Camper Furnace Amps
#16
04-12-2018, 09:35 PM
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Somewhere south of Denver
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I boondock and I don't use my on-board generator all that much. A full tank of fuel (30 gal) is enough for well over a year. I have a set of dual Trojan 6v batteries that last quite well. My last camping trip it got down to 8° F and the furnace did the job without draining the batteries lower than about 80%. For some trailers you could get in trouble by not using the furnace since the furnace may vent to the underbelly to keep the fresh/black/gray tanks from freezing.
#17
04-13-2018, 08:09 AM
#18
04-13-2018, 08:12 AM
I boondock and I don't use my on-board generator all that much. A full tank of fuel (30 gal) is enough for well over a year. I have a set of dual Trojan 6v batteries that last quite well. My last camping trip it got down to 8° F and the furnace did the job without draining the batteries lower than about 80%. For some trailers you could get in trouble by not using the furnace since the furnace may vent to the underbelly to keep the fresh/black/gray tanks from freezing.
#19
04-13-2018, 06:41 PM
#20
04-13-2018, 07:32 PM
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Somewhere south of Denver
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#22
04-14-2018, 11:16 AM
#24
04-19-2018, 05:32 PM
Easy to run down a couple of batteries (2 each group 27s) if really cold out and heater is running for a good portion of the evening. When voltage drops too low, the blower isnt strong enough to move the prover door and the system will lock out ignition start until manually reset. Normally I set at 50 overnight when we go to sleep and it keeps it warm enough and batteries last the night. I also run a small generator while we are up so that everything is fully charged before hitting the bed. The small yamaha and hondas are super quiet and since we dry camp in the woods, not an issue.
#25
04-19-2018, 07:49 PM
Right on! I have a Honda Companion set (2000's). In addition to my 25' camper cord I also have a 25'/30A extension. If I put a generator 50' away behind a bush,stump,log, etc. you don't even hear it. When camping out in the sticks or at the ranch I'll often gas up around 9PM and just let it run. When I'm ready for bed I just shut off the TV and go to sleep. When I get up (typically 0-dark thirty) I have power for coffee/TV/ micro with out having to go outside. It's cold out there!! I don't rough it much anymore, I camp in comfort. Obviously if there is another party within a couple hundred yards I don't do this, but I usually boonie camp alone or in a small group of friends who do the same.
#26
04-23-2018, 11:25 PM
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#27
04-24-2018, 01:02 PM
As many folks have said furnace amp draw is 8-10 depending on age, usage, and available voltage. To get a better understandingding of what batteries are dealing with, it is better to measure amp draw at the batteries.
Concerns about “safety” have me completely puzzled.
Generator usage? Man I have listened to enough generators running 24/7 to last me well beyond this lifetime. Us with our Yamaha will never run it at all if you are remotely close. If we have to charge our batteries, we wait until you are not at your camper.
Was on on one of the truck camper sites and someone posted in he was considering a”cheapie” that was “almost as quiet” as my Yamaha. I looked up what he was considering. 85 decibels his, 65 mine. Guess someone doesn’t understand how decibels work.
As as always my two cents
Concerns about “safety” have me completely puzzled.
Generator usage? Man I have listened to enough generators running 24/7 to last me well beyond this lifetime. Us with our Yamaha will never run it at all if you are remotely close. If we have to charge our batteries, we wait until you are not at your camper.
Was on on one of the truck camper sites and someone posted in he was considering a”cheapie” that was “almost as quiet” as my Yamaha. I looked up what he was considering. 85 decibels his, 65 mine. Guess someone doesn’t understand how decibels work.
As as always my two cents
#28
04-24-2018, 08:15 PM
#29
04-24-2018, 08:42 PM
Having a fire in an RV is scary. I have had it happen to us and have worked on a number of RVs where it has happened.
Not common, but not unknown. The puzzle here is furnaces do not start on fire when batteries die. They should shut down at about 10-volts and running a generator, while it may keep the converter charging the battery, does not resolve the problem. What happens if the converter fails and the battery again discharges?
I can’t tell you what happened, but if nothing has been done to diagnosis that issue it is still present and still may present a danger.
Not common, but not unknown. The puzzle here is furnaces do not start on fire when batteries die. They should shut down at about 10-volts and running a generator, while it may keep the converter charging the battery, does not resolve the problem. What happens if the converter fails and the battery again discharges?
I can’t tell you what happened, but if nothing has been done to diagnosis that issue it is still present and still may present a danger.
#30
04-24-2018, 08:55 PM