How much electiticy costs to run small RV heaters?

[gettinmykxs]

I have 3 small RV space heaters I bought from Camping World, designed for RV's. How much electric do these things actually run? I live on private property because I have had screwed luck finding a RV park here in Central CA as they are all full. So the guy I am renting too, is now complaining about the usage of electric. Mind you I sit in the dark most nights, without TV on, no lights, because he is throwing a fit over the electrical bill. Really? The guy owns his own home, it was built in 1964, has 3 refrig's
running, lights, an old out dated washer and dryer, does not have 220.....So my question is a small tiny space heater that I got from Camping world for less then 25. bucks a piece is running to much electric? When I was in a RV park my electric bill never went over 30 bucks a month, whats your take on this?
Susan, 04 Salem 37 ft'
pulled by a 08 Chevy 1 ton p/u

[pianotuna]

Hi Susan,

It appears you are plugged into a single 15 amp circuit. That works out to a MAXIMUM of 43.2 kwh per day. I'd guess at about 20 kwh per day. I'll further guess at $0.12 per kwh so a fair price is $2.40 per day for power.

gettinmykxs wrote:

Ok so here's the deal. I am living on private property. My electrical connection is connected to the main house, he is 120 amp not 220 amp. So my power source is connected to a heavy duty extension cord, run up to the main house.

[DutchmenSport]

If you are disabled, are you currently employed or drawing disability? If you are drawing disability, and not employed, what are you doing living there? You could live anywhere? What's holding you to live in that area.

If it were me, I'd do everything I could to get out of the situation. He sounds too controlling. You don't have to put up with that. Move, if you have nothing holding you physically to this location!

[pianotuna]

Hi Fred,

A single 1156 bulb may draw 24 watts @ 12 volts dc. Assuming 4 are on then 100 watts is a ball park figure--especially as most converters are much less than 100% efficient.

Your figures on parasitic loads are 35 amp-hours per day (@ 12 volts) that equates to about 400 watts which I "rolled" into the lighting figure. I don't want to sit in the dark.

Granted, the OP, may be using less. A kill-a-watt meter will tell the tail.

[Golden_HVAC]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Susan,

Are you connected to a 15 amp shore power supply?

If so, the maximum you can use in one day is 43 kwh. At $0.12 per kwh that is $5.18 per day.

If you are connected to a 30 amp supply that doubles to 86 kwh and $10.36

The 1500 watt heater, assuming 0.12 per kwh is going to use $0.18 for every hour it is connected and running.

If you are running the fridge on electric it will consume 6 kwh per day on average. That at 0.12 is $0.72 per day.

The water heater is about 1200 watts and if left on with zero water use will cycle every 4 hours and run for 15 minutes for each cycle. That is 1.5 kwh per day so a cost of $0.18 per day. Of course when you actually use water it may run for 90 minutes to total recover. Assuming one full tank used per day that adds an additional $0.18. The daily total for the water heater works out to $0.36 per day.

Lighting in the RV requires the converter to recharge the battery bank. Call it 100 watts per hour so 2.4 kwh per day or $0.30 per day

When I go to the RV park I connect to a 50 amp supply and my peak demand is 7000 watts. If I kept at that level then the daily totals are 168 kwh and $20.16 per day. Of course I don't use that much because that is the peak level, not the average for the day.

Here is a summary of your use without the electric heater:

$0.72 for the fridge
$0.36 for the water heater
$0.30 for lighting

$1.38 per day.

Then there is running the computer, tv and other entertainment devices.

Myself, when plugged into a 15 amp circuit I use about 20 kwh per day, or $2.40 for all my needs. I do run entirely on electric for space heating, water heating, and cooking.

As it is cold here now (36 for the daily high and 28 for the low tonight) I'm now plugged into two 15 amp circuits and am probably using $4.80 per day.

So, yes, the owner will be seeing a much higher bill and you should offer to reimburse him for the costs. See if he will take a dollar a day.

You did a lot more math than I would want to do.

Basically your lights will only consume about 40 watts per hour, and would take hours to reach $1 per month. Your landlord is probably paying $0.12 per kilowatt for power. Your electric heaters will use about 1.5 KW per hour on high output, less on low.

His refrigerators, electric water heater, and such are consuming a lot of power. You are paying rent, and expected to consume a bit of power yourself. Leave your lights on when you are home, they are not the big part of the power bill. It is the electric heaters. The electricity for your refrigerator is also a big part.

And California rate system, where 'excessive use' over some minimal amount is charged at 0.16 per KW is part of the cause of his huge electric bill. The power company is considering it wasting power when you use more than an environmentally conservative person with 2 energy saving bulbs on in their home is all they run.

Good luck,

Fred.

[gettinmykxs]

SteveAE wrote:
Hi,

Most portable electric heaters use about the same amount of power as a typical hair dryer....and produce about the same amount of heat.

