Dumb question - is my heater elec or gas?

[metroplexchl]

I have the FR Cherokee 274rk. It only says that it is a 30,000btu furnace, and we are trying to figure out if we need to get a 10KW generator to run this dang thing?

Or should we just get a genny for the AC (would only need to pay for a 4kw) and use some cheapy oscillating floor heaters for $20?

[5picker]

Furnace is LP.
Blower and controls are 12v.

No need for a 10k generator.

[CincyGus]

Keep your propane tanks full and charge on your batteries and you will be fine.
If your planning more than a couple days of camping with the furnace running, you will chew through your battery and need to charge it, depending on how many hours you run the heater and how big your battery (bank) is.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by metroplexchl

I have the FR Cherokee 274rk. It only says that it is a 30,000btu furnace, and we are trying to figure out if we need to get a 10KW generator to run this dang thing?

Or should we just get a genny for the AC (would only need to pay for a 4kw) and use some cheapy oscillating floor heaters for $20?

As was said, furnace runs on propane but uses 12v battery power for fan and ignition. It is the biggest power drain on the battery.
Where were you thinking you could run a 10,000w generator? I hope you mean for boondocking because no campground would allow a loud generator like that.
Also you'll need to watch running the furnace at night, if you only have one battery. And no campground i know, allows running the generator during the night.

[metroplexchl]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Furnace is LP.
Blower and controls are 12v.

No need for a 10k generator.

What size generator would you suggest that would also run the AC?

[metroplexchl]

Originally Posted by bikendan

As was said, furnace runs on propane but uses 12v battery power for fan and ignition. It is the biggest power drain on the battery.
Where were you thinking you could run a 10,000w generator? I hope you mean for boondocking because no campground would allow a loud generator like that.
Also you'll need to watch running the furnace at night, if you only have one battery. And no campground i know, allows running the generator during the night.

Yep we're thinking about boondocking.

[metroplexchl]

It came with 2 deep cycle battery bank. Obviously I could increase this. But is everyone saying that I only need a generator powerful enough to keep the batteries topped off? And those will serve to power the AC and the furnace fan & blower?

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by metroplexchl

It came with 2 deep cycle battery bank. Obviously I could increase this. But is everyone saying that I only need a generator powerful enough to keep the batteries topped off? And those will serve to power the AC and the furnace fan & blower?

The air conditioner is not like the furnace. It needs 120 volt AC to fully operate. It does not run just off the batteries.


This thread will explain the two different electrical systems of your RV, and what normally operates off of 120 volt AC (shore power/generator) and 12 volt DC (batteries)


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nt-152813.html

[frank4711]

There are several good options I use this https://www.harborfreight.com/3500-W...tor-63584.html .... you will get more recommendations I think they are all good .... runs my camper just like a 30 amp hook up

[5picker]

Originally Posted by metroplexchl

What size generator would you suggest that would also run the AC?

There are several ways to accomplish this and this topic has been discussed ad nauseam here in the past.

If you have a 30a service in your R/V then the most watts it can use is 3600. (amps(30) x volts(120) = watts(3600) So, a 3600w generator would supply as much as connecting to a 30a shore power outlet.

Most folks when boondocking or camping without power are not using ALL their appliances at the same time so you can often get away with a smaller generator.

YOU need to determine the things you want to run/use and decide how big a generator YOU need.

Depending on the size of your A/C, you 'might' get away with a 2k, or you might need bigger. Then there are the discussions about adding soft start devices to the A/C so you can use a smaller generator and on and on.

To keep your batteries charged you can get away with a small, inexpensive 1000w generator but that won't run your A/C.

Read up on prior posts about generators and the links wmtire posted and let us know if you have more questions.

[Flybob]

Before you make any decisions, I would read through the info in the library section of the forum on the 12VDC side and the 120VAC side of your TT. Once you determine what you can and can't run and what you need to run then you can make decisions on what to buy. Without an expensive elaborate set up, you will not be able to tun your AC without shore power or a generator. Also check the batteries as most "deep cycle" batteries supplied by dealers are not true deep cycle batteries, but rather dual purpose marine batteries wiht considerably less capacity. Once you think you know what you need go to a campground ( or your driveway) where you have shore power and dry camp a few days without connecting to shore power. This will give you an idea of your demands/capacity with the backup of shore power if needed.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by metroplexchl

It came with 2 deep cycle battery bank. Obviously I could increase this. But is everyone saying that I only need a generator powerful enough to keep the batteries topped off? And those will serve to power the AC and the furnace fan & blower?

Check out this: https://www.microair.net/products/ea...nt=30176048267

It significantly reduces the amount of power needed to start up an air conditioner allowing you to run it on a much smaller generator.

It's expensive but I'd probably buy the Honda EU2000 generator because that series is astonishingly quiet and fairly lightweight, comparatively speaking.

As for your furnace, propane generates 91,500 BTUs per gallon. So if your furnace produces 30,000 BTUs per hour you should be able to get three hours of furnace run time per gallon of propane.

You're supposed to have 9.4 gallons of propane but I do not know if that includes the 80% fill limit or not.

When calculating the furnace run time, remember to consider the effect of the fridge, water heater and cooking appliances on the amount of propane you have available.

Ray

[corky310]

I have the Predator 3500 watt inverter generator from Harbor Freight. Works great- powers AC and microwave well. You don't need anything much more than a 3K generator to run your AC while topping off your batteries at the same time. (unless you are trying to run 2 AC units)

[walleyewizard]

Originally Posted by frank4711

There are several good options I use this https://www.harborfreight.com/3500-W...tor-63584.html .... you will get more recommendations I think they are all good .... runs my camper just like a 30 amp hook up

X2 exactly what we use great inverter

[Maxwell D Pratt]

I use the HF 3500 watt inverter . It runs 1 AC fine. Well pleased with it have had it about 2 years. Weights in at 133 lbs a little heavy for one person.