Electric heater options?

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Electric heater options?

Postby Kayaker1971 » Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:03 pm

Some state campgrounds are open year round despite the cold. They often have electric hookups too. So I figured a small elec heater would be just the ticket. I searched Amazon for "personal heater" and found many but nothing that was quite right. For example there is a nice little lasko that is only 200 watts, but has very poor reviews on reliability.

I wonder about a 100w or so radiant IR bulb (heat bulb) mounted in a reflector with a ceramic socket. I like the silent options oil filled and infrared. No idea what is safe though.

Here is a list of ideas I came up with:

CERAMIC/FAN HEATER - SMALL CHEAP, SOME NOISE
OIL FILLED - HEAVY, LARGE BUT SILENT (There are smaller ones)
BASEBOARD ELECTRIC 24" 375W - SILENT, CHEAP
IR BULB/REFLECTOR - SILENT, LIMITED POWER
OLD VINTAGE RADIANT DISH - SILENT, SAFETY?


https://www.amazon.com/Lasko-100-MyHeat-Personal-Ceramic/dp/B003XDTWN2/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1474675200&sr=1-2&keywords=personal+heater
[url]
https://www.amazon.com/Ceramic-Emitter- ... +heat+bulb[/url]

https://www.amazon.com/Fahrenheat-Mounting-24-Inch-Electric-Baseboard/dp/B00PWNUVQI/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1474679612&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=24%22+baseboard+heater+120v
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Kayaker1971 » Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:29 pm

I like this one best, so far: (UPDATE: read reviews, they are JUNK, MORE Chinese CRAP! WTF)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009L40S0S/ref=dra_a_rv_ss_hn_xx_P1200_1000?tag=dradisplay-20&ascsubtag=6c56b0db7964e0de65b0193ed3515f42_S
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby mary and bob » Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:40 pm

We have tried several different electric heaters, all with fans. The big issue that we find annoying is the temperature difference from when the heater shuts off to when it comes back on is too much. The heater we are using now is a Vornado, it's the quietest one we have tried. We actually have two different sizes, a small one that has no thermostat but has two heat settings and fan only. A larger one that has a thermostat. The thermostat is just a dial with numbers. Have seen, but not tried another brand that has a digital thermostat.
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby lrrowe » Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:44 pm

This topic is also being discussed over on the TearJerkers forum. There might be some ideas over there for you.

http://www.tearjerkers.net/new_forum/vi ... rs#p113757
Bob

First Post on Purchase of Trailer: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=60722
Hot water infloor and radiator heating project:[url]http://www.tnttt.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=54&t=62327[/

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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Cosmo » Fri Sep 23, 2016 9:04 pm

I have had this heater for years (maybe 20 years old or more) and have recently used it in the teardrop. Mine has the Pelonis Disk Furnace label but its the same heater. Its not a high output heater. It warms things up slowly but works well. I turn it on 30 min before I need it to let it warm up surface areas and the air. Spec sheet says it can heat a 600 square foot room which is larger than my trailer but I suspect my trailer is in a colder environment. Makes a huge difference in comfort if you want to lounge around without the sleeping bags etc. Gets good reviews on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Glow-Cer ... Z1XFGY2ZAD
https://www.amazon.com/Furnace-Pelonis- ... nis+heater


Has a fan and a thermostat (non digital). Puts out variable heat. Colder gets more heat as the space heats up it backs down fan speed, heat output and noise. Noise is not bad (in my opinion) I am happy with it but have not tried the latest crop of heaters that are available. Cost is not cheap but build quality, durability and reliability are good. Has safety features like a tip over switch and others.


Last October I was camping off grid and the temp was in the low 30s. As an experiment we lit one candle in the trailer and it raised the temp 10 degrees in an hour.

-Cosmo
Last edited by Cosmo on Sat Sep 24, 2016 8:57 am, edited 12 times in total.


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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby VijayGupta » Fri Sep 23, 2016 9:13 pm

We have this one, though they come in different sizes and colors. https://www.amazon.com/Crane-EE-8068-R- ... ction&th=1

It is cool to the touch, has two wattage settings, a thermostat & timer, and you can choose a fan for quick warm ups, or convection for quiet long-term heating.
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Tomterrific » Sat Sep 24, 2016 9:16 am

Electric blanket! One of the first camping trips in our trailer was cold. I bought an electric blanket (twin size) from Target. We put this on top of a sheet. The blanket is set on full before we go to bed so when we get in the camper it is toasty. The blanket is turned way down for sleeping, highest was 3 or 4 with mostly 2 or off. It is also nice just to lay on top with the blanket cooking on ten. :-)

T
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Kayaker1971 » Sat Sep 24, 2016 6:04 pm

I ordered this one, we'll see...

(and electric blanket is prob next too!)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MX ... UTF8&psc=1
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Shadow Catcher » Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:44 pm

I tried a ceramic and the problem was it was too hot. I found a West Marine cabin heater that can be throttled down. http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--portable-cabin-heater--7867500
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby DWT77 » Sun Sep 25, 2016 4:33 am

What about a convection heater? They only use 400 watts

https://www.amazon.com/Econo-Heat-0603- ... ion+heater
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Gladtobehere » Sun Sep 25, 2016 3:08 pm

I use electric blanket (throw 4 by 5 ) as first line of defence, 200watts. Second is a cheap Sunbeam heater with fan 700/1200 watts, with thermostat. Third is a 1500 btu , catalytic, propane heater for non electric backup. It is a Coleman Sportcat. I have an Aliner classic, not an air tight tear, so the catalytic is fine.
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby razorback » Sun Sep 25, 2016 8:40 pm

I have used the Econo heat unit shown above, only they used to make a 250 watt version that was 18" by 24" . It fit better under my shelf/ counter at our feet. I have had it since 2008. Works very very well. The first two times we used it; it would get hot and I would turn it off, then the cabin would get cold. I bought a thermostat that plugs into an outlet. Plug the heater into the thermostat. Set it on whatever temp you want and it is perfect. The econo unit is a very soft heat that does not dry the air out. The entire cabin is at the temp we set. NO hot areas at top of cabin and cold areas at the bottom. We have camped several nights at 22 degrees and the Econo unit is perfect. It is on my Wife's side of the cabin and she sometimes puts her feet on it with socks on when she first climbs in. The panel does not get hot enough to combust anything. This is the absolute best thing we have purchased for the TD. More expensive than a wally world unit but so perfect for us.
The thermostat was similar to this one: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lux-5-2-Day- ... 356315-_-N
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Kayaker1971 » Fri Oct 07, 2016 11:11 am

I went with an Optimus mini oil filled radiator from Amazon, about $30 bucks. It's 700 watts and has a thermostat. 16 x 6 x 15 inches. Painted it old fashioned colors and works good so far. Almost silent (just a very quiet click when the thermostat cycles). Will also consider an electric blanket as well. That should do it!
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby clip » Sat Oct 08, 2016 8:43 am

"Toe kick" heaters are a bit pricey but they can be built in easily
And some can be run in fan only mode.
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Re: Electric heater options?

Postby Kayaker1971 » Sat Oct 08, 2016 11:02 am

the issue with hot air heaters is they are noisy, cycle often with large temperature swings. a tiny camper is a small space and needs continuous fresh air. hot ait heaters heat the air and only indirectly the objects in the room. radiant heat heats the objects first. a radiator will heat objects and the fresh air wont take that away as quickly, and the heat is steady. it is also basically silent. well thats my reasoning for going with the mini oil-filled radiator.
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