furnace use in the cold

[oldtool2]

I pulled the covers to find out what model furnace is in my 5er. I now know it is a 30,000btu unit and draws 5.5 amps, 66 watts per hour? I can see why people say the furnace can be rough on the batteries now.

My question is how hard is it on the propane? I would like to have an idea as to how long two 30 pound bottles will last when running the furnace. Sense trailers are not that well insulated I would imagine the furnace is going to run a fair amount.

Any one have any type of guide lines or hints?

Jim

[RamblerGuy]

Propane has about 20,000 BTU/pound, in round numbers, so you can figure how long your tanks will last. The 30,000 BTU/hr furnace in our model 3100 Sunseeker runs about 50% of the time when it is really cold, say, freezing or below. If we are without an electrical hookup it will run a battery down overnight even if we spend most of the day away and only run it at night. With two batteries we would be pushing it to run through two nights without recharging. We've been in parks with restricted generator hours and were not in camp long enough during those hours to adequately recharge the batteries. The furnace quit about 10 pm. The lady of the RV was not happy.

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by RamblerGuy

Propane has about 20,000 BTU/pound, in round numbers, so you can figure how long your tanks will last. The 30,000 BTU/hr furnace in our model 3100 Sunseeker runs about 50% of the time when it is really cold, say, freezing or below. If we are without an electrical hookup it will run a battery down overnight even if we spend most of the day away and only run it at night. With two batteries we would be pushing it to run through two nights without recharging. We've been in parks with restricted generator hours and were not in camp long enough during those hours to adequately recharge the batteries. The furnace quit about 10 pm. The lady of the RV was not happy.

So, if I figure right, two 30 pound tanks should last roughly 3.3 days if you don't use it for anything else. If you cook and run your hot water it might last 2 1/2 days.

Batteries are a different story. That would depend on size, how many you have and their condition. I don't understand why you could not charge the batteries back up with just a few hours of generator running. Were you charging thru the converter or did you use a separate charger? That could make a difference.

This is why I have been considering four 100 watt solar panels. That should maintain two 100AH batteries on half decent days from what I have been told.

Jim

[mud yapster]

Originally Posted by oldtool2

So, if I figure right, two 30 pound tanks should last roughly 3.3 days if you don't use it for anything else. If you cook and run your hot water it might last 2 1/2 days.

Batteries are a different story. That would depend on size, how many you have and their condition. I don't understand why you could not charge the batteries back up with just a few hours of generator running. Were you charging thru the converter or did you use a separate charger? That could make a difference.

This is why I have been considering four 100 watt solar panels. That should maintain two 100AH batteries on half decent days from what I have been told.

Jim

400 watts of solar will keep 200ah's of batteries charged no problem. Use a good MPPT charge controller for best performance of battery charging. I'd also install all LED light inside and outside your RV.

I have 520 watts of solar charging 435ah of AGM batteries and I run everything like I'm on shore power off the inverter 24/7 with no problems.
Microwave, coffee maker, 42" flat screen TV, central heater, stereo and surround sound with the TV, all LED lights inside and out, also run 30 feet of LED light strips under awnings, water pump, I do run the fridg and hot water tank off propane though. Boondocker's heaven with free electric so just camp anywhere you park.

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by mud yapster

400 watts of solar will keep 200ah's of batteries charged no problem. Use a good MPPT charge controller for best performance of battery charging. I'd also install all LED light inside and outside your RV.

I have 520 watts of solar charging 435ah of AGM batteries and I run everything like I'm on shore power off the inverter 24/7 with no problems.
Microwave, coffee maker, 42" flat screen TV, central heater, stereo and surround sound with the TV, all LED lights inside and out, also run 30 feet of LED light strips under awnings, water pump, I do run the fridg and hot water tank off propane though. Boondocker's heaven with free electric so just camp anywhere you park.

I have two batteries. One is a less than year old large marine, the other is a 100ah AGM. Not sure of the age of the AGM but it holds a good charge and charges up well. Only have a 1000 watt pure sign inverter but all lights are LEDs. TV is a LED also. Will cook and make coffee with gas so should be OK. Fridge and HW would be on gas with HW only turned on when needed.

