Know Your Neighbors.....

[Ram Nation]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Well not really.
I guess I should have asked WHY you don't use your electric space heater when sleeping? Keep in mind that temperatures in the area were near freezing at night, do you run your gas furnace, or sleep cold.

Answer to your question is when the temp here is around 40 or above which is most of the time i use my mini split heat pump. If the temps get where it doesn't work we use propane. Only leave it on to maintain 68 degrees. During the day it is strictly electric heat UNLESS its in the 30s. Not very often it's in the 30s here all day. I do not and will not use space heaters for sleeping. If others do then good for them. Hope that made sense. I also have to add we have never slept cold. Maybe the rv was below 68 but being in bed with covers on we have not slept cold. I guess others have?

[Laredo Tugger]

Originally Posted by Ram Nation

You know Gentlemen you may be absolutely correct. I was going by the original OP's comment This doesn't appear to be the typical vintage RV fire situation. My thought was by looking at Oregon for the last year with all the looting, fires and such and the defund the police movement that my response sure could have been WRONG. I will admit that. I might be wrong with police or the sheriff department helping the local fire departments investigation also. If that's the case I apologize for my comment. I have seen many a fire here in Brownsville and the police is normally involved some way including always the fire department. If my comment offended anyone about the Defund the police movements, I apologize. Again I have to say thank God I live in Texas. Thanks

All good Ram Nation.
The police have a multiple of functions on fire scenes and are welcome by the fire fighters. Sometimes based on report they even beat the fire units to the scene (because they are already in the area on patrol) and execute rescue efforts. Sometimes to the point where they make entry and victim contact. They also provide scene security, as well as traffic and crowd control. In some jurisdictions the local law enforcement agency (usually the sheriffs office) will be the lead fire investigation authority. So when I first read your statement in post #2 and turned my head like a cute little dog, after reading your follow up, I understand what you are saying.
RMc

[dutchmensport]

Another reason why you should never leave your pets inside the camper, leaving them, and you go off doing something else. Granted, this appears to have happened at night, but it could have just as easy happened during the daylight hours while folks were out playing somewhere else. Never leave your pets alone in a camper.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by jxnbbl

This was mentioned in a few posts recently. Although I do understand electricity/wiring/etc I've never really had the "opportunity" to work on the trailer electrical (until I start mucking with the AC side of the new inverter install). But this got me thinking out of all the houses/electrical work I've done on houses I've lived in I've run into two problems (real problems)


1. a New modular home circuit where the romex for a circuit was coiled and must have been crimped/damaged in transit. About 3 weeks after inspection/certificate of occupancy a spotlight went out. I figured out it wasn't the bulb and noticed no voltage. Traced it to a broken wire, already melted and charred the wood.


2. a bathroom gfci outlet that my wife said seemed hot (after using the hairdryer). This case the connections were loose and the back of the outlet was melted badly.


My understanding was at travel trailers used the same code as say a mobile home and I've seen 14 and 12 ga romex in mine. So what is the real problem with running say 1000W as the only device on a circuit? Are you saying the connections are different/crap? As in all cases it comes to compromised connectivity that I know about.

ChuckS had a post last year where he showed pictures of the electric outlets and how the wires feeding them use stab connections..it’s a pretty janky way of connecting wires..loose wire connections cause heat …and add high amp draw small appliances to that you get more heat..I’ve seen all the wires in a electric air handler and all the controls completely burned to a crisp from a loose connection…feel your plug when you have a heater plugged in and imagine what it’s doing to the wires behind the outlet

I like Russ’s idea with the cheap heat …I think I’d pull the outlet I would designate for a portable heater and replace the outlet with a better residential style and use the screws to make solid wire connections…Jmo

Don’t know how to link the prior post I’m referencing

[jxnbbl]

Thanks for the reply/pic. Fully understand now. I will probably make an effort to replace certain outlets/circuits during the course of the year.

[Cascadia]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

That is why I like my Cheap Heat system! UL listed and all on correctly sized wire and breakers!

We're on the coast south of you and it's been chilly! No snow so far this year but we had nearly a foot a few years ago. That "Cheap Heat" system sounds great...the Mister is reading up on it. Thanks for the info!

[jasin1]

What the heck was that all about????..( edit: responded to since removed post)

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by jasin1

What the heck was that all about????

