heating

[comfortzone]

I have a 2005 Jayco Jay feather ultra lite 29 foot. I use this trailer during hunting season on my property in some cold temps. My question is can I use a infra-red heater, that could possibly run all night. Will the electrical system handle that load? I use a Honda generator and the trailers furnace presently, but would like to save on the propane. Any help would be appreciated.
Jim

[abarkl]

Try connecting the heater directly to the generator for 30 minutes at home and test it.

[comfortzone]

I'm referring to the electrical system of the trailer itself.

[Vaquero]

Should be fine.

[abarkl]

If it were ours we would test the load of the heater directly at the generator before connecting it through the trailer and then the generator. If the generator is capable of supporting the load there should be no reason it won't do the same through the trailer's electrical system with the generator connected.

[Amosmoses33]

Originally Posted by comfortzone

I have a 2005 Jayco Jay feather ultra lite 29 foot. I use this trailer during hunting season on my property in some cold temps. My question is can I use a infra-red heater, that could possibly run all night. Will the electrical system handle that load? I use a Honda generator and the trailers furnace presently, but would like to save on the propane. Any help would be appreciated.
Jim

What size/type Honda? The 2000is will pull it, thought it may run hard but its designed to with higher loads. I run one in mine all the time but I have the 3000. I wouldn't worry about the trailer wiring, if its too much it should throw a breaker. The heater should have a label as to the wattage it pulls.

[bansai]

My small ceramic heater is 1500 watts on high speed, so that's about 12.5 amps (volts divided by watts) Im sure there is an initial surge to factor in.. I should probably put my watt meter on it to confirm - anyway as long as the circuit you are plugging into is rated for 15 amps or more, you should be fine with a heater that is rated similarly with your generator providing the juice. You didn't mention which honda generator you are using... if it's the 2000 watt model, you are producing enough power to run *my* heater + 500 watts before it's totally maxed.

If you let us know exactly what generator and heater (with specs on current draw), we can tell you 100%, but I think you are fine as long as you aren't running a lot more than just the heater and it is rated similar to mine.

Will the campers electrical system handle that load? Absolutely. It handles your microwave oven and AC right? (not sure if you have a microwave, but I know your camper came with them originally), just don't run them all at the same time, which would be kind of funny in that example anyway.

[Mustang65]

I am thinking that you use your TT's water tanks and plumbing out in the cold? Do you have an enclosed area under the floor or is it open? If so, you may want to run the TT's heating system to keep some of the warm air under the TT to keep the tanks and plumbing from freezing.

Don

[mralex]

bansai you have it backwards, it's watts divided by volts equals amps. 1500 watts divided by 120 volts = 12.5 amps.

[comfortzone]

Thanks you all for your responses. I do use the water at all. My generator is a Honda 3000 and I have not as of yet purchased a infra-red heater. I have run a infra-red heater off the generator with no problems that my nephew loaned me. I feel confident now that the trailers wiring will handle it and I will go out and purchase one, thanks again, Jim