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. ;)
LarryJM wrote:
However a Kill a Watt won't give you TOTAL CURRENT draw to effectively manage say a 30A limited trailer when you now have enough LOADS that can easily exceed that 30A.
Obviously ... but that's not what the OP was concerned with but rather with what his "cushions are on each appliance" - his words, and for that purpose an EMS is not the best tool as it only reads to the nearest amp whereas a Kill-a-Watt meter reads to the hundredth AND provides power consumption readings in watts and VA, along with PF, none of which the EMS does. He's planning on installing an EMS for next season, I'm just suggesting that in the meantime he invest a few $$ in a Kill-a-Watt meter as well.
