Bilge Pump Heater and tempature

[Ccreed]

Hi All:

I am thinking of adding a small 700W Bilge pump Heater to behind the wall on my Reflections 150 RK226. my question is this how much space should I have between the unit and other things? I want to make sure there is a limited risk of a fire in the basement. I have built a shelf so the unit is not right on the floor and it should have good airflow. My concern is the Electrical wires in that compartment. I have added a wire loom to some of the cables that are even close to the unit as a protective measure. I do not know how warm these units tend to get when they run as far as their airflow. I think that if this was an actual space heater 700 watts can really kick out some heat. obviously only runs when shore power or a generator is just a precaution really as we don't do winter camping

[howson]

Ccreed

Shouldn't the bilge pump's installation specifications answer the question of a required air gap around the device? Then it's a matter of physically checking the location in the camper to see if it will work.

What I've done in the past with questions of this nature is mock up a plywood example with the proposed device's dimensions and then test-fitted in the targeted space.

Please follow up and let us know how it goes. (Pictures would be great along with the lessons-learned.)

Howard

[Cate&Rob]

Ccreed What is the intended purpose of the heater you are considering? The underbelly is likely to get much colder than the pass through storage area. Is this a strategy to avoid winterizing the water system or to avoid running the furnace? I do have an electric heater in the underbelly of my similar Reflection 303RLS. See post 26 of this thread. https://gdrvowners.com/forum/exterio...derbelly/page2

Rob

[Ccreed]

Ccreed What is the intended purpose of the heater you are considering? The underbelly is likely to get much colder than the pass through storage area. Is this a strategy to avoid winterizing the water system or to avoid running the furnace? I do have an electric heater in the underbelly of my similar Reflection 303RLS. See post 26 of this thread. https://gdrvowners.com/forum/exterio...derbelly/page2

Rob

Cate&Rob

The intention is just to keep things from freezing if camping in the winter. and just attempt to keep the underbelly warm in the event the heat is not on just like the thought of added freeze protection on the waterlines especially when sleeping as the wife and I like it colder when we sleep.

[Cate&Rob]

Ccreed

The area behind the aft wall of the pass through storage area is essentially part of the living area and not likely to go below freezing if the living area is anywhere near comfortable. Say 50F+. The underbelly is a different story. If you are not running the propane furnace (which has ductwork to the underbelly) there is a good chance that this lower area, which is below the floor insulation, can drop below freezing. There are reports of this happening to those using the electric fireplace and electric space heaters rather than the furnace. This is why I installed an electric heater in the underbelly as described in the thread linked to post 3.

Rob