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Topic: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater. (Read 1526 times) previous topic - next topic

AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Just wondering. Has anyone done a comparison of the electrical consumption of the roof AC heat strip vs a small electric space heater?? Which consumes the least amount of electricity?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #1 –
 I can heat my entire little house with the modern ceramic 1300 wat space heater.( I use solar gain also)  It must draw about 12amps max  doing quick math.  I would think that the BTU transit loss  from the strip will be a lot more loss = a lot more consumption for the same space thermal increase . .

 You could simply run a amp meter on your gen and read at the heat strip and space heater. Or simply read at the gen output lines.  Read the neg line if easier ..
 My bet is on the space heater for a 6pack .

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #2 –
Plus, why subject yourself to the noisy A/C blower motor when small space heaters are practically silent?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #3 –
All resistive heating elements are 100% efficient, along with any fan or motor inefficiency will show up as heat. Space heaters at floor level may provide the most comfort as it's hard to get heated air from the roof unit forced down to the floor level. Any fan that blows on the insulating boundary layer at the ceiling is less efficient. Sucking the hot air that floats to the ceiling and blowing it downwards is efficient. Any air flowing thru the very poorly insulated roof system is bad unless it's a heat pump ands it's above about 40.  Short and sweet best solution would be a portable with a strong fan discharging downwards, hanging down about 4-6" to the intake. Expect to save upwards of $2 a day with setup. your electric rates may vary as I only pay a straight 7.54 cents per kwh
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #4 –
The ducted heat strips in our ceiling units work great and function on the thermostat well.

Plus they work at any temp.  Did not like heat pumps as we are true all weather users and they cease to function as was posted below 40 and do little below 50 or so.

Just another backup system
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #5 –
The trouble with any 120 volt heater or ac heat strip is you are normally limited to 1500 watts. With resistance heat, that is just over 5000 btu's. Good in the 40's  or 50's but any lower than that, furnace, aqua-hot, or heat pumps are necessary, unless you coach has some super insulation. My little 34 ft has a 35000 btu furnace and it does a good job, but the blower uses lots of power.  I use a portable 10000 btu propane heater when dry camping if I do not want to use furnace or aquahot.
[I do shut it off when sleeping.]
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #6 –
Heat pumps are non op in cold weather
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #7 –
FWIW,
Those little ceramic heaters do a great job.  I used them in Breckenridge several years back and they really took care of most of it.  I had little ones in the basement and bigger ones inside.  Yes had the propane furnace on primarily as a back up to them.  The campground paid for the electricity whereas I paid for the propane.  I also did not want to run out of propane as it was cold outside and I did not want to move or go through refilling.  I did not use the overhead AC strips.  They were on in the event they were needed (but set at a temperature to not activate unless the others failed).  In really cold settings, I think it is good to have several backups for heat.  I don't like being cold.  Best of Travels.
Best of Travels

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #8 –
My conclusions confirmed,everyone. Thanks!!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #10 –
I recommend electric floor heat.  Works well all by itself down to 40 degrees or so, down to mid-30s if the humidity is low.  I've been comfortable with the floor heat and one AC heat strip down to 20 degrees.  Any colder than that and the furnace needs to run. 
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #11 –
I miss the heat strips we had on our Dometics, no big deal, but nice dry heat. We also carry two liquid - filled radiators that work very nice overnight when the propane furnaces would keep us awake.  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'
 

Re: AC Heat strip vs Space Heater.

Reply #12 –
Comparing heating with roof air and space heater to me is like this:

We can heat coach with roof air OR space heater.

We can ONLY cool coach with roof air.

Replacing a worn roof air is a lot more money than replacing a space heater.

So cost comparisons for us always favor space heaters.