Posted November 22, 2017
News, information and reviews of great gizmos and gadgets for RVers. Published online once a month by the editors of RVtravel.com. If you are not already subscribed, click here (or at the bottom of this page) to sign up.
Product Spotlight
By Emily Woodbury
STAFF WRITER
In New York City, where I once lived, I didn’t pay for heat; it was included in my rent. Even though the radiators clanged through the night, they kept me warm. All was good. Now, living in cold, wet Seattle, I’ve avoided using my heater for fear my electric bill would go through the roof.
I recently bought a little space heater to use instead. I’d do a test: One month I’d use my regular heat, the next only the space heater (it serves up to 1,000 square feet) to see which was the more cost efficient.
But wait! I didn’t need a two-month test. An easier way was to purchase a Kill A Watt electricity monitor! I can plug my electric space heater right into this helpful device and learn exactly how much electricity it’s using and how much it costs to run each month.
Just plug any household device (space heater, toaster, TV, the AC, dishwasher, hairdryer, etc.) into the Kill A Watt, which plugs into any wall outlet (yep, even in the RV) to measure the amount of electricity it’s using. The Kill A Watt measures the electricity used over time (in kilowatts) and at that moment (in voltage, watts and current) and displays the numbers on an LCD screen. You can check the power levels on any appliance, as well as any specific outlet.
Boondocking? Great! Test out the Kill A Watt before you head out to see which appliances will consume the least amount of energy when using your inverter. Or if you have a 50-amp coach plugged into 30-amp service, then use it to determine what devices can run concurrently.
This little device is a great way to help you get the most out of your battery.
According to the Department of Energy, about 20 percent of our electric usage comes from leaving appliances plugged in when we’re not using them. Yikes!
Well, back to my space heater. (It uses much less energy than I thought, surprisingly!)
Buy the Kill A Watt on Amazon for $17 here.
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Eliminate holding tank odors!
Eliminate disgusting tank odors for less than $1 per treatment with formaldehyde-free Unique RV Digest-It. Unique’s highly concentrated, non-toxic blend of tank cleaning microbes maintains clean sensors, eliminates odors, and liquefies the solids in your tank, ensuring no backups. All without harsh chemicals or dangerous ingredients. Try it once and you’ll be shocked at how clean your tank can be! Learn more or order.
Shurhold offers won’t-scratch sleeves for aluminum handles
Brush and mop handles can accidentally scratch and mar fine RV finishes. Shurhold Industries’ durable patented Handle Mate PFD sleeve easily slips over the aluminum shaft of the telescoping and fixed-length handles on its brushes, mops, brooms, scrubbers and squeegees to protect gelcoat, clear coat, paint, chrome and vinyl graphics. Learn more.
Keep waste where it belongs with Sewer Saddle Bags
To many RVers, some of the chores connected with RVing might seem “yucky” – such as hooking up the dump hose to dump the waste tanks. The Sewer Saddle Bag has come to the rescue for those who fear reliving that scene from the Robin Williams’ film “RV,” where the unmentionable spills out. It is a saddle bag-shaped weight that lays over the dump hose where it fits into the drain, preventing it from popping out. Read more.
Omni Chill High-Efficiency A/C system enables three A/Cs
Until now it has been impossible to operate three RV air conditioners in “cooling” mode at the same time. Enter the Fuzion Omni Chill Super High-Efficiency A/C system, developed in partnership with Dometic. Unlike current three A/C setups, which rely on an energy management system to cycle one of the three A/C compressors off and on, Omni Chill makes it possible for all three compressors to operate at the same time. Learn more.
Atwood Carbon Monoxide Alarm is made for RVs!
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An inspirational book about RVing
“Travels with Charley in Search of America”
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Stream your tunes with Harman’s Infinity Bluetooth controller
With the new Infinity by Harman INF-BC4 Pre-Amp Bluetooth Controller from Prospec Electronics, anyone with an enabled BT device can stream their favorite music. Installation is a breeze and it’s simple to use. The Infinity is an affordable alternative to a traditional stereo receiver. Learn more.
Eau Good Duo: Water bottle + Charcoal Filter + Fruit Infuser
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How to deal with dump station business safely
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New awning system is controlled by Bluetooth device
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Graphite keeps your locks working
Keep your RV’s locks (and other locks, too) working the way they should. This product from AGS will keep them lubricated and working smoothly and will guard against sticking and dirt buildup. Also reduces wear and corrosion. This should be essential equipment on all RVs. Learn more or order.
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As I’ve written in my last two RV Electricity columns, space heaters are in their own special category in terms of current draw. Chuck recently sent me the picture of a 15-amp power strip that burned up from a space heater. Anytime you run a space heater on full power (1,500 watts or so) for more than a few minutes you need to monitor their connections for overheating. Considering the number of fires they cause every heating season, I really don’t know how they’re still UL listed in the United States. In Europe they’re much safer because they’re running on 230-volts, which reduces their current draw to half of what they use in the USA. Interesting, isn’t it?
Emily
One note of caution in using the Kill a Watt. Some 1 star reviews state when checking wattage on a heater, it melts the Kill a Watt. The company will not stand behind the unit, even though the heater is within the measuring parameters. They tell you not to measure heaters. They don’t tell you that in the description.
So I clicked on the link to buy the Atwood 32703 RV Carbon Monoxide Detector – LCD Digital, White on Amazon. The web site tells me it cannot be shipped the address selected. I live in Southern California. Is the seller in another country?
Sorry for the hassle, Chuck. I’ve checked on Amazon and found the same product through a different seller, and for a lower price. 😀 But they only have three left in stock, so you might want to check it out soon, if you want it. Hopefully there won’t be a problem with the shipping address. Maybe there was something missing or a typo when you put in your address? That’s the only reason I can figure out why your address wasn’t approved. Anyway, here’s the link to the product from another seller: https://amzn.to/2ziqHpW Thanks! I hope the order goes through for you. —Diane at RVtravel.com
I use one of these in my No~Shock~Zone seminars to monitor voltage as well. It also makes a great demonstration when comparing the relative power usage of incandescent vs. CFL vs. LED lights.
all i can say is all your newsletters are great!!
Emily,
You are absolutely right regarding using the Kill-a-watt device to learn about and make note of the electrical uses of each device normally used in your RV. Another useful tool that dovetails well with this device is a website that provides you with the price of electricity in each of the US states as you travel, or plan to travel. This handy website is: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/10/27/141766341/the-price-of-electricity-in-your-state
I have also found another use for my Kill-a-watt device. Even though I always use a surge protector at the power pedestal, I also leave the Kill-a-watt plugged into a convenient outlet inside the RV and monitor incoming line voltage, especially when spaces start to fill up, to assure myself that my voltage remains within safe parameters. The digital readout of the plugged in device gives an accurate voltage readout, and tracks the accumulated Kwh while energized. I am not an electrician but this device has certainly helped to fill in the gaps in my understanding of electrical use.
Hi, Ray! Thanks so much for your note. Using the Kill A Watt to measure voltage within the parks is a great idea, especially to make sure everything remains safe. I will make note of this! Thanks for your advice and for attaching the NPR link as well – what a handy resource! Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Ray and stay safe! –Emily