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Old 02-09-2015, 09:37 PM   #1
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Furnace question

I need to know if the furnace runs on both electric and propane or propane only?

Going away for the weekend and it looks COLD for my Southern blood.
Thanks!!!
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Old 02-09-2015, 09:39 PM   #2
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I need to know if the furnace runs on both electric and propane or propane only?

Going away for the weekend and it looks COLD for my Southern blood.
Thanks!!!
Propane and 12 volt DC for the fan and thermostat. However, if you are running it for very long just off of the 12 volt battery, it will drain it fairly quickly, usually one night depending on how much the fan has to run and size of battery (ies),

If you do have 120 volt AC shore power, then the converter will supply an unending source of 12 volt DC power.....but you still have to have propane to burn to make the heat.
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Old 02-09-2015, 09:39 PM   #3
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I need to know if the furnace runs on both electric and propane or propane only?

Going away for the weekend and it looks COLD for my Southern blood.
Thanks!!!
Don't know about your particular furnace... but mine burns propane for heat but requires 12v DC to ignite and run the fan.
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Old 02-09-2015, 09:46 PM   #4
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Ok. I'll be hooked up to electric so the battery shouldn't be an issue.
Any idea (ball park) if it's 35 for low and 60 for high and we keep the camper at 70 do you think 2-20lb propane tanks will last for Fri-Mon?? I do plan on taking a plug in heater as well to help out.
Never really used the furnace so don't have any idea how fast it will eat the propane.
Thanks so much!!!
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Old 02-09-2015, 09:51 PM   #5
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You should be good for two bottles. Are you running a ceramic heater or supplemental heat?
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Old 02-09-2015, 09:53 PM   #6
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Ok. I'll be hooked up to electric so the battery shouldn't be an issue.
Any idea (ball park) if it's 35 for low and 60 for high and we keep the camper at 70 do you think 2-20lb propane tanks will last for Fri-Mon?? I do plan on taking a plug in heater as well to help out.
Never really used the furnace so don't have any idea how fast it will eat the propane.
Thanks so much!!!
Yeah, I would think you would be OK with some to spare. Do you plan on using the hot water heater on propane (which doesn't use a whole lot), or cooking on the stove a whole heckuva lot?

You could always just open one cylinder and when it runs out, that should give you a good estimation of how long the next bottle should last once you switch over to it. Of course, camping factoid # 7 states that you only run out of propane at 3 AM in the morning when it's below 40 degrees. That's always the funnest part of a camping trip, in having to go outside and open the second cylinder at that time/temperature.
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Old 02-09-2015, 10:11 PM   #7
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If I were you, I'd test that furnace before I left home for that weekend. We've read a few stories here about furnaces that failed to perform at the campsite.
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Old 02-09-2015, 10:20 PM   #8
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If it's new and never been run.....be ready for a smell and probably smoke alarms to go off.....happens to most all of us.
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Old 02-09-2015, 10:51 PM   #9
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I live in Northern NY State and we have gone camping in early May and had temps of 40 deg. at night and only 50 deg. in the day time and once the trailer was warmed to 70 deg. we were good for the night. In the morning turned furnace on again and warmed it up from 60 deg. . I don't remember ours ever being on in the night ( wife's a little paranoid of having it on at night). An extra blanket and we were good.
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Old 02-09-2015, 10:52 PM   #10
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Since you will be on shore power you might consider using an electric heater and save as much propane as you can. Your are paying for the electric so you may as well use it. Get a heater that is 1500W or less. I just used the furnace to take a chill off, maybe 5 minutes, and then lower the thermostat temp. With a couple humans in the trailer and a electric heater you will be comfortable.

I don't know where you are located but here in central Georgia we still get freezing temps so when you get back from your camping you may consider winterizing again.
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Old 02-10-2015, 01:50 AM   #11
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Since nearly all RV furnaces heat with propane, most use a ceramic or oil-filled heater when electric hookups are available.
Then you use the RV's furnace to supplement it.
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Old 02-10-2015, 03:56 AM   #12
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When on shore power we run two electric heaters on low....those 1500 w get hot on high and they don t last at that output....but running one on low heat keeps the heater from getting so hot yet puts out enough heat to keep some of the chill off the air and with two running,one at each end of camper....propane hardly comes on if set in low 60s at night....and heaters last for many years....good luck on your trip....
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Old 02-10-2015, 06:13 AM   #13
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We use a ceramic heater in addition to our furnace. But one 20 lb bottle using the furnace at 30 degrees at night, can last 5-7 days or more when we had the smaller trailer. Last year we only camped 35 days 15 days was in the 30s at night (with the furnace) and we only used one 30 lb bottle & just started the second the last week for the whole season.

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Old 02-10-2015, 12:18 PM   #14
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Might be a good time to think about the popup gizmos and reflectix mods, sure helps at those cooler temperatures....
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Old 02-10-2015, 12:58 PM   #15
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We camp Thanksgiving (Canadian one is in early October) and have experienced daytime highs of 45 degrees F and nightime lows of 35 degrees F.

I use two ceramic heaters; one plugged into a trailer outlet and the other run on an extension cord directly to the post.

The trailer furnace hardly comes on. As others have mentioned - you've paid for hydro, you might as well use it.
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Old 02-10-2015, 06:13 PM   #16
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When I know that we are going to hooked up to shore power we take an electric heater with us & it keeps the Roo plenty comfortable in the temp ranges you are talking about. Sometimes I may turn on the furnace in the morning to take that chill off. Have fun.
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Old 02-10-2015, 06:18 PM   #17
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Furnace question

Do what we do-CHEAT!! Electric blankets make for a cozy slumber.

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Old 02-10-2015, 06:48 PM   #18
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Do what we do-CHEAT!! Electric blankets make for a cozy slumber.

(This message has been brought to you by the people who rough it!)


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I have to make a genuine effort to be sure the thermostats are on the right side of the bed the first night, see what happens when you get it wrong that's rough man, rough....
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Old 02-10-2015, 09:10 PM   #19
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Thanks everyone. We will take lots of blankets, 2 electric heaters (plugging one in from the pole) and make use of the heated mattresses. Oh, and beds and blankets for the pups (don't want them cold).
We do use PUGs that I made that wraps around top and sides of beds. Which will help.
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Old 02-10-2015, 09:18 PM   #20
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I second the motion on running it prior to leaving. As said previously, to ensure it works, and if it is new, to get that nasty smell out. Trust me, before leaving on our trip tomorrow,I decided to light mine off for the very first time today. I had to leave the door and both vents open while running it for about 30 minutes. And I can say that smoke alarm will wake the dead.
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