Weird question...I need something that will draw about 200 watts I can plug in and run all night

[Eliot Rosewater]

long and it not be something that will get really hot like a heat lamp.

For now I am using a big screen TV to resolve this weird issue I have, but I want to stop using it.

I have a solar system with a battery and until the software bug is fixed, it wont use the battery in the middle of the night when I want it to if the load from the house drops to .2kW or about 200 watts. And my house's resting heart rate, so to speak, in the middle of the night when everyone is in bed, is around .2kW. I need it to be around .4kW or 400 watts.

The only things I can think of are heat lamps and TV's...dont want to use either.

I said it was weird!

[Blues Heron]

1. A mini bitcoin rig?

[Jerry2144]

2. Try using the fan in the air conditioned

Put the HVAC fan into continuous run or circulate mode. A fan like that should be above 200 W.

If you have an electric car, set it to charge at night at lower power levels so that it takes all night to fully charge

You can leave a bunch of LED lights on, probably 20 to 25 with minimal risk. The LED outdoor strand lights are usually about 40 W total power strand

[Eliot Rosewater]

6. Thanks, wouldnt do the fan thing because eventually wear it out but the lights are a good idea.

Dont have that many and would be too much light, but thanks.

[Jerry2144]

14. Short term over a couple months

Running the fan wouldn’t matter too much. But years on end, yes. You want something that is low great, but reliable. Sound like a motor is ideal. A box fan is cheap and draws about 75-100 watts depending upon size. Maybe you can run a couple in a different room. Low cost. Useful to have around if you need them

[grumpyduck]

3. How about just a couple of 100W light bulbs?

Or three smaller ones?

[Eliot Rosewater]

8. Wouldnt I need the old fashioned bulb fixture to use the old style 100 watt bulbs?

Like a desk lamp or something? I assume all my fixtures are for LED bulbs.

[grumpyduck]

13. Many LED light bulbs use the old standard screw-in socket, but it depends on what you have.

Just make sure to check the capacity of the socket. Many table lamps and such tell you to not go over a specific wattage, like 60. In that case you need more lamps. If there's a good hardware store nearby, they might be able to help. In fact, you may want to go see them up front just to be safe.

[Think. Again.]

4. Grow lights for a cannibus operation?

[gab13by13]

10. You win post of the evening.

[Eliot Rosewater]

12. Where I am from more people have those than TV's almost.

Not sure how much that would be but I will look at it.

edit

This might be the answer, I can get two 100 watt lamps for $40.

[captain queeg]

5. The only things I can think of with a stable 200W is some kind of heater or light.

Doesn’t have to be a heat lamp, just a couple 100W bulbs. Probably some kind of fan could work if you could measure it’s amps but not many people have an ammeter laying around.

[getagrip_already]

7. Charge a battery at night, use it during the day.

You will need a small battery charger, rated for a few hundred watts on a trickle charge.

Use the battery on an inverter to run something during the day.

You might need more than one battery to take longer to top off.

[vanlassie]

9. Dehumidifier?

[Eliot Rosewater]

11. Thanks, will check it out.

[Wonder Why]

15. What's the issue with the heat? Don't want to heat the house? Can you run an extension cord from the

power unit where I'm guessing you want to be near to see what is happening while connected to the TV or lights in the garage or outside (for the LEDs, not the TV)?

Motor driven things like humidifiers vary their usage depending on whether the compressor is on or off so you want to use resistive things. Best bet would be to run the extension outside to two old fashioned 100W bulbs. You can buy the bulbs and ceramic bulb bases for a few dollars. Those same bases can be used for LED bulbs.

[Eliot Rosewater]

16. I woudlnt want to run the HVAC system at all for this purpose.

Ceramic bulb bases and 100 watt bulbs sounds good and cheap, not sure how to search that on Amazon or wherever though. I get kinda confused when it comes to light bulbs and the size of the base and the fixture I would need.

[Wonder Why]

17. From Amazon: "PHILIPS 100W A19 Medium Base Frosted Rough Service Light Bulbs". Medium Base

is standard for most lightbulbs. The A19 vs A21 commonly seen are the height of the bulb, not the base size.

From https://lamphq.com/a19-vs-a21-bulb/]

Mostly, both types of light bulbs come fitted with the same screw base known as “E26.” This is the standard Edison screw bulb base that you easily mount by rotating it into the fixture’s socket.

Since this is the type of socket used in almost all U.S. homes, bulbs with E26 bases usually work with most fixtures.

E26 is medium base.

[Eliot Rosewater]

18. Thanks...

[fargone]

19. Aquarium with a filter/pump

[progree]

20. Slow cooker (keep water heated if nothing else). Or Hot plate on low setting

After my gas stove conked out, I've been making do with a Cusimax hot plate - has a dial setting the goes all the way from "1" warm to "8" and "Max" which would be way way over 200 W.

And an Instant Pot (the Keep Warm setting might be enough).