New DP - all electric coach option question

[Traps90]

I didn't know Tiffen started using Aquahot on the Phaeton line. I'm no expert on the Tiffen Phaeton but when we we're looking the fact that we couldn't get Aquahot in the Phaeton line eliminated them from our short list.
We like to grill and momma prefers to cook with gas so that's how we went, Propane with a quick-connect for the propane grill and firepit.

[dfchrist]

We're all electric with diesel Aqua-Hot. We carry electric adapters so we can plug into 30 amp service in that rare time a park doesn't have 50. ( Only happened twice in four years).

[99phantoms]

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver

Very very wrong. 30 amp RV service is 30amps @ 120V. 50 amp RV service is 50 amps @ 240V, which is the equivalent of 100 amps @ 120V.

The RV is wired like your house. There are 2 'bars' in the breaker panel. Each 'bar' is 120v to ground. 'Bar' to 'bar' measures 240v. Most house circuits use 120v, so a circuit breaker is snapped into place to bridge one bar to ground. If 240v is needed (clothes dryers, older air cond units, etc.), then the circuit breaker bridges 'bar' to 'bar'.

I am familiar with the Entegra Anthem AC electrical system, which is wired as described above. There are 2 'Legs' in the breaker box (a Red leg & a Blue leg). Each 'leg' is 120v to ground. Each 'leg' is independent of the other. Each 'leg' will handle 50 amps max. Operating together (as they normally do) they bring max 100 amps into the coach.

Power (in electrical terms) is volts x amps, and is expressed as watts. 30A service gives you 3,600 watts of power (120v x 30a). 50A service gives you 12,000 watts (120v x 100a). Every electrically powered device (light, toaster, tv, etc.) uses power expressed as a number of watts. All those watts added together cannot exceed the total available.

[Crasher]

All electric is the way to go for most people. Unless Tiffin has changed their source, the induction cook top they use is a poor choice. It will not simmer. You have to monotor it to avoid burning or boiling over. The cookware they include is also poor quality. With better cookware, we have learned how to use it. Going all electric frees up the propane compartment for a basement freezer or a second six battery bank or just more storage. We have 640 watts of solar panel which carries the invertor, refrigerator and basement freezer load during the day when dry camping. For the night we run a 2KW Honda to keep the batteries charged. We watch tv, run the microwave or any other appliance except the induction top. It will run for 10-11 hours on less than a gallon of gas. I have even used it parked overnight at a Walmart. It can hardly be heard 50' away.I only run the 10 kw gen for the ac or cook top. For campgrounds that only have 30 amp service, buy a small 120 volt hot plate to do the cooking or run the generator if they allow it.

Go all electric but have the dealer or Tiffin replace the six wet cell house batteries with six Lifeline batteries. It bumps the amperage from 648 up to 900. The Aqua-Hot is comfortable and will give you endless hot water.

[Hooky]

As long as the debate is between 50 amp all electric and 50 amp with propane stove/furnace, then the all electric is the way to go. With the all electric you only have to keep up with diesel. The electric at the pedestal of 50 amps will only be a factor if you are trying to run the stove top at the same time as trying to run the Aqua-Hot (which has an electric pull and needs battery amps between 11.5 and 14 to run the blower even on diesel heating.) This is pretty easy to manage manually. Our current coach doesn't have a load shedding management system (electrical management system) that shuts things down to prevent tripping a breaker. That kind of sucks, but it's doable.

If the debate is between 50 amp all electric and 30 amp with propane, then I would go with the 30 amp coach. While it's true you can get by fairly easily in a 50 amp coach on a 30 amp service, you have to watch your electrical usage when hooked to 30 amp. And the campsites we use have more nice spots near the water with 30 amp slots. Our older 30 amp coach gave us a lot of options. It cost less too.

We currently have an all electric coach and love it. We've been able to go anywhere and camp without too many challenges with it. On the other hand our old 30 amp coach with propane gave us a lot of options. Either one will be a win for you if you use it and enjoy it as much as we have ours.

Good luck!

[Finally]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

I would venture to say that ALL coaches that are all electric come with Hydronic heating, other wise, they wouldn't be all electric. We bought ours off the lot so we didn't have a choice, but the only propane item on our coach is the two burner stove. I have a huge propane tank that will probably last for years between fill ups. I'm looking to replace the two burner with an induction unit and get rid of the propane tank and gain some great storage. The reality is that the future will be all or almost all electric when it comes to RVing.

We have a gas 2 burner stove top. It we want to use an electric cooktop, we plug in an electric cooktop. We have the best of both worlds. I do love cooking with gas though.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by Finally

We have a gas 2 burner stove top. It we want to use an electric cooktop, we plug in an electric cooktop. We have the best of both worlds. I do love cooking with gas though.

I also do this. The induction cooktops are so good and fast that I haven't used my gas cooktop in about 2 years now. The cooktop is the last gas fired appliance I have. I'm thinking about taking out the gas cooktop and the big LP tank altogether.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[Dutch Star Don]

I too have an induction cook top as an extra cooking source.

I was saying that I would like to get rid of the gas burner and replace with a double induction unit......I'm just not sure I'm wired to do that. I would never cook with the induction unit while on batteries since my coach is not an all electric unit with the extra inverter and batteries (something I can electrically manage).

I'm looking into electrical power sources that can be used for the induction unit. I may have to hardwire and run to a new breaker.

[UFO Pilot]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Our all electric option did not cost anything. It was in place of the propane. If you are paying 8,000 for it it seems like the dealer is playing with you.

It COULD include the heated floor, that is a big upcharge.

[osok]

Originally Posted by rbblak

We are considering ordering a 2015 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH. An expensive option (over $8k) is the all electric coach option.
Can campgrounds handle this kind of electric load? Will we be rotating appliance usage to avoid constant kick outs?
We are concerned that the hookups available will not handle the load of the large MH.
We will not be dry camping much.

Is the factory ahead of the campgrounds?
Your experiences,thoughts would be appreciated.
Should we save our money and leave the gas in the coach?

I can only address what all electric means on a Newmar Ventana. On my Ventana the all electric option was $4000 msrp. All electric may seem expensive option on the surface, but, I got a Maytag 22 cf french door refrigerator with ice maker, extra batteries, much larger PSW inverter and electric cooktop. My Oasis Hydronic was standard equipment, but on a 40 series Ventana it is a option. I bring this up because if you wanted all electric on 40 series with Hydronic the all electric option is $11500. Remember that you will probably only pay about 75%+/- of this cost depending on the discount you get on your coach.

The really important thing to find out is what do you get on an All Electric Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH. My guess is for $8000 they load it up really nice electrically. Do not fear the 50 amp, I've never tripped a breaker running 3 15K A/C's, electric cooktop, Hydronic, dryer, etc. I would rather wonder if I can trip a breaker than sleep with one eye open worrying about the Norcold propane refrigerator catching fire while we are asleep.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by UFO Pilot

It COULD include the heated floor, that is a big upcharge.

Then it would seem entirely possible.

It is like changing to a performance package in a car. The upcharge not only includes the engine and transmission but different seats, paint, badging and an alarm system with guideance.