Space Heaters

[davebelair]

I am running two 1500 watt space heaters in my mobile home, they are on individual recepticle circuits. They are protected with 20 amp fuses, and the wire is 12-2 copper wire with a ground, within a 60 amp fuse box. I am just about heating my home completely with these heaters, I think they are great! My question is: These heaters running continuously, do you think they are a fire hazard? If I figure it right there drawing close to 13 amps. each which is well under the 20 amp fuse. Thank you for any advice.
Dave

 

[iwire]

Dave

My question is: These heaters running continuously, do you think they are a fire hazard?

I will stick with just the electrical end of it, I will put aside any issues of the heaters directly igniting combustibles.

If the electrical system is up to code there is no reason 13 amps on a 20 amp circuit should be a problem.

I am just about heating my home completely with these heaters, I think they are great!

I have to assume you have not seen the electric bill yet. :grin:

 

[ItsHot]

afci fuses?

afci fuses?

Total electric! Do they make afci fuses?

 

[petersonra]

Dave



I will stick with just the electrical end of it, I will put aside any issues of the heaters directly igniting combustibles.

If the electrical system is up to code there is no reason 13 amps on a 20 amp circuit should be a problem.



I have to assume you have not seen the electric bill yet. :grin:

In most places the cost would be something like 30-40 cents an hour to run them continuously. Thats unlikely, but even if it was you are talking about less then $300 a month. In the real world they probably run maybe 10% of the time taken over the whole year, so the whole heating bill for a year is maybe $300-400.

 

[nakulak]

do yourself a favor and put two smoke alarms in your mobile home

 

[iwire]

In most places the cost would be something like 30-40 cents an hour to run them continuously. Thats unlikely, but even if it was you are talking about less then $300 a month. In the real world they probably run maybe 10% of the time taken over the whole year, so the whole heating bill for a year is maybe $300-400.

If you want to believe that....:-?

I live in a cold area not far from the OP, electric heat is the most costly way by far to heat a home here.

 

[Cavie]

If you want to believe that....:-?

I live in a cold area not far from the OP, electric heat is the most costly way by far to heat a home here.

Especially a trailer!

 

[76nemo]

I am running two 1500 watt space heaters in my mobile home, they are on individual recepticle circuits. They are protected with 20 amp fuses, and the wire is 12-2 copper wire with a ground, within a 60 amp fuse box. I am just about heating my home completely with these heaters, I think they are great! My question is: These heaters running continuously, do you think they are a fire hazard? If I figure it right there drawing close to 13 amps. each which is well under the 20 amp fuse. Thank you for any advice.
Dave

If you are talking of mobile heaters, I hope the are level switched. If they are new, they are. While they are running, tip one 45 degrees, it should cut off. If you have children or pets, you best make sure they are switched.
I'm glad you have Christmas behind you, 'cause I'm with Bob, I wouldn't want your bill:-?

Stay warm, stay safe. Happy New Years.

 

[petersonra]

If you want to believe that....:-?

I live in a cold area not far from the OP, electric heat is the most costly way by far to heat a home here.

The fuel is more costly, but the capital cost of getting a NG or propane setup may well dwarf the additional fuel cost.

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

I am running two 1500 watt space heaters in my mobile home, they are on individual recepticle circuits. They are protected with 20 amp fuses, and the wire is 12-2 copper wire with a ground, within a 60 amp fuse box. I am just about heating my home completely with these heaters, I think they are great! My question is: These heaters running continuously, do you think they are a fire hazard? If I figure it right there drawing close to 13 amps. each which is well under the 20 amp fuse. Thank you for any advice.
Dave

1500 x 2 = 3000 watts - 3Kw

3Kw x .15 per Kwh = .45 per hour
.45 x 24 hours x 30 days = $324.00 month
Assume 50% "on" cycle = $162.00 month
5 month heating season = $810.00

 

[iwire]

The fuel is more costly, but the capital cost of getting a NG or propane setup may well dwarf the additional fuel cost.

Yeah depending on the length of and temperature of the heating season the payback might be slow.

But in this area for the most part electric is never the cheaper way to go for any building that you are going to own.

The only new buildings around here that go full electric are rental units, cheap for the builder, costly for the tenant(s). The more common fuels in this area are Natural gas or fuel oil (either #2 for homes or #6 for commercial) I have seen a few new facilities actually went with duel fuel boilers so they can decide to run oil or gas at will.

 

[KJay]

davbelair,
Here in MA, it seems like every few days there?s a news story about some triple-decker going up in flames because of improper use of portable space heaters.
Usually blame is placed on overheated wiring in walls or receptacles or inadvertent contact with flammable materials around the heater.
I think I would sleep close to the door if I were using portable space heaters as a primary heating source. I know you said it was a mobile home, but is that even allowed by local building codes and housing authorities in your area?

 

[rcarroll]

I know you said it was a mobile home, but is that even allowed by local building codes and housing authorities in your area?

It is not allowed in my area. Although, there is not a sure-fire way to do anything about it. My office will get an occasional call from a renter about their primary heat source not working. That's about the only way we can enforce the code.

 

[davebelair]

Wow I appreciate all the replys and the advice. I don't think I will be able to reply to all, but here's my thoughts: I gave a lot of thought to placement of these heaters I think there in safe locations. My main concern was the outlet overheating and catching fire. They do run for days when the temperture allows, Below 20 degrees I shut them off and used my oil furnace. with oil prices the way they are I believe Electricity is way cheaper. I burn roughly 50 gals a month in Sept, Oct, Nov and March and about a 100 gals in Dec, Jan, Feb... so about 500 gals @ 3.50 gallon (This winter anyway)= $1,750.00 So my thoughts this year with Electricity,(remember this is all trial and error, since this is the first year I try this...) I used one 1500 watt heater in Sept, Oct, and March at about $50.00 a month. Two heaters in Nov, Dec. at about $100.00 a month and Jan, Feb remain to be seen but I'm sure the furnace will run more I'm hoping 200 gals of oil all winter. So to sum up $700.00 for oil and $350.00 for electric = $1050.00 (give or take a hundred) with Electric heaters. Oh and I do have Smoke and Carbon monoxide detectors . Thanks again...

 

[davebelair]

oh yea almost forgot, I had no Idea Electric space heaters may not be allowed? I probably should check with my Insurance company. although I can't imagine them saying they are not allowed.

 

[76nemo]

oh yea almost forgot, I had no Idea Electric space heaters may not be allowed? I probably should check with my Insurance company. although I can't imagine them saying they are not allowed.

Whether you live alone or not Dave, again, I'd make sure they are equipped with a switch to keep them from operating if they are accidentally tipped over. Just out of my own curiousity, how do you guarantee they are on dedicated circuits?

 

[electricmanscott]

Look at this way, you can drive right to the fire station to cut down on response time. :grin: