Electric heaters?

[grantgoold]

How about some suggestions on electric heaters?

Thanks

Grant

[buswarrior]

On the portable cube fan forced style:

Pay for one that has tip-over protection.

Pay for one that has a temperature adjustment, not just two settings.

Test drive them for fan noise. Pay for a quiet one.

a couple of them are a great addition to every busnut's arsenal.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[NewbeeMC9]

I carry two of the oil filled radiator type, 
-cause there cheap (about $40 and 20 on clearance) and and i had them already, 
-usually only run them on the 600 watt switch but can bump them up to 1500 watt
- they are quiet
- don't feel like i'm gonna set the bus on fire or burn myself
- don't need them going down the road
-   - don't like the footprint but it 's not that bad,  always something, ay

if i were bying now, i would seriously consider the new micathermic, they have them at HD and can be wall mounted, and take up less space,  have 41 freeze protection setting.

if i really want to heat the bus up fast i get the mrs. to dry her hair


IMHO

[OneLapper]

Ditto.  I use two oil filled radiator style heaters.  They get the job done.  I'm certain there are much better solutions, but they are safe and two will do with a small fan to circulate the air.

Mark

[Lin]

I like the cheap plastic ones the best.  Although I do have one the was about $50. with a remote control/thermostat.  They are very quite and never get very hot.  That's why the case can be made of plastic.  The fan keeps going, but the element turns off before it is very hot; just nice warm air.  The cheapest ones are about $20.  If you have not tried one yet, get one.  You will be surprised how well they work.

[TomC]

The Vornado electric heater has two heat settings, thermostat, auto or continuous fan with tip over.  Works well and is pleasantly quiet.  Good Luck, TomC

[Lin]

Tom,

That looks like the high end of what I was referring too,  The one I got from Costco was also two speed with remote/t-stat but does not have the rotating grill.

[JohnEd]

The old cubes came with a built in cleanable air filter.  The air down at the floor, where you will run the cube, is very dusty.  My filters got pretty dirty pretty fast.  2 dogs....you know how it is.  The new cubes DO NOT have a air filter.  The interior of the cube is a really restrictive honey comb of radiator like fins.  They plug up quickly and the over-temp protects the unit but it doesn't work as well as it did when it was new.  Blow some really high pressure air through the front and that layer of dust will be dislodged and the heater will start working better.  I taped a piece of cheese cloth over the rear air inlet and ran a vac over that every week.  Worked out very well.  YMMV  Hold your cube up to the light and look thru it.  Should be clear view of what is on the other side.  Obey KISS rule and don't go for the oscillating units or remote control.  I had it and it was not worth it compared to the simple cubes I had.  IMHO

Everything Buswarrior said plus a filter.  They cost $20 off season and don't pay $50.  I don't like the oil filled ones cause they don't react fast enuf and they are huge by comparison.  They are quiet and last a long time and no filter hassle.

I even built my cubes in so they drew air from under the bed and from inside the cabnet so running them would vent those areas and warm them a little.

You MUST have a really small fan on the floor pointing straight up.  In a corner is best.  That will de-stratify the air and your feet will be as warm as your head.  No perceived draft and my heaters seem to run less for some reason but they shouldn't.  I do this in my home also.  In the shop and every room I spend much time in in the winter.  In the summer I vent from the top of the room and the house stays cool till way after high noon.  In my RV I run the Fantastic fan on low starting in the morning.  Doesn't make it till noon but it does stay cooler longer.

Beat this to death, huh?

John

[TomC]

I can keep my bus warm with just two 1500 watt floor heaters in weather down to about 35 degrees (27 is the coldest I've been in). 

The Vornado I have does not have a rotating grill.  Personally, I don't like rotating grills or oscillating fans.  I like to aim them and enjoy the breeze.  Good Luck, TomC

[cody]

One critical thing is to make sure the heater doesn't get a build up of lint or debri, they can catch fire.

[Lin]

Why, fire is heat too!

[Paso One]

IMHO we need outside tempetures when making your comments  on your heaters  in use as Tom C did.

We just came thru a week of minus 40 and a windchill of -49 if you went outside.

So some of the heaters mentioned above might have been frozen solid

[belfert]

I have a little Honeywell cube heater I probably bought around 2002 or so.  The fan is really quiet, but the thing doesn't heat worth a darn!

My parents have a 20 year old heater with the big old nichrome wires and a noisy fan, but it heats much better.  The two heaters have the same wattage rating.

[Jerry32]

I have used three of those small cube type heaters down to 16 deg F . they all have three heat settings 500-1000-1500 to select and work just fine but fans are naisy. Jerry

[Rick Brown]

Quartz heaters are my favorite.  They won't heat the entire coach, but just what they shine on.  Very economical.  They also make a great loving light
RickBrown in Reno, NV