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Stupid electrical question heater

Yahoo Message Number: 21077
Another stupid question for all you electricians out there.
We have a small "cube" electric heater. It is rated 120v 1500w. When we plug it into our electrical outlet in the rig, our voltmeter that we keep permanently plugged into one of our K outlets, shows the voltage dropping WAY down...to the 100 range. So, we don't use "the cube." SHOULD we be able to use it? (we're plugged into 50 amp service.)

Thanks...
jan McNeill

freezing in Bend, OR!
2001 Intrigue 11320

Re: Stupid electrical question re: heater

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21079
Should be able to. I usually have one plugged into the outlet in the front of the coach below the HWH leveling control panel. At night sometimes put it in the bath area plugged into an outlet there. Not usually a problem unless the park has very, very poor electrical service. My cube heater is the same voltage/wattage as yours.

Brian Davis

Quote from: janmcneill

Re: Stupid electrical question re: heater

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21084
First of all I doubt there is a problem with the heater or the circuit breaker would trip. If your voltage is dropping to 100 volts or so there is a major problem with your supply somewhere. The surge/voltage protector in your coach should be shutting down at that low voltage. If it does not then maybe it is in bypass.(allowing that your coach is new enought to have one.) If you have a meter, plug it or your tester into the pedistal utiltity outlet while the heater is on to see if the problem is in your coach or park power. If it still reads low then the problem could be in the park. Try plugging into other outlets in the motorhome to see if the results are the same.

ddtuttle

2000 Allure #30443

Re: Stupid electrical question re: heater

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21086
Jan, you should be able to use the unit, though if set to the full setting, the consumed power is close to the 15 Amp GFI circuit breaker.
Try plugging it into the outlet that contains the GFI breaker, and if the voltage doesn't drop near as much in that case, you may have a loose connection in one of the outlets [My coach has that breaker in the bedroom].

Since the outlets are all daisy-chained from the GFI breaker, I would unscrew each outlet, and make sure the wires are tightly connected.
Often they are plugged into a spring-loaded connector, feel if they are still tightly connected. If not, I would use the screws instead of those spring-loaded holes.

Henk Bots, 2000 Magna 5824.

Re: Stupid electrical question re: heater

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21087
I ran a heater about that size from my kitchen outlets. In my 02 Allure these outlets go through the inverter circuit which is fed by a 30 amp breaker and then split into 2 15 amp circuits so 1500 watts is rather marginal. In my case the ground wire in the inverter burned off. I am not sure the load was too much or the wire may have been loose and arced till it burned off.

Anyway if I use the heater again I will plug it into the microwave outlet (without running the oven) which is made for a higher load.

Andy

02 Allure

Stupid electrical question re: heater

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21098
Hair dryers should not be used except in your hand. Hair dryer is a short life device that can quickly fail & burn.
Small electric space heaters are safer. In Wisconsin, we use 2 electric heaters in water bay to prevent freezing. Both are set to 700 watts & about 50 degrees. If one heater fails, other would prevent freezing.
Both operate at lower temperature @ 700 watts, so chance of fire is less. Both blow air so compartment temperature is more even. 35 degrees doesn't do it. Your pump may be 22 degrees just 8" below a 35 degree air flow.

If you heat the tank to 50 during the day, it will help prevent freezing during night.

Maybe using electric space heaters where we do not see then is not safe.

If your Norcold controller quits due to low temperature, I have procedure to reset it after cold weather.

Eric Lee Elliott
 

Re: Stupid electrical question re: heater

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 21113

I found out the hard (and expensive) way that all the 110 outlets are routed through the front end of the inverter. I over loaded the circuit with too many appliances and tripped the 20 amp breaker in the inverter. You may have a bad connection or bad breaker in the inverter that is causing the voltage drop. If the park voltage is OK, you should check at the transfer swuitch and then at the input and output of the inverter.

Don Hibbs
2000 Allure