My concern was how well the propane and batteries will hold up if I used the furnace. I can add a third battery if needed. If I do and I add the solar I will be pushing with-in 100 pounds of the trailers weight limit. This would be with 20 gallons of water and propane tanks full.

Jim

[RamblerGuy]

In response to the oldtool, I wasn't at the campsite during generator run allowed hours enough to keep my batteries charged. Also, that was our first long trip with our new motorhome, which is our first, and I underestimated the hours needed to fully recharge the batteries.

As for propane, cooking and the refrigerator use very little propane. Heating water doesn't use much. You can heat 5 or 6 tank fulls with one pound of propane.

To avoid having to find a place every few days to refill my coach tank during trips when I need heat, I use a grill gas tank and Extend - a - Stay kit. It's easy to drive the toad to a refill or exchange location with a grill gas tanks.

[Oaklevel]

Everyone's usage will be different ....outside,temp, how warm it is kept inside, the size of camper, insulation factors.......etc...etc... We can usually go a week on a 30 lb bottle when using the furnace, but it is rarely below 32 degrees when we camp.

[sparty047]

We installed a scandanavian fireplace below the roof vent in our bathroom; really saves on both propane and battery and gives us the added benefit of Saturday night sauna with the addition of just a couple of more logs.

Really!


Honest!



Nahhhh!



Heating and RV in cold weather just another example of the unexpected challenges of RV living.

Good luck!

[Cool Canuck]

I had 33 foot Jayco that would go almost 3 weeks on a 30lb cyl in freezing weather. My 37 foot Everest had a terrible furnace placement and would barely go 3 days on a 30 lb cyl.

I would normally be on shore power but for those occasions with power failures, I would carry jumper cables.

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by RamblerGuy

In response to the oldtool, I wasn't at the campsite during generator run allowed hours enough to keep my batteries charged. Also, that was our first long trip with our new motorhome, which is our first, and I underestimated the hours needed to fully recharge the batteries.

As for propane, cooking and the refrigerator use very little propane. Heating water doesn't use much. You can heat 5 or 6 tank fulls with one pound of propane.

To avoid having to find a place every few days to refill my coach tank during trips when I need heat, I use a grill gas tank and Extend - a - Stay kit. It's easy to drive the toad to a refill or exchange location with a grill gas tanks.

We live and learn. I have a few weeks before I am going to be able to take my 5er out so plan on doing some playing to see how long it will take to charge my batteries. I have a portable charger as well as the converter I can charge with. Want to know roughly how long things will take. Might not need to take the portable with me.

I know the fridge, cooking and HW won't use much gas but figured I would mention them. The biggest of the three is HW and sense it is just the dog and I it doesn't get much use. I am glad you mentioned the 20 pounder. I carry one for my outside grill I could use if needed. I hadn't given hooking up that tank a thought. Will need to look and see what is needed to hook it up if anything. Hopefully the hose is long enough.

Jim

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by sparty047

We installed a scandanavian fireplace below the roof vent in our bathroom; really saves on both propane and battery and gives us the added benefit of Saturday night sauna with the addition of just a couple of more logs.

Really!


Honest!



Nahhhh!



Heating and RV in cold weather just another example of the unexpected challenges of RV living.

Good luck!

LOL! Why go to all that trouble? Just toss some logs into the shower and turn it on. Then adjust the hot water so the HWH keeps up.

Jim

[oldtool2]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Everyone's usage will be different ....outside,temp, how warm it is kept inside, the size of camper, insulation factors.......etc...etc... We can usually go a week on a 30 lb bottle when using the furnace, but it is rarely below 32 degrees when we camp.

Very true, just trying to get a general idea. Don't want to go out in the morning and come home with no gas and dead batteries. So far it looks like I should be able to get a weekend without a problem. Say I park on a Tuesday evening and pull out on Friday morning I shouldn't have a frozen 70 pound chocolate lab. If I wake up Friday morning with her plastered against me I will know the furnace didn't kick on, LOL! She will be trying to get under my blankets to keep warm.

Jim