Camping questions.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Frederick MD
Camping questions.
Ok so at the race this weekend. The camp ground rules are quiet time at 11pm. This would mean generators off. I have two 2000 inverters so they keep the noise down and when in the bed of my truck you can’t hear them at night. What do you guys do if you have to shut the generators down at night. Temps where in the 30s so I don’t want the family freezing, and my battery will not last that long. I could only imagine if it was 90 out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Northern Illinois
What are the generators running? Electric heaters or just the furnace fan?
Places I go to with quiet hours means no loud generators. Quiet generators are OK with us but check to be sure.
Places I go to with quiet hours means no loud generators. Quiet generators are OK with us but check to be sure.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Frederick MD
Well last weekend they were running the furnace and just keeping the water pump on. I ran my inverters all night because they are quiet but I was just thinking if I had to completely shut down, what would I have done.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2017
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Campers use propane for heat. There should be no need for a generator throughout the night. Now if you were running the air conditioner throughout the night then you would probably need the generator.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Frederick MD
Originally Posted by jhedges
Campers use propane for heat. There should be no need for a generator throughout the night. Now if you were running the air conditioner throughout the night then you would probably need the generator.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 29
^ X-2. Consider checking with the campground management / Host first as that is who is likely going to come knocking at O-dark hundred if a neighbor complains. Agree that the inverters will probably not bother anybody, but . . .
^ X-2. Or get a unit without an integrated fan for 100% heat, 0% power draw. Unless I am missing something, only down-side is no thermostat.
^ X-2. Consider AGM's. While they cost a bit more, internal loss and overall performance is better than a flooded cell.
For comparison, went completely dry a weekend in a 32' TT where the first night was ~18* F and the second ~23*F. Furnace ran near continuously from sunset to dawn both nights. Probably went through 30 pounds of propane. Managed to go the whole weekend on parallel 12v batteries with a small boost from two 5W solar panels and about 45 minutes of back-feed charge from the truck (Note: disconnect solar panels when charging from the truck). Remain convinced that the only thing that allowed the batteries to last that long was the catalytic heater, otherwise I am sure the furnace would have exhausted the batteries early in night 2.
^ X-2. Or get a unit without an integrated fan for 100% heat, 0% power draw. Unless I am missing something, only down-side is no thermostat.
For comparison, went completely dry a weekend in a 32' TT where the first night was ~18* F and the second ~23*F. Furnace ran near continuously from sunset to dawn both nights. Probably went through 30 pounds of propane. Managed to go the whole weekend on parallel 12v batteries with a small boost from two 5W solar panels and about 45 minutes of back-feed charge from the truck (Note: disconnect solar panels when charging from the truck). Remain convinced that the only thing that allowed the batteries to last that long was the catalytic heater, otherwise I am sure the furnace would have exhausted the batteries early in night 2.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
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That will work as long as the holding tanks are empty and / or temperatures remain above freezing. Have seen where manufacturers route a heating hose through the holding tank area to prevent freezing down below.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Blue Hill Township
Sounds like your battery is junk. A standard deep cycle will run the furnace at night when it's cold.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
I was at boondocked at elk camp for almost 10 days this month. I have dual 6v Trojan flooded cell batteries (T-125). They ran my furnace just fine throughout the night and it got down to 8 degrees one night. (my furnace flaked out but that's a different issue) I have a single solar panel on top of the trailer and it came real close to recharging my batteries from the furnace draw. It was nice and sunny most days. The only reasons I ran the generator was to run the microwave or to make sure the batteries were topped off on days that weren't quite as sunny.
I tried using my Big Buddy heater on the lowest setting and I couldn't handle the odor. The kerosene type smell was just too much. I had to get up in the middle of the night, open some windows to clear the air and then turn on the furnace. Due to recovering from throat cancer I'm probably a bit more sensitive than others when it comes to smells. If it hadn't been for the smell it would have worked just fine.
I tried using my Big Buddy heater on the lowest setting and I couldn't handle the odor. The kerosene type smell was just too much. I had to get up in the middle of the night, open some windows to clear the air and then turn on the furnace. Due to recovering from throat cancer I'm probably a bit more sensitive than others when it comes to smells. If it hadn't been for the smell it would have worked just fine.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,787
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From: Northern Illinois
If it is cold cold and it will be freezing or below most of the time I doubt we will be going anywhere. It is ok for the older kids but too cold for the little guys. 5 months and 17 months no fun if someone has to be inside with them the whole time. If I do camp that cold it will be winterized.
Most of the time we need the heat is when it gets down to the 40's or 50's at night. The kids sleep in the main area of the camper and it cools off much more than our bedroom up top. plan on heating just the main area of the camper with the space heater and letting the heat drift up to us.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Frederick MD
Originally Posted by HRTKD
I was at boondocked at elk camp for almost 10 days this month. I have dual 6v Trojan flooded cell batteries (T-125). They ran my furnace just fine throughout the night and it got down to 8 degrees one night. (my furnace flaked out but that's a different issue) I have a single solar panel on top of the trailer and it came real close to recharging my batteries from the furnace draw. It was nice and sunny most days. The only reasons I ran the generator was to run the microwave or to make sure the batteries were topped off on days that weren't quite as sunny.
I tried using my Big Buddy heater on the lowest setting and I couldn't handle the odor. The kerosene type smell was just too much. I had to get up in the middle of the night, open some windows to clear the air and then turn on the furnace. Due to recovering from throat cancer I'm probably a bit more sensitive than others when it comes to smells. If it hadn't been for the smell it would have worked just fine.
I tried using my Big Buddy heater on the lowest setting and I couldn't handle the odor. The kerosene type smell was just too much. I had to get up in the middle of the night, open some windows to clear the air and then turn on the furnace. Due to recovering from throat cancer I'm probably a bit more sensitive than others when it comes to smells. If it hadn't been for the smell it would have worked just fine.