Portable Space Heaters - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Dennie and Dottie Beaman · RV-Dreams Community Member

Portable Space Heaters

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ceramic heaters have the advantage of having a lower surface temperature for the heat produced at the element. This means it is a bit more safe. More important is when you buy an electric heater make sure it has an automatic cut off when it is knocked over. It is amazing how many fires are started in the US by space heaters that are inadvertantly knocked over. It seems we aren't always aware of it or we are too slow in removing the power and a local fire occurs. Again ceramic cubes have a small advantage in safety.

Larry and Jacki

Jim01 · RV-Dreams Family Member

They're also smaller, making storage easier when not in use. Sometimes inches count when trying to fit everything in. smile

alspa · RV-Dreams Community Member

We have a portable electric heater called "Big Heat" and it' all that we need most of the time before turning on the furnace.....we do always place it on a ceramic tile (a decorqtive piece purchased with a picture of the Orient Point Ferry to L.I. a friend gave me in Port Jefferson) or you could put it on a china plate. The heater was purchased at Camping World and has a good temperature control going off & on as you set the dial and will turn off if you pick it up and tip it. Woulden't be without it....will be packing it in my rig next month as we head to
alaska until returning in November.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have 2 Honeywell electric heaters with tip proof, thermostats and oscillation. They cost about $20-30 at Walmart, if I remember correctly.

The 2 heaters in conjunction with our fireplace negate the need for the furnace, unless it really goes well below freezing. We set everything to the mid 60's when we go to bed.

-- Edited by Luvglass at 20:11, 2008-03-11

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use the two electric space heaters and the fireplace heat. We have not had to use any furnace this year. It sure saves on propane. Our electric is in the rent here where we stay.

Joe and Sherri

-- Edited by Speedhitch at 18:36, 2008-03-12

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

At the show and tell yesterday at the RV-Dreams rally I showed this 200 watt space heater for small spaces (our toilet room) or basement heating - http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-MyHeat-Personal-Ceramic-Heater/dp/B003XDTWN2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_1 and this thermostat you can use with an electric space heater - http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Heating-Cooling-Programmable-Thermostat/dp/B000E7NYY8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348153067&sr=8-1&keywords=thermostat+plug . For those just trying to keep their RV basement or other location from freezing you can use one of these or similar devices - http://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-TC-3-Thermostatically-Controlled/dp/B0006U2HD2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1348153067&sr=8-2&keywords=thermostat+plug that turn on at 35 degrees and off at 45.

Hafnutz · RV-Dreams Community Member

Electric heaters are all 100% efficient, doesn't matter which one or kind you buy. They all produce the same amount of BTUs per watt. 1500 watts will produce 5,280 BTUs of heat. Doesn't matter if it's the overpriced Amish model with the light bulbs inside or a cheap Milkhouse heater. If they consume 1500 watts as most do, they will produce an equal amount of heat. If someone else is paying for the electricity they are a great source of heat. If you have to pay for the electricity...maybe not..The furnace in you rig is probably around 65% efficient..if it's a 35,000 BTU unit that means 22,750 BTUs are heating your coach, 12,250 BTUs are going out the exhaust. Try putting your hand over the exhaust when it's running if you don't agree. What all this means is you will need just over 4-1500 watt electric heaters to get the same amount of heat that you can get from your furnace. That's the equivalent to burning 60- 100 watt incandescent light bulbs at the same time...Buy the electric heater you like, make sure it has the safety features you need and if somebody else is paying for the electric enjoy it..

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Heat pumps are more than 100% efficient because they squeeze heat out of the differences in air temperatures, but they don't work well below about 40 degrees when this trick starts to not be as efficient. That means that if you have a heat pump you can get more heat than an space heater when it is cool outside for the same electric usage. For numbers a roof heat pump/air conditioner puts out about 11,000BTUs of heat on 12 to 16AMPs of electric and a bit more BTUs as an air conditioner. (The number of AMPs varies since they are more voltage sensitive than a space heater.) Our two "Hi-Cap" heat pumps, which used to be called 15,000BTU units until they changed how they measure the BTUs, work well down to 38 degrees outside where they start going into "de-ice" cycles. They switch the furnace on when it is 30 degrees outside. Ours keep our 40' motorhome comfortable down to 30 degrees. But they are a bit noisy, especially the "de-ice" cycles, but many space heaters are also noisy.

In houses you can sometimes get ground or water based heat pumps that can heat well when it is below freezing outside, but they are not available or allowed to be installed everywhere.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have built 2 solar pipe air heaters for daytime use that are made our of black pvc .....a dc muffin fan and a cheap solar panel.......free hot air!!!!