Apparently just someone who found a trigger... It's been resolved.

[German Shepherd Guy]

Originally Posted by Ram Nation

Sad to see. With the defund the police movement in most blue states so prevalent I can certainly understand the concern. Thank goodness I live in Texas.

What has that got to do with the RV fire.



They quote the fire department as saying "nothing suspicious" about the fires.

My sympathies go out to those who lost their rigs and stuff and hope they will be OK.

[Cascadia]

Originally Posted by Ram Nation

You know Gentlemen you may be absolutely correct. I was going by the original OP's comment This doesn't appear to be the typical vintage RV fire situation. My thought was by looking at Oregon for the last year with all the looting, fires and such and the defund the police movement that my response sure could have been WRONG. I will admit that. I might be wrong with police or the sheriff department helping the local fire departments investigation also. If that's the case I apologize for my comment. I have seen many a fire here in Brownsville and the police is normally involved some way including always the fire department. If my comment offended anyone about the Defund the police movements, I apologize. Again I have to say thank God I live in Texas. Thanks

Apology accepted. Oregon was never as bad as Fox news projected, an exception being the wildfires. That was bad! It's a wonderful place to live and I love it here. I lived in Portland before moving to the coast and have many friends who live in the city itself. Making assumptions about places you see on the news are usually wrong. I don't assume that all Texans are covid deniers or antidemocracy just because I see it on the news. I have family in Texas. Assuming that would make me look like a fool, wouldn't it?

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Cascadia

Apology accepted. Oregon was never as bad as Fox news projected, an exception being the wildfires. That was bad! It's a wonderful place to live and I love it here. I lived in Portland before moving to the coast and have many friends who live in the city itself. Making assumptions about places you see on the news are usually wrong. I don't assume that all Texans are covid deniers or antidemocracy just because I see it on the news. I have family in Texas. Assuming that would make me look like a fool, wouldn't it?

As a Texan, I find your post antagonistic and annoying. I believe it is telling that you think SOME of us are not spreading the china flu or are insurrectionists. The tenor of your post borders on insulting. I will bow out now and believe this thread has taken a wrong turn.

[Cascadia]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

As a Texan, I find your post antagonistic and annoying. I believe it is telling that you think SOME of us are not spreading the china flu or are insurrectionists. The tenor of your post borders on insulting. I will bow out now and believe this thread has taken a wrong turn.

You misunderstand. I said that I wouldn't make that assumption because it would make ME look like a fool...to assume what I see on the news is always true. I have friends and family in Texas. My husband does business in Texas. I was using an example to show that ASSUMPTIONS are not always reality. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

[Gkri]

Originally Posted by Ram Nation

Wholly cow, out of context again, I did not say I don't trust electric heaters. I use them all the time as a matter of fact. I don't use them when sleeping. Does that make better sense?

Recommendations from NEC are not exceed 80% of a circuits rated ampacity. For a 15 amp circuit, that is 12 Amps. A 1500 Watt space heater draws 12.5 amps at 120 VAC, exceeding the 80%. First step I took was to replace any outlets used for space heaters with real residential outlet, wrapping the wires around the screws, and using the shallow "old work" wall boxes. They have the same little wings to hold in place as the RV types. Next, for 15 amp circuits, we never run the heater on High, just low which is 750 watts.

[Gkri]

Originally Posted by jxnbbl

This was mentioned in a few posts recently. Although I do understand electricity/wiring/etc I've never really had the "opportunity" to work on the trailer electrical (until I start mucking with the AC side of the new inverter install). But this got me thinking out of all the houses/electrical work I've done on houses I've lived in I've run into two problems (real problems)


1. a New modular home circuit where the romex for a circuit was coiled and must have been crimped/damaged in transit. About 3 weeks after inspection/certificate of occupancy a spotlight went out. I figured out it wasn't the bulb and noticed no voltage. Traced it to a broken wire, already melted and charred the wood.


2. a bathroom gfci outlet that my wife said seemed hot (after using the hairdryer). This case the connections were loose and the back of the outlet was melted badly.


My understanding was at travel trailers used the same code as say a mobile home and I've seen 14 and 12 ga romex in mine. So what is the real problem with running say 1000W as the only device on a circuit? Are you saying the connections are different/crap? As in all cases it comes to compromised connectivity that I know about.

