Caution for those that use and electric heater.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Electric heater fire.

[Glenn Baglo]

And, what is the caution?

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

And, what is the caution?

Gee Glen, you are usually so attentive.. I'm suprised you missed it.
Its a Flood Warning!

[Glenn Baglo]

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

And, what is the caution?

Make sure your smoke detectors are working maybe?
Get a louder dog?

[Glenn Baglo]

I thought it was 'don't buy a motor home'.

[CasitaRick]

Tips from a retired fire investigator...

Most space heaters (gas and electric) work on the radiant heat method. The heat produced from the glowing elements travels in a straight line until it strikes an object (usually furniture or a wall), which is then warmed up. Very little heat is sent up into the air to warm the interior of the RV. The furnishings that receive the heat rays eventually warm the air.

So-o-o-o, it gets cold in your trailer. First you pile on the blankets. When that still won't do, you turn on the space heater. Because of the insulation of the blankets, you can't feel the heat coming off the space heater under the covers, so you move the space heater closer and closer to the bed-until it's too close.

The next thing you know, the bedclothes are on fire while you slumber blissfully unaware. Tragedy usually follows.

Best rule of thumb for space heaters-keep at least three feet between the heater and anything that can burn (not only on the sides, but above). And even at three feet away, use your hand as a thermometer. If you lay your hand on the closest object to the heater and it's too hot to leave your hand there, the heater is too close.

Don't use an extension cord from the outlet to the electric space heater cord, and it's best not to coil any excess cord up-which creates an induction coil that can produce heat on it's own.

[reeves99]

Good advice Rick. Thanks! I use a little electric fan heater a lot and the main lesson here is always to be cautious and never become complacent....


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV

[Bob Miller]

Gee Rick, how do you get 3' of clearance in all directions in an FGRV.

[Dave Chatham]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Gee Rick, how do you get 3' of clearance in all directions in an FGRV.

That's easy, just put the heater outside!

[CasitaRick]

Well at least try to get three feet of clearance in the direction the heat comes out. Underneath, either side, or behind, probably not an issue but use the "hand thermometer" test to be safe.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Gee Rick, how do you get 3' of clearance in all directions in an FGRV.

Thats a good point. My plan was (is) to use a Wave 3 heater with legs but when I actually read the instructions and noted the minimum clearances, well it made me wish I had ordered the furnace after all. There is only one place to set it for temporary use where it will be safe from the dog, and might meet minimum clearances.

So this is something good to consider when using any heater in a camper.

[LyleB]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Thats a good point. My plan was (is) to use a Wave 3 heater with legs but when I actually read the instructions and noted the minimum clearances, well it made me wish I had ordered the furnace after all. There is only one place to set it for temporary use where it will be safe from the dog, and might meet minimum clearances.

So this is something good to consider when using any heater in a camper.

I've just recently gotten my Scamp 13, have spent several evenings in it, working and just getting used to it. Mostly I used an old electric cube that I had. I've definitely found that the low, 750 watt setting gives the best and most consistent heat as opposed to the 1500 watt setting. I've found multiple places to set the heater without it heating up surrounding walls/cabinets to any significant degree.

I bought a Mr. Heater to use, since I know I will be boon docking in cold weather, so wanted to try it out as well. Kept on the low setting, if warmed the Scamp up toasty warm, but I did not find it overheated any of the structures. I kept it mostly next to the bathroom door, pointing back towards the dinette. Two lessons learned: 1) Do an initial burn of a new heater outdoors to burn off any oils etc. from manufacture. 2) Open ventilation windows PRIOR to lighting the heater. Both of these lessons were learned on the initial lighting of the heater. Within about 20-30 seconds, both my CO detector and the smoke/fire detector were going off.

At least I know they are working properly. Only took a very short time to ventilate the trailer, then the heater worked well.

I would feel comfortable sleeping with the electric heater on, not so much with the propane - it is for use when it can be monitored only - sleeping bags for night. It can warm the trailer very quickly once you get up.

Pets would be a problem with the propane heater on the floor, but I do see that they include keyholes one the back of the heater for mounting it on a wall. I have seen folks who have this same heater mounted to the door of a van, so I guess it could be used that way if you have pets or small kids to worry about.

Caution, always and testing thoroughly until you know how things work.

[Jon in AZ]

Ceramic cube heaters have lower surface temperatures. A good one is compact, quieter that a cheap open-coil forced air heater, and probably safer, too.

I had one in a previous RV, and it was great. I wish now I hadn't let it go with the camper. I recall it cost around $50, and that was 20 years ago. It was worth the money, IMO.

[Paul O.]

Originally Posted by CasitaRick

Tips from a retired fire investigator...

Most space heaters (gas and electric) work on the radiant heat method. The heat produced from the glowing elements travels in a straight line until it strikes an object (usually furniture or a wall), which is then warmed up. Very little heat is sent up into the air to warm the interior of the RV. The furnishings that receive the heat rays eventually warm the air.

So-o-o-o, it gets cold in your trailer. First you pile on the blankets. When that still won't do, you turn on the space heater. Because of the insulation of the blankets, you can't feel the heat coming off the space heater under the covers, so you move the space heater closer and closer to the bed-until it's too close.

The next thing you know, the bedclothes are on fire while you slumber blissfully unaware. Tragedy usually follows.

Best rule of thumb for space heaters-keep at least three feet between the heater and anything that can burn (not only on the sides, but above). And even at three feet away, use your hand as a thermometer. If you lay your hand on the closest object to the heater and it's too hot to leave your hand there, the heater is too close.

Don't use an extension cord from the outlet to the electric space heater cord, and it's best not to coil any excess cord up-which creates an induction coil that can produce heat on it's own.

Excellent advice and explanation. I would like to add a few words about the extension cords. All electric wires get warm, including extension cords. Leaving a part of an extension cord coiled up and plugging in a high power load (such a space heater) causes more heat being concentrated in a small space, hence greater temperature rise. The induction is negligible, the current flows in opposite directions inside the cord, after all. I once had my work bench powered by a long extension cord and some of it was coiled up. Everything was fine for my hand drill, grinder, fluorescent light, and such, until I ran a space heater from it. The coiled cord melted, shorted and threw the breaker to teach me a lesson: don't leave part of an extension cord coiled up, unless the power is low. Think. Better, never leave it coiled up. That was a dumb idea...

The second lesson is that using a two conductor extension cord requires another caution. If the load on the far end of the cord is inductive, such as an AC (air conditioning) compressor on top of the Scamp, you may end up with a few dozen Volts AC (alternating current) on the AC unit frame, and if you stand on an aluminum ladder and touch it, you get a buzz! I did and measured about 40 Volts AC. Think again.

Do they still sell any two-wire cords these days? I have not bought one in ages.