What effect does an electric heater have?

We are a 50 amp rig using a 30 amp site right now and with our 1500 watt electric heater running, the refrigerator ( big 4 door one) and the water heater all we do is shut the little heater off if we use the microwave/convection oven. Anything that generates heat like a blow dryer, a toaster may require this, but if you forget or over extend, the circuit breaker will trip and you will know. Just reset and try again with fewer items on the electric temporarily.

This is not an issue I often run into in my part of the country, but any time I think I may want to use the electric heater I plug a 15 amp extension cord into the supply and run it through one of my slides.

I can't ever remember any campground with a 30 amp and/or 50 amp outlet not also having a 15 amp outlet. Even though my fifth wheel is 50 amps my main panel is 30 amps with the other leg supplying a second ac unit and washer/dryer.

Using an electric heater, I can easily overload one of my internal breakers with coffee pot, microwave, water heater, toaster, fireplace or whatever. The 15 amp extension helps me avoid problems.

Hi Bob,

I built a breakout box that where one leg has a 30 amp breaker protected outlet, and the other leg as two 20 amp breaker protected outlets. This lets me use regular 15 amp male ends for my auxiliary shore power cords and gives me a bit more flexibility in say a Church parking lot where there are multiple 15 amp plugs available for my use.

Bob Landry wrote:
I have a Blue Sea 30A circuit breaker panel waiting in the wings and I'll build a breakout box to split the two legs on the 50A output into two 30A inputs, but with only one A/C, it probably won't come to that.

I installed a dedicated 20A inlet on the side of my trailer which goes to a 20A circuit breaker for protection and then to a couple of outlets in the living area. These are used to run ceramic heaters in the winter and fans in the summer. If I ever decide I need more power, I have a Blue Sea 30A circuit breaker panel waiting in the wings and I'll build a breakout box to split the two legs on the 50A output into two 30A inputs, but with only one A/C, it probably won't come to that.

hershey,
Are you saying that the heating elements of the heater, water heater a coffee pot, as well as the fridge condenser all run at the same time? Seems like a large load. Have you watched the voltage drop?

I can run the electric heater on high, the electric water heater and my coffee pot and refrigerator. Anything extra, the heater has to be turned off.

wa8yxm wrote:

I do NOT recommend using space heaters on RV standard wiring. I recommend adding HD outlets.

Suggestion for O.P. Put in 15/20 amp outlet with it's own power feed, Independent of the rest of the RV. plug into the park's 20 amp outlet as well.

Minimum 12ga wire and extension cord on that job.

X2 for both ideas.

pianotuna wrote:
*loans wa8ymx a spare oil filled heater* Keep warm!

I thought the rule of thumb was 80% of total wattage for continuous use? Am I being too conservative?

If you have not already done so, I'd restrict the air flow for the fridge by blocking off the top two vents on the lower inspection hatch. I use a small light bulb on a tc-3 thermocube in addition to the restriction.

I think I used 27 amps for my calc..

Oh, I forgot one thing too.. Once when I plugged a space heater into an INVERTER powered outlet.... I found the bad connection in the inverter output junction box.. (The hard way, burned it out)

I do NOT recommend using space heaters on RV standard wiring. I recommend adding HD outlets.

Suggestion for O.P. Put in 15/20 amp outlet with it's own power feed, Independent of the rest of the RV. plug into the park's 20 amp outlet as well.

Minimum 12ga wire and extension cord on that job.. In fact, I found a way to snake an extension cord in via the slide outs and did that for some time... Now I have re-wired.

barnrt wrote:
I have a lack of electrical knowledge so.......with a 30 amp rig, what effect will an electric heater have on my electrical capabilities? What else can be used at the same time? The box says 1500 watts at high setting and 900 watts at low setting.

Follow all the previous advice....here's one more suggestion -

Find (your choice of) a 1500W electric heater with *three* (3) wattage choices.

Use the lowest possible setting

This will also allow you to use two heaters at opposite ends of the RV. (but not on 1500W)

.

I use two in my 30A TT with no issues with a little power management.