Jay - 1,000 watts is only 8.33 amps on a 15 amp circuit. The problem is the tiny surface area in contact with the wires in the RV style outlet, it acts like a resistor dissipating heat and also adding to the wattage draw. If comfortable doing it yourself, replace those you can access with residential outlets in the blue plastic "old work" box. Do not just stab the wire into the back of the outlet, wrap the wires around the screws for full contact of the bare wire. i did notice the GFCI outlets in our trailer are "real" residential type and Keystone did wrap the wire around the screws!

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Gkri

Jay - 1,000 watts is only 8.33 amps on a 15 amp circuit. The problem is the tiny surface area in contact with the wires in the RV style outlet, it acts like a resistor dissipating heat and also adding to the wattage draw. If comfortable doing it yourself, replace those you can access with residential outlets in the blue plastic "old work" box. Do not just stab the wire into the back of the outlet, wrap the wires around the screws for full contact of the bare wire. i did notice the GFCI outlets in our trailer are "real" residential type and Keystone did wrap the wire around the screws!

A 1500W heater on 120VAC is 12.5A draw. 1500/120=12.5 How do you get 8.33A? In my camper, the wires to the outlets are 12 ga. A dedicated circuit for an electric heater makes sense but there is seldom a spare breaker in a 30A converter.

[Gkri]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

A 1500W heater on 120VAC is 12.5A draw. 1500/120=12.5 How do you get 8.33A? In my camper, the wires to the outlets are 12 ga. A dedicated circuit for an electric heater makes sense but there is seldom a spare breaker in a 30A converter.

George, the OP mentioned running a 1,000 watt heater "So what is the real problem with running say 1000W as the only device on a circuit?"

correct, the 1500 watt heaters are 12.5 amps and i would never suggest running one on high with a 14 gauge, 15 amp circuit.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

A 1500W heater on 120VAC is 12.5A draw. 1500/120=12.5 How do you get 8.33A? In my camper, the wires to the outlets are 12 ga. A dedicated circuit for an electric heater makes sense but there is seldom a spare breaker in a 30A converter.

George you may be able to add a tandem breaker to replace just one breaker and make it into two..they make a 15/15…15/20…and a 20/20

Don’t know exactly what brand fits your breaker box but you could run the 15/20 and use the 15 side to replace one 15 breaker and run a separate wire to an outlet close to the breaker box just for an electric heater..I’d install a single receptacle outlet myself and only use that for space heaters

[Gkri]

Originally Posted by jasin1

George you may be able to add a tandem breaker to replace just one breaker and make it into two..they make a 15/15…15/20…and a 20/20

Don’t know exactly what brand fits your breaker box but you could run the 15/20 and use the 15 side to replace one 15 breaker and run a separate wire to an outlet close to the breaker box just for an electric heater..I’d install a single receptacle outlet myself and only use that for space heaters

now that is a capital idea! Very obvious and yet I missed it. Thank you, even if the message was for George, i'm going to try to do that in our Passport. A short run of 12-gauge, a Pro-Grade 20 Amp outlet and safer heat!

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Cascadia

Apology accepted. Oregon was never as bad as Fox news projected, an exception being the wildfires. That was bad! It's a wonderful place to live and I love it here. I lived in Portland before moving to the coast and have many friends who live in the city itself. Making assumptions about places you see on the news are usually wrong. I don't assume that all Texans are covid deniers or antidemocracy just because I see it on the news. I have family in Texas. Assuming that would make me look like a fool, wouldn't it?

Well downtown Portland is still suffering from the effects of the pandemic and homeless. We need to travel through Portland, and there are parts that the graffiti, reminds me of driving through south Chicago. Icould go on, but don’t want to get thrown in Keystone Jail, as I hear the Keystone Cops are the worst!!

Don’t judge Oregon, by Portland, we still have some best State Parks in the Nation!

[sourdough]

Commentary in this thread is tap dancing all around multiple violations of forum rules. We started with a video of burning RVs and it morphs into political commentary - don't. Let's keep focused on how those RVs burned and the tragedy that it was. Red/blue/Oregon/TX/funding police etc. etc. etc. have no place in that conversation.