converters and/or inverters and/or solar?

[kyrv]

Originally Posted by DeejayDebi

We have stayed at several RV Camps just to stay out of trouble. So many places seem to disallow RVs on the street. We have stayed in quite a few Elks lodges both dry and full service. Tonight we are hiding from a snow storm in Wyoming so we camped at a KOA near Devils Tower. 5 rainy days and a snow storm I wanted power. I doubt I will make power under snow.

One thing I noticed that uses a lot of power is the heater fan. Nights have been cold so we have had the heat on a lot and the blower sucks the most power.

I had some questions on that, I'm going to be up north next month, and I should know this, but I thought that the heater ran on propane, or is the heater fan a different thing? I have to run my c-pap overnight so the heat won't be the only thing 'on'.

I was thankfully given a hand me down smartphone, and I got the Allstays app ($10), it's incredible, it shows places to park. I have not parked on the street at all, I agree where I've been I don't think any place allows it, but this shows campgrounds but also truck stops (well, travel centers), walmarts, and cracker barrels, among other stores but I've stayed just at these when not at a relative's, which over 90% of the time I'm 'on the road'. I can plan out several days ahead of where I can park, with backups in case a place doesn't pan out.

[vsheetz]

Originally Posted by DeejayDebi

One thing I noticed that uses a lot of power is the heater fan. Nights have been cold so we have had the heat on a lot and the blower sucks the most power.

The furnace fan typically runs from 12vdc, and consumes a goodly amount of power. Common to install for dry camping is a catalytic heater - propane only, no 12vdc needed.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by kyrv

I'm going to be up north next month, and I should know this, but I thought that the heater ran on propane, or is the heater fan a different thing? I have to run my c-pap overnight so the heat won't be the only thing 'on'.

kyrv
I assume by "heater" you mean "LP furnace"?

A LP furnace does run on propane, however the blower/fan can use a lot of 12VDC, (if it runs often).
We use a Buddy Heater: Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Propane Heater — 9000 BTU, Model# MH9BX | Propane Portable Heaters| Northern Tool + Equipment, fueled by either a 1 lb canister, or to a 20# tank, (via a hose run in through a window).
Sometimes the Buddy Heater is enough to heat the coach, and sometimes it is used as supplement to the LP furnace.

BTW, I also use a 12VDC powered CPAP, (all night every night), and have had no problems with the 4 12V deep cycle house batteries.

Mel
'96 Safari

[elkhornsun]

Fans, i.e. electric motors are very efficient devices and will not draw a lot of current. We have spent weeks at 20-30 degrees and burned about 5 lb. of propane a week, including cooking, and the 220AH of battery capacity never dropped below 80% and would be back up to 100% with 3 hours of daylight, even in the winter at a latitude of 45 degrees.

The biggest draw we had was the lights and I replaced the tungsten lamps with LED ones that draw a tenth as much and so now they are not a concern.

As long as the battery bank is at 50% or better and is recharged during the day there is no need for more battery capacity or a generator or shore power.

[Groovy]

Like Mel Stuplich mentioned above, a lot of people who boondock a lot in cold places end up installing a vent-free propane heater. These run purely on propane and don't use any DC power.

We have loved ours, both for cold winter days and for warming up the rig when we're in the mountains in the summer.

Here's a step-by-step guide for how to install one:

RV Heater - Installing a Vent-Free Propane Heater in Your RV

[DeejayDebi]

Originally Posted by vsheetz

The furnace fan typically runs from 12vdc, and consumes a goodly amount of power. Common to install for dry camping is a catalytic heater - propane only, no 12vdc needed.

That would be the one I am talking about.

BTW since my last post we are snowed in - in Devils Tower Wyoming. Just got power back at the KOA today. I climbed the roof and dusted off the snow several times a day during the blizzard and we were chugging along at full power even in the dark blizzard. Snow does reflect a lot of light! Thank God for the solar panels! We would have froze.

I may have to look into one of those fanless things. We do have ducted heat though.