If you go to Home Depot or similar (didn't have H.D.'s down there when I lived in the area), you can pick up a Kill-A-Watt power monitor for only a few dollars. Plug it in, then plug your heater into it. Calibrate it for your electric rates and let it run for a month. Then read display to determine the electric usage of your heater. You might be surprised.

Another option is you could volunteer to pay for a separate power meter for your rig. Then, you will have your own bill to contend with. This won't be cheap, but it will end the problems...on that front.

It is still fairly warm down there, but winter is coming (I have seen 6+ inches of snow in Santa Margarita). So I think that if you guys are having difficulties resolving this issue now, perhaps you might be better off looking for a different place.

Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck.

Ok so here's the deal. I am living on private property. My electrical connection is connected to the main house, he is 120 amp not 220 amp. So my power source is connected to a heavy duty extension cord, run up to the main house. I offered to be on low income electrical due to being disabled to start off with which would make the electric far lower then if I lived in the home itself. My rent is 550.00 per month. what ever is used for Electric is deducted from my rent. Granted he also has 2 other people living in a studio of the main house and a room mate. Then there is me in the RV parked further down on the property. I lost my propane furnace when I lived in Templeton CA when their sewer backed up into me, thus causing the coach to flood and it fried my propane heater. So I never got my propane heater back, due to the mobile service took it, never fixed it, wouldn't give GMAC the serial number or model number on it, so GMAC, (then) said the mobile unit has a furnace. Mine. So I elected to purchase RV space heaters. The ones you buy at HD draw to much power, therefore it also makes your breakers pop. I hope I can get the hell out of here as now this guy is asking for 450.00 per month + 100.00 and another 100 for electric. Mine you the room mates don't pay any electric as it is included in their rent. The guy said he was going to put in a 220 amp seeing how he has a RV on his site. I also have no sewer, which I have a company come in and drop my black tanks at 65.00 a hit. I have never paid like this before. So can you buy a propane heater like a space heater? wouldn't that be dangerous in a RV? Unless it is a actual furnace, I would think so, but not being sure about that, that's why I am here asking questions for my safety. Up at the main house their are 3 refrig's running, coffee makers, microwaves, and old washer and dryer, and he has an extension cord plugged into an outlet outside as he is having issues with his truck so its constantly on. I noticed when he takes it off his truck, he does not unplug it. During the summer this year, I couldn't run my main AC so I put in a small window box AC, and only ran it when the temps exceeded 80 degree's, as I am in direct sun, no shade. I asked him to move my coach closer to the main unit. I see what I am dealing with now. If you want someone on your property to help pay your mortgage, then except the fact you will pay more. Meaning the owner of the property. I am fully insured, I am not a liability to him, but more so he has become a liability to me. I have pets too, and I will not let them get cold or subject them to extreme heat conditions. He the landlord slipped last night, and said if the city knew I was here on his property that they would fine him. Excuse me?I got a b.s. story from him that every 11 months the trailer could be pulled 2 feet up and stay on for another 11 months. Sure he enjoys the fact that his mortgage is paid by 3 people thus saving him 1900.00 a month. And his or rather my electric bill is a tier 2, instead of a 4 which is the highest amount for electric. When the sun comes out, all windows and shades are open to warm the inside of my rig. So many people in the area of San Luis Obispo County are losing their jobs and their homes and going with RV's and motor homes, so therefore there are no spaces anywhere to pay and park. I check CL every day. And there Is nothing. I have even looked in Bakersfield, and other parts of the valley. Nothing. Even down south, nothing. He is not an agreeable person. I have done everything in my power to help this guy out, but when it comes down to it, I feel the person here who is not getting anywhere with him is me. He should have thought about this more carefully then looking at just a dollar figure to pay his house payment.
Susan
04 Salem 37'ft RV, pulled with a 08 Chevy 1 ton

[fitznj]

My neighbor had a similar problem. He let a friend set up his 26ft camper on his property for 3 months while he worked in the area. My neighbor saw a significant spike in his electricity bill during the 3 months.

So, yes, it is possible.

If I were you, I'd throw in a few bucks each month and share the costs.

Gerry

[Tvov]

I missed if you said this already: does your camper have a propane heater? After doing all this math, it may be worth trying to heat using the propane heater. It will probably heat the camper faster and keep it warmer... possibly for less money - but if it is the same amount of money, it will be more comfortable.

[SteveAE]

Hi,

Most portable electric heaters use about the same amount of power as a typical hair dryer....and produce about the same amount of heat.

If you go to Home Depot or similar (didn't have H.D.'s down there when I lived in the area), you can pick up a Kill-A-Watt power monitor for only a few dollars. Plug it in, then plug your heater into it. Calibrate it for your electric rates and let it run for a month. Then read display to determine the electric usage of your heater. You might be surprised.