I have also made the same unit with a 12 vlt pump to make hot water for boondocking........free hot water....all say long!!!!

my son built a box and inserted beer cans painted it black and added a plexiglass shield to the front ......added the solar muffin fan and a couple pieces of dryer vent ....stuck it in the window.........free room heater!!!!

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would like to have the diagrams for the solar heaters Mike. I am staying in a campground and the electric is not included. This would be Ideal. You can PM me or send it to Pierre751@hotmail.com. Thanks! I am going to have to be frugal as can be.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use a "Big Heat" and the electric fireplace...stays nice and warm inside when the outside heads down to 35 degrees.

Soody · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have had my Pelonis ceramic heater for over 20 years (wow) and it is a tough little tank. (It is at my feet as I write cuz it is chilly here in NH but I don't want to turn on the furnace yet.) It's a roughly 6x6x8H cube with an adjustable temp knob and tip over shutoff. Personally I think it is much safer than the coil kind. The fan noise is fairly low with it set at about 72-74 degrees. (It can also run as a fan without heat.) I love it and it will be coming with me in my TT (21') for sure. I've heard that some 'knockoff' ceramic heaters aren't all that frugal to run. (?) I don't even notice a blip in my electric use. I think it will be terrific especially in an RV situation with available AC power. I'll give it the test in November on the road :)

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've spoken with a couple of full-time bondockers who use these: www.adventurerv.net/olympian-wave-catalytic-safety-heater-p-1681.html

They don't vent to the outside but produce no co, however they do consume oxygen so require a window be kept open about an inch or so, reducing their otherwise 100% efficiency. The solution is this: ventedcatheater.com/index.html

It's a tiny company that needs a 2 month+ turnaround time if you order one, but they are the only people producing an efficient, safe, vented catalytic heater.

Chip

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

I bought a knock-off Amish style infra-red heater last year. Quite satified with it; don't use it on it's highest setting; and use a smaller ceramic tower heater; also on medium setting. I shut the smaller one down during the day when the temperature is above 40. It has kept the 34' fiver w/2 slides warm down to 20 degrees. I also only use the infra-red on it's lower setting when I'm away during the day.
I haven't used the propane furnace or even tried it since I moved in in May. I am going to have it serviced by a furnace person before I use it this winter for backup.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I bought a small electric Fireplace(woodstove looking) @ Lowe's it has a 1200 watt ceramic heater built in and a realistic fire view.....kinda neat and looks good & heats good in here!!

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

www.youtube.com/watch

Lucky Mike you need to add this to your list of DIY comfort items....Solar Powered Air Conditioner.

Of course you'll need one of these to feed the Solar Powered Air Conditioner

www.youtube.com/watch

DeeJee · RV-Dreams Family Member

I really wish companies would replace the bedroom TV's with a fireplace! Definitely add to the ambiance might be a little bright for sleeping though.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

First of all, this thread was revived by a spammer, who has now been banned and his comment deleted. However, I will leave the rest of the comments intact as they are actually helpful.

DeeJee,

Actually, some manufactures will install a smaller electric fireplace in the bedroom, but it is usually in the dresser at the foot of the bed, thus not too beneficial for ambiance, and it takes up dresser space.

Terry

Glenn West · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lucky Mike wrote:
I bought a small electric Fireplace(woodstove looking) @ Lowe's it has a 1200 watt ceramic heater built in and a realistic fire view.....kinda neat and looks good & heats good in here!!

That's interesting. We have a fireplace in our Teton that came in it. Doesn't put out much heat. Might check into replacing it. Thank you

Vagabond · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use one of the oil filled radiator style heaters in our converted cargo trailer. It has two heat settings, and we put a small oscillating fan behind it, which really spreads the heat out nicely. I like the fact that short of wrapping a blanket around it, no part of it gets anywhere near ignition temperature of any nearby material.
Regards, Kyle

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Glenn West wrote:
Lucky Mike wrote:
I bought a small electric Fireplace(woodstove looking) @ Lowe's it has a 1200 watt ceramic heater built in and a realistic fire view.....kinda neat and looks good & heats good in here!!
That's interesting. We have a fireplace in our Teton that came in it. Doesn't put out much heat. Might check into replacing it. Thank you

You might want to pull your unit out first and clean the dust and debri out of the air intakes first......could be poor airflow is why its not working......dont forget to oil the blower fan!

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lucky Mike wrote:
I have built 2 solar pipe air heaters for daytime use that are made our of black pvc .....a dc muffin fan and a cheap solar panel.......free hot air!!!!

Mike, This is a great idea. Much cheaper than having your mother-in-law live with you.
the solar water heater could be constructed to sit on the ground next to the coach and hooked into the water system before the water heater using quick disconnects. That would reduce propane use.