Outlets in basement

Scruffy put an outlet and a light bulb holder in the basement. The outlet is for plugging in his compressor, etc. The light bulb will be for light obviously, and also for heat to keep pipes from freezing. Normally the 'Cat would be winterized, but when we go out in a few weeks, we might run into some cold weather without being winterized.


This is looking through the large door in the front of the 'Cat

When I installed the Craftsman 5-gallon portable vacuum as a built in whole trailer system, I installed a 120V/15A recepticle to power it. I pulled it off the circuit that powers the electric element in the water heater.

That lightbulb is a great idea. You might think about putting a protective cage around it though.

Thanks for the suggestion. Scruffy intentionally put it close to the drain pipe to help protect it. It wouldn't be difficult to put up a shield, though. We'd hate to have broken glass get into all our stuff.

Tater

Would one of those red colored heater bulbs work better than a regular light bulb to warm the pass-thru? Especially since the Cat already has lights built in.
Also FWIW, I would leave any bulb out until I got where I was going. I would think the jarring from the road could damage the filament.
That's my 2 1/2 cents worth.

TC

TC wrote:Would one of those red colored heater bulbs work better than a regular light bulb to warm the pass-thru? Especially since the Cat already has lights built in.

TC,

Last winter in NC we camped up in the mountains around Black Mountain. We were there from November thru August in a KOA that we worked at. In January the outside temps got down to the mid-teens for about a week's stretch. I had two 60W bulbs burning in metal drop lights hung from the pipes. The temperature in the basement never got below 40*F. You'd be surprised at the amount of heat a 60W bulb will put out.

I wouldn't depend on the onboard 12V lights for heat. They're too small and the heat they do produce disapates too quickly.

Just my $0.02 worth.

I was actually thinking of the pass-thru lights just for lighting and not heat. Instead, using a heat bulb for heat, but not light.

Also, I would have never guessed that a couple of 60 w bulbs would heat up a large space like a pass-thru. But, if it doesn't get below 40 F, I guess that's good enough. Off the top of my noggin, I don't recall the wattage of our heat lamp, but the 60 watt bulbs would probably be more energy efficient.

When I installed an extra 110 duplex in the pass-thru, I screwed a bathroom ceiling fixture in a home-made wooden box and suspended it from the ceiling w/ chain link so the heat lamp was facing the opposite pass-thru door. Plugged it into a timer that would go on for 1/2 hr and then go off for 1/2 hr while we're out winter camping. Was primarily intended to keep the pump and hoses from freezing. Haven't used it yet this winter because we haven't needed to use the pump. Been doing all dry camping so far.

TC

Scruffy plans on using a 100w bulb. Also, if temps get down too low, which we don't anticipate, we could plug a clamp-on shop light into the outlet, or drop one through the laundry chute.

We really don't ever plan on going out when it's so cold we'd want to put in more lightbulbs. Brrrrr...... it makes me cold just thinking about it.

Tater

Your idea is a good one. We copied it and added a central vac system in the basement. It really makes a difference. The idea of putting it onto the water heater circuit was a good idea.

Bob and Karyn,
I like your Mickey timeline. :)

Tater

We're in northern Florida, and it's cold outside. With the furnace going and two 100w light bulbs, the temp in the basement is currently 52.6. It's about 38 outside right now. Scruffy says, "We'll see how it is in the morning, that will tell the tale."

:)

It was 23 deg at 7am. Our basement temperature was about 50 with our two 100w bulbs combined with the heat from the furnace. We were happy to see that. We're hoping we don't have any more freezing temps while we're on vacation. :)

I wouldn't count on it, it was in the high 20's last night and same for tonight. Will warm up this weekend. Drive safe.

Bob,
That isn't what we wanted to hear. We'll be in Leesburg tonight. I guess we'll just have to make sure we have enough water in our fresh water tank, and turn on the heat.

Back home in Dallas they are enjoying pleasantly warm temps. :)

Scruffy and Tater wrote:Back home in Dallas they are enjoying pleasantly warm temps. :)

That's not going to hold out too long, we are expecting a cool down for the weekend. Today was from 30 this morning to 75 today and tomorrow is similar. The weekend is suppose to cool off with highs in the 40s/50s. I know, for y'all up north, that is spring time!

MaxRock wrote:[ The weekend is suppose to cool off with highs in the 40s/50s. I know, for y'all up north, that is spring time!

Up north and out EAST!!!!!! 19 here so far, was 14 this morning at 7AM.

oldelmer1 wrote:

MaxRock wrote:[ The weekend is suppose to cool off with highs in the 40s/50s. I know, for y'all up north, that is spring time!

Up north and out EAST!!!!!! 19 here so far, was 14 this morning at 7AM.

Tom,,, how does Sharon handle the cold? It is 63 degrees here right now, and Joan has a coat on.

:roll:

Mark,
Our daughter and her husband are going to the Rangers fanfest Saturday. Looks like they're going to have to bundle up.

Maxtor wrote:

oldelmer1 wrote:

MaxRock wrote:[ The weekend is suppose to cool off with highs in the 40s/50s. I know, for y'all up north, that is spring time!

Up north and out EAST!!!!!! 19 here so far, was 14 this morning at 7AM.

Tom,,, how does Sharon handle the cold? It is 63 degrees here right now, and Joan has a coat on.

:roll:

Maxtor, She freezes..... Coat, scarf, gloves, hood. its currently 40 degrees now, and she still is all bundled up like its 17 degrees.

It was a balmy 52*F today in Swannanoa, NC. Tomorrow it's supposed to be at least 59*F and maybe in the 60's. Ah, it's almost summer.

It warmed up a bit today, and will be warmer tomorrow when we move to WDW. Saturday we'll drive back to Leesburg to visit my brother. If the weather is pleasant, hopefully in the 70s, we might go out on his boat. We'll be at WDW until next week Friday.

It's going to be almost 80 today and no higher than upper 30s/low 40s tomorrow. If you don't like the weather today, stick around, it'll be something different tomorrow.

The one thing we do need is rain!

MaxRock wrote:It's going to be almost 80 today and no higher than upper 30s/low 40s tomorrow. If you don't like the weather today, stick around, it'll be something different tomorrow.

The one thing we do need is rain!

Sounds like Virginia.

Very pleasant in WDW today. We won't need our furnace tonight - the electric heater will be plenty.