Another option is you could volunteer to pay for a separate power meter for your rig. Then, you will have your own bill to contend with. This won't be cheap, but it will end the problems...on that front.

It is still fairly warm down there, but winter is coming (I have seen 6+ inches of snow in Santa Margarita). So I think that if you guys are having difficulties resolving this issue now, perhaps you might be better off looking for a different place.

Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck.

[valhalla360]

I'm guessing you got a deal on the site, so talk to him and come up with a reasonable amount.

Even if he did agree to include electricity, if it's costing him a lot more than he expected, if you tell him to take a hike, he is likely to tell you to take a hike as soon as your lease is up.

It's a bit confusing why you brought up (or bought for that matter) 3 space heaters if you only use 1 for a couple hours in the morning.

Each device you use will have a rating on the UL lable. Most will be in Watts. Divide by 1000 to get Kilowatts. Then multiply Kilowatts times how long it is on. For the fridge, water heater & battery charger just make an assumption (maybe on 50% of the time). Multiply them out and add them up. That's how many KW-hr are being used or at least a rough estimte.

Power companies typically charge from 6-30cents for each KW-hr used. Lucky you California has some of the highest rates in the country.

Now if you had 3 heaters at 1500watts running most of the day, that can add up to a pretty big bill but if you only run 1 for a couple hours in the morning, it shouldn't be a huge bill. I would figure everything together maybe $50-75.

By the way lights and TV for 3-4hrs at night should cost hardly anything. 3-4 bulbs at 10-15watts and a TV at maybe 50-100watts is negligible compared to a heater at 1500watts.

[bgum]

Compare last years bill to this years bill. That will give you an idea as to why the landlord is complaining. Make it right.

[DutchmenSport]

I hope you had a contract when you moved onto the property. In the contract should have been how the electric costs were are covered. If the electric costs are included in the rent for the lot, and the price is fixed, and there no clause in the contract for going over an average usage, then I'd tell him to go take a hike.

However, if there is no contract or nothing is stated, then I think you should offer to help pay for your share. Get it in writing and keep receipts.

[pianotuna]

Hi Susan,

Are you connected to a 15 amp shore power supply?

If so, the maximum you can use in one day is 43 kwh. At $0.12 per kwh that is $5.18 per day.

If you are connected to a 30 amp supply that doubles to 86 kwh and $10.36

The 1500 watt heater, assuming 0.12 per kwh is going to use $0.18 for every hour it is connected and running.

If you are running the fridge on electric it will consume 6 kwh per day on average. That at 0.12 is $0.72 per day.

The water heater is about 1200 watts and if left on with zero water use will cycle every 4 hours and run for 15 minutes for each cycle. That is 1.5 kwh per day so a cost of $0.18 per day. Of course when you actually use water it may run for 90 minutes to total recover. Assuming one full tank used per day that adds an additional $0.18. The daily total for the water heater works out to $0.36 per day.

Lighting in the RV requires the converter to recharge the battery bank. Call it 100 watts per hour so 2.4 kwh per day or $0.30 per day

When I go to the RV park I connect to a 50 amp supply and my peak demand is 7000 watts. If I kept at that level then the daily totals are 168 kwh and $20.16 per day. Of course I don't use that much because that is the peak level, not the average for the day.

Here is a summary of your use without the electric heater:

$0.72 for the fridge
$0.36 for the water heater
$0.30 for lighting

$1.38 per day.

Then there is running the computer, tv and other entertainment devices.

Myself, when plugged into a 15 amp circuit I use about 20 kwh per day, or $2.40 for all my needs. I do run entirely on electric for space heating, water heating, and cooking.

As it is cold here now (36 for the daily high and 28 for the low tonight) I'm now plugged into two 15 amp circuits and am probably using $4.80 per day.

So, yes, the owner will be seeing a much higher bill and you should offer to reimburse him for the costs. See if he will take a dollar a day.

[gettinmykxs]

The heaters are called Comfort Zone, Rating: 120V A.C. 60Hz 1500W. I only run one to just warm the coach up in the morning, then unplug from outlet, they work well, but as I said this guy does not have 220 amps only 120.

Susan
2004 Salem 37'ft.
Pulled with a 08 Chevy 1 ton

[KD4UPL]

Nobody knows what electricity costs where you live.
However, an electric heater uses 1,500 watts. You have 3 of them? that's 4,500 watts. If they run for say 6 hours a day that's 27 kWh. Where I live electricity is about $.12 per kWh. So, that would cost me $3.24 a day. That's $97 per month.
I'd be complaining too if you were using that much electricity. The bill for my 1,600 square foot house with a family of 4 is only $84 per month.

[ChooChooMan74]

4.5 KW/hr x 8 hours a day x 30 days x .20/kwh = $216.