Awning Heater Help

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

We are about to use our free standing awning during colder climes in the UK and would like any advice on using a portable heater in it.
We will be on 16 amp hook ups mostly and I am unsure if a standard electric ceramic type heater will have a too big draw at around 1800 watts.
Are such heaters available at much lower wattage.
We have purchased a low wattage microwave at 600 watts and this works really well for cooking in the motorhome, so should I be looking for a similar low wattage heater so as not to trip the hook up?
All advice greatly received, thanks.
Iain

 

[tonyidle]

Simply divide the Wattage of any appliance by 230 to find out the current it needs in Amps. Your 1800W heater will therefore draw 7.5A. Incidentally microwave ovens are rated by cooking power - you'll find a label on it that tells you the actual consumption. Yours is likely to be around 1000W.

 

[bigtwin]

I’ve never understood the thinking regarding heaters in an awning.

If it’s cold enough to warrant a heater, go inside your Motorhome where you can be warm.

1800W will consume 8 Amps.

Ian

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Thanks Tony for the advice. I actually work for a company based in Kendal, so a bit weird seeing your address.
I also am / was a Ham operator and I think I was 20CQM.
Long Long time ago and never took the full exam and remained on a novice licence.
With the MH I am again rekindling my passion of Radio but must seriously brush up on my theory / electrical knowledge, but now have more time to get back to the hobby.
Understand the amp draw but was just generally wondering if such a device was not only practical, but also safe, what with damp conditions etc.
In the Spring / Summer we don’t bother.
And yes I think the micro is about 1000 w , it was sold as low wattage and is neat and compact, if a little heavy.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Thanks Ian for your view. The awning is to be used with a group of friends so serves as a sort of communal hub when on site and gives us extra space as we could not all fit in the MH and it might be a bit too cosy if we did!
Understand your thinking though.
Cheers
Iain.

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[busby]

I’ve never understood the thinking regarding heaters in an awning.

If it’s cold enough to warrant a heater, go inside your Motorhome where you can be warm.

1800W will consume 8 Amps.

Ian

That is why we have to pay extra abroad in the winter for leccy..People in the past heating their awnings,,mainly caravaners and costing the sites a fortune..BUSBY..?

 

[DavidG58]

We carry and regularly use the single cylinder gas heaters, very efficient and a cylinder will typically do a full evening, on very cold nights we use 2, heaters are fairly cheap to buy and cylinders can be picked up for about a £1 each

Also much fairer that ‘abusing’ site electrics IMO

 

[tonyidle]

Thanks Tony for the advice. I actually work for a company based in Kendal, so a bit weird seeing your address.
I also am / was a Ham operator and I think I was 20CQM.
Long Long time ago and never took the full exam and remained on a novice licence.
With the MH I am again rekindling my passion of Radio but must seriously brush up on my theory / electrical knowledge, but now have more time to get back to the hobby.
Understand the amp draw but was just generally wondering if such a device was not only practical, but also safe, what with damp conditions etc.
In the Spring / Summer we don’t bother.
And yes I think the micro is about 1000 w , it was sold as low wattage and is neat and compact, if a little heavy.

Small world . The heater will be safe in the awning assuming your van is protected by its built-in RCD.

 

[Two on Tour]

Like David, we find the little portable gas the best option.
Ours cost 30 quid off eBay and provides adequate heat for those chilly evening chatting with friends under the awning.

http://www.go-system.co.uk/dynasty-heater

 

[Lenny HB]

That what caravaners do, inconsiderate pushes up the price of EHU. Seen them go out and leave them on all day.
If you have a load of people in there body heat will do the job.

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[SuperMike]

Awning heaters. Now that is, a waste of the worlds resources.

 

[Potty]

I am appalled that anyone would even consider using any form of heating in an awning! ?

 

[GROMIT69]

Just come back from a few days on a site in Norfolk, caravan pulls up next to us he spends the rest of the day putting an awning up bigger than the twin axel caravan for just him and his wife , he walks puts me and says the cost of theses sites is getting to much they are taking the pi"" then he puts a three bar electric heater on , which was on from 8-00 in morning till 11-00 at night even when they went out for the day they left it on , each to there own ,

 

[Two on Tour]

I am appalled that anyone would even consider using any form of heating in an awning! ?

