keep it set at 50 degrees and it keeps everything happy. My basement is also heated by the cheap Heat System, so no worries about draining tanks, pipes. You will hear all about that it's not a cheap system but think of it as an investment in your camper and your safety. Good luck and a very safe New Year !!!,

[eheading]

When it is cold out (below 40 degrees) we use our central LP furnace just like at home. It is safe and works well. Above 40 degrees if we have hookups we use our heat pumps in the AC's. It is my understanding that most if not all combustion portable heaters consume the oxygen inside the RV.

[pnichols]

This whole thread seems to assume camping with hookups. I wonder how the responses would change when drycamping - such as in the desert around Quartzite in the winter?

We sometimes leave our RV in warm weather with the built-in generator running powering an air conditioner for our dog. I suppose we could do the same with the generator powering electric heaters.

[time2roll]

About 35F or lower we will run a 1200w electric radiator 24/7 with supplement from the furnace.

[GaryWT]

I generally have only had the furnace so that is what we use. Late last season we did pick up an oil filled electric radiator to help out but in general, I hate portable electric heat.

[mlts22]

The absolute best heater setup I've seen is the Truma Combi, which can use electric, propane, or both. I'd use this to keep the rig warm when gone.

After that, I'd look into getting a Cheap Heat system, as mentioned above.

The one thing I would never do is leave a Buddy or other open-flame combustible heater running unattended. They are decent and safe heaters, but better safe than sorry.