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Ned · 01-18-2005, 09:30 AM

Hello all. While full timing and working on a 2 year job assignment in Memphis TN, I go home to FL on weekends. I didn't have a lot of experience with freezing temps, and had never "winterized" an RV until last Christmas when I was away for two weeks. That was a pain, but probably good to do 'cause the temps were in single digits while I was away. This past weekend, they were only forcasted to reach upper 20's, so I left everything on - water supply, water heater and the front furnace set to about 47 deg and a small space heater in the back set on low. I opened all the cabinets to allow heat near the pipes and left three 75 watt bulbs in the basement and also left the kitchen faucet drip. Whne I got back from the airport last night and arrived back to the MH, I sensed something wasn't right. When I went inside, the coach was cold and the kitchen sink was a block of ice....with the faucet still dripping. The temps had dropped to the mid teens and didn't break 30 during the three days I was out. Appearantly the space heater ran continously, and on the same 115 circuit as my inverter, and eventually that breaker tripped. The furnace probably made it thru most of the first night on the two batteries, but they were totally discharged by Monday evening. Every faucet, except the kitchen's cold side that I left dripping was frozen....no water. The toilet had a round block of ice. After resetting the breaker and firing up both furnaces, I got all the hot and cold water running in a couple of hours. The temps are in the mid 30s today and tomorrow will get to the mid 40. I've checked several times behind the cabinets and in the basement for any small water leaks or seepages, but it seems like somebody was looking out for me. Leaving that faucet drip and the 3 75-watt bulbs down below probably helped, but next time I'll spend the half hour blowing out the lines.
I don't know how (or why) people would want to live in places where the temps get cold enough for the pipes to freeze. I'm just glad I only have two winters to endure this, and then it's back to Flori-duh for me.

Ned · 01-18-2005, 09:30 AM

Hello all. While full timing and working on a 2 year job assignment in Memphis TN, I go home to FL on weekends. I didn't have a lot of experience with freezing temps, and had never "winterized" an RV until last Christmas when I was away for two weeks. That was a pain, but probably good to do 'cause the temps were in single digits while I was away. This past weekend, they were only forcasted to reach upper 20's, so I left everything on - water supply, water heater and the front furnace set to about 47 deg and a small space heater in the back set on low. I opened all the cabinets to allow heat near the pipes and left three 75 watt bulbs in the basement and also left the kitchen faucet drip. Whne I got back from the airport last night and arrived back to the MH, I sensed something wasn't right. When I went inside, the coach was cold and the kitchen sink was a block of ice....with the faucet still dripping. The temps had dropped to the mid teens and didn't break 30 during the three days I was out. Appearantly the space heater ran continously, and on the same 115 circuit as my inverter, and eventually that breaker tripped. The furnace probably made it thru most of the first night on the two batteries, but they were totally discharged by Monday evening. Every faucet, except the kitchen's cold side that I left dripping was frozen....no water. The toilet had a round block of ice. After resetting the breaker and firing up both furnaces, I got all the hot and cold water running in a couple of hours. The temps are in the mid 30s today and tomorrow will get to the mid 40. I've checked several times behind the cabinets and in the basement for any small water leaks or seepages, but it seems like somebody was looking out for me. Leaving that faucet drip and the 3 75-watt bulbs down below probably helped, but next time I'll spend the half hour blowing out the lines.
I don't know how (or why) people would want to live in places where the temps get cold enough for the pipes to freeze. I'm just glad I only have two winters to endure this, and then it's back to Flori-duh for me.

01-21-2005, 04:30 AM

Ned,
First tell us what vehicle and make and tgell us why you were using your inverter when you were connected to 120 volt? The space heater is a watt hog and the furnace motor is just as bad if the battery charger isn't doing it's job.

PS/ your picture is a red box and you need a signature.

Tomcat F15

Ned · 01-21-2005, 06:42 AM

Hey Tomcat. I must make a couple of corrections. First, I meant to say converter, vice inverter. Second, the space heater I was using is a ceramic heater. If there is a more energy efficient electric heater, and economical to purchase, please tell me about it. I replaced it two days ago with a new one/different model. Breaker doesn't trip now, so the other one may have had a problem or it really was a watt hog.
Yes, I've noticed my picture isn't working right. I have made some changes in the last couple of weeks, and it seems to display correctly on my PC at work, but doesn't always on my laptop in the RV.
You should be viewing this picture:

Here's a picture you may like:

There's four F/A-18C, four F-14A, one S-3, one EA-6B and one E-2C in the diamond. I'm in that picture too, not sure if you can pick me out...standing on the flight deck with the other couple of hundred folks.

Roger the need for a signature...but, that's not my style and the usual stuff found in a signature is in my profile if you click on my name.
I'm working on the pictures, so check back later.

Ned · 01-21-2005, 07:02 AM

I believe I mastered it. A few years ago, we could just post pics from the web - but the IRV2 website format changed and that's probably when my picture turned into a red box you mentioned. Thanks for mentioning it to me, it was enough to make me want to fix it.