mavapa
Rome, Ga, USA
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Joined: 11/08/2002
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I have read most of the electric heater threads, but I can't seem to find an answer to this problem. I have a couple of inexpensive ones, but they seem to have a problem with lag in the thermostat setting. In other words, the difference between the temp when it comes on and when it goes off can be 10 degrees (F), or even more at times. I have used two or three of the fairly cheap heaters from Walmart or Lowes, and they seem to have the same problem. (You can get a sense of how wide that swing can be by moving the thermostat dial up and down and listening for the switch operation. This works for mechanical thermostats even with the power off.)
Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably-priced electric heater that keeps a reasonably constant temperature?
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
I got around that problem by using external thermostats.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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Jayco-noslide
Galesburg,Il., USA
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Joined: 11/24/2004
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The Vornado is great but runs $60 to much more depending on model. The heat is very even as the fan runs constantly and the heat kicks off and on according to where you set the thermostat. The air coming out is warm, never hot. I think the $60 models do the same as the higher ones just has different controls.
Jayco-noslide
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Road Dog
Waukesha,WI
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Joined: 05/17/2003
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Ditto on the Vornado! The best heater I have used in 42 yrs. of camping! I've had most of them and the Vornado works best at circulating the air and is the most quiet of them all. The small cube heaters work ok but in order to move air they must have high speed fans that make a lot of noise!
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mavapa
Rome, Ga, USA
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Joined: 11/08/2002
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The Walmart Web site claims that the Vornado keeps a set temperature to within 3 or 4 degrees. That would be better than my current heater. Does that sound about right to you guys?
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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One of the problems with small electric portable thermostat controlled heaters is that the T-Stat is INSIDE the heater. so they need a lot of difference, since when the heater comes on the T-stat gets real warm real fast.
If you were to use (And yes, such a product is made, by several companies) a thermostatically controled "Extension cord" (all of 3 inches if that) to control the heater you might find a much nicer and tighter range.
One such T-Stat plug
Another entry in the field
A whole bunch of options
I used GOOGLE to find the links to the products I linked to, nor can I speak against them or in favor of them.. I used to use such a product to control an air conditioner and it worked well, but I've never used the heater ones.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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tinycamper
SKP On the road in the Southeast US
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Joined: 11/30/2009
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I also use 3 vornados in my camper. I havent ever had a problem. Love these little guys. The large one I use for the main living area has it's own thermostat. The two smaller ones I use in the bedrooms have external thermostats they plug into. It's a pretty sweet little setup if I do say so myself.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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You need to purchase a better quality heater to get a more accurate thermostat. Since all electric heaters put out the same amount of heat it is often the thermostat that actually sets one off from the others and the better ones cost more than the cheapest ones.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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Joined: 03/16/2008
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Does your heater have a high and low setting? Some heaters are say, 500 watts on low and 1500 on high. If you use the low setting the heater will have to run longer to warm the air and the temp will probably stay more even.
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frankdamp
Anacortes, or wherever we've gone.
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Joined: 05/04/2005
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We bought a plug-in digital thermostat from Amazon.com. It works like most wall-mount residential digital thermostats, except the minimum temperature you can select is 45F.
I use mine to control an oil-filled radiator that is used to keep the RV internal temp above freezing. It plugs into a 115V domestic outlet and has a socket on its face to plug in whatever heater you want to use. I put the built-in thermostat on the heater to it's max and rely on the digital to control it.
The rig's in hibernation right now, so I can't go look at manufacturer or p/n, but if you go to amazon.com and search for digital thermostat, it will show up.
Right now, with atmospheric overnights at 25-30F, the temp inside the rig is holding steady at about 40F. I have the transducer for my indoor/outdoor digital thermometer sitting on the dinette table in the RV and the readout is in the house.
Frank Damp, DW - Eileen
Anacortes, WA
'02 Georgetown 325, F53, V-10
Dog - 1 Male Yellow Lab (Bailey 9 next July).
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