Battery capacity and propane furnace

[aeblank]

I went down 10-12% overnight not conserving. Colder than 40, set to probably 68, watch a movie, lights on, shower in the morning. Estimating I'm at 180ah (need to look up the ah on one of my (mismatched) batteries). Far from optimal, but very functional.

Was charged back up within a couple hours of driving.

[timfromma]

I'm going to pick up a clamp on ammeter and measure just how much current the furnace draws while running. From there, its an easy calculation of just how long I can run it for. If it's 6A like I think it is, I should be able to run the furnace non stop for 15 hours or so.

[Steve582]

My batteries are 3 years old and did not make it through the night last week. It was in the 30's, 3 slides open. I too was at a Walmart, parked by the truckers and did end up running the generator.

[ScottBrownstein]

I think the blower draws something like 7 amps. 8 hours of full on (which is really uncommon at those temps) is 56 AH, a little more than 50% of a 100 AH bank.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by K2Kevin

Inverters work...

Oh god no. Inverter to run a heating blanket would probably us more power than running the heater if it is no colder than 40 outside.

We have a 27 foot toy hauler box to heat and cool. Last fall, We started out with a pair of fully charged golf cart batteries with it getting in to the 20s and the heater barely put a noticeable dent in batteries by morning then the two hundred watts of solar topped us off before it got cool enough to run the furnace for the next evening.

Presumably your tv will top them off during travel.

[K2Kevin]

Originally Posted by Tom48

Oh god no. Inverter to run a heating blanket would probably us more power than running the heater if it is no colder than 40 outside.

We have a 27 foot toy hauler box to heat and cool. Last fall, We started out with a pair of fully charged golf cart batteries with it getting in to the 20s and the heater barely put a noticeable dent in batteries by morning then the two hundred watts of solar topped us off before it got cool enough to run the furnace for the next evening.

Presumably your tv will top them off during travel.

My point is, there are many options, not all are primary and its good to have a few backups.

[mnoland30]

If you use a catalytic heater, just be sure to have a vent open. They burn oxygen, and you need a re-supply. When I worked for the Forest Service we found a missing couple dead inside a van who didn't know that.

[timfromma]

Theres always the option of finding a campground.

[rdolan5]

I learned a trick from an older couple. Keep a couple clay pots ( the cheap Terra cota planter pots purchased at any garden store) and turn them upside down on your propane kitchen stove burners. The clay pots convert the burners into radiant heaters and will keep the chill off the air. Ive done this your years! Works great!