Well I hope you do not BBQ outside when you have a perfectly good hob to cook on in you house and van !! ?

 

[Potty]

Well I hope you do not BBQ outside when you have a perfectly good hob to cook on in you house and van !! ?

Yes, we do barbecue outside but that is only using the same amount of energy that we would use if we cooked inside and cooking inside would mean using the extractor fan, so we are using less energy by barbecuing. Heating an awning is really just heating the outside air.

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[Potty]

Just come back from a few days on a site in Norfolk, caravan pulls up next to us he spends the rest of the day putting an awning up bigger than the twin axel caravan for just him and his wife , he walks puts me and says the cost of theses sites is getting to much they are taking the pi"" then he puts a three bar electric heater on , which was on from 8-00 in morning till 11-00 at night even when they went out for the day they left it on , each to there own ,

Think I might have disconnected his hookup!

 

[Two on Tour]

Yes, we do barbecue outside but that is only using the same amount of energy that we would use if we cooked inside and cooking inside would mean using the extractor fan, so we are using less energy by barbecuing. Heating an awning is really just heating the outside air.

Is that a fact, well I never.

 

[Figaro]

I am appalled that anyone would even consider using any form of heating in an awning! ?

Bit like patio heaters.
Wake up folks, were supposed to be trying to save the planet

 

[Shrimp]

When we worked on a campsite there were always a lot of Caravan awnings with heaters blazing away.....the people were always in the Caravan with doors & windows shut!
One van used to stay an site-seasonal let-& when they went home just left the heating running!
Campsites hate awning heaters!

 

[DavidG58]

I think there may be some slight confusion about what constitutes an awning on a Motorhome

We are talking about heating a safari room not just a wind out roof ?

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[Lenny HB]

I think there may be some slight confusion about what constitutes an awning on a Motorhome

We are talking about heating a safari room not just a wind out roof ?

Don't think there is any confusion.

 

[hilldweller]

All advice greatly received, thanks.
Iain

I'll bet you wished you'd not asked now.

I didn't know there were so many high horses left these days, maybe they've started cloning them.

 

[pelican]

Just come back from a few days on a site in Norfolk, caravan pulls up next to us he spends the rest of the day putting an awning up bigger than the twin axel caravan for just him and his wife , he walks puts me and says the cost of theses sites is getting to much they are taking the pi"" then he puts a three bar electric heater on , which was on from 8-00 in morning till 11-00 at night even when they went out for the day they left it on , each to there own ,

I would have pulled the plug

 

[pappajohn]

If heating an awning works so well why do converters go to the bother of insulating vans.
Just build a van with nylon walls & roof and put a 3 bar electric fire in it.

 

[Potty]

I think there may be some slight confusion about what constitutes an awning on a Motorhome

We are talking about heating a safari room not just a wind out roof ?

No confusion in my mind and really no difference. A safari room is an uninsulated tent. Any heat will just go straight out of the walls. I have seen signs on some sites banning them, Should be banned on all.

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[Jaws]

I also am / was a Ham operator and I think I was 20CQM.

Have you seen what a Novice licence has access top nowadays ? !
If your call sign started 2E0, you have an intermediate licence ( what was a Novice.. And there are BIG differences in what you can use nowadays ! )
Use up to 50W, and access to ALL the HF, VHF and UHF bands ( canna find any info on microwave use at the moment.. was looking for it the other day for some one )

Re callsign........ PM on the way

 

[DavidG58]

No confusion in my mind and really no difference. A safari room is an uninsulated tent. Any heat will just go straight out of the walls. I have seen signs on some sites banning them, Should be banned on all.

I was proposing using my portable gas heater, really can’t see why you would mind that , but we all have different views on most things

 

[Potty]

I was proposing using my portable gas heater, really can’t see why you would mind that , but we all have different views on most things

The OP was asking about electric heaters

 

[icantremember]

I disagree with the use of electric heaters in awning but would also remind everyone that any solid or gas fueled heaters will produce Carbon Monoxide (CO) which in a confined area, sealed from draughts, would be deadly.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Think I might have disconnected his hookup!

And that's adult like is it?
Suppose they had a piece of medical equipment in the van, or medicines in a fridge requiring constant refrigeration?
Hope I Never have the misfortune to park near you at a group rally or anywhere else.
Is this how Munsters think / behave?

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