Furnace Furnace

[jfocallag]

This weekend, I am going camping without electrical hookups. The predicted temperatures range from 40 at night to 65 during the day. I am bringing the fridge but can do without it if necessary as the meals are included in the trip. My primary means of staying warm will be layering but I can for see the need to run the furnace at some point at night and/or in the morning. I just had my propane tank filled so I don't think I will run out. Does anyone have some anecdotal information regarding the impact on the battery? I plan on being frugal with my electrical usage re: lights, etc. I realize that worse case scenario is I hook up the car but want to avoid that.

Thanks

 

[ghaynes]

Run time and drain is negligible.

 

[Mick'nSarah]

When I run my furnace, it is usually to warm up the cabin just before bed or first thing in the morning to take the chill off. Either time, I am probably running the furnace for 5-10 minutes, so the battery drain there is very minimal. The fridge (and fan, if you run it) will be the bigger drain. I am pretty stingy with my lights, so we have minimal drain there too. Also, Mick said charging devices (phone, iPad) are also only a minimal drain (nothing drastic).

Just my experience (and that was before the extra batteries).

 

[Bunni]

Freezing anything that makes sense before your trip may help. We will freeze some of our meats and put them in the bottom of the refrigerator. Sometimes its two days or more before the stuff thaws. Depending on the weather you may not need any electric the first night. At the least it will reduce consumption saving your battery. Also if you do not have a cover consider putting a towel over the top to help insulate.
Benn

 

[KathyBob]

Hi, Joan. If you have power, do you usually run the furnace all night? Like Sarah, we just turn the furnace on for about 5 minutes (if that) and we're good for the night (if we plan to read for awhile, we might do that twice.) Rarely have to turn it on in the am. Is Bailey going with you? If so, you probably won't need the furnace much at all! Have fun. Kathy

 

[Evan]

Joan, especially with your bigger battery, I think you will be able to run whatever you need to get through the weekend. Don't worry - you'll be fine!

 

[jfocallag]

Thanks everyone. I know, I should just chill out (pun intended) and enjoy myself.

Sarah, I am going to take my electronics with but that is because I don't like leaving them at home. Probably won't use them but would be nice to charge my iPad if I need to. Not sure there will be cell service.

Ben and Maribeth, since the food is provided except for a side dish for one night's pot luck, I don't have anything to freeze. I will just have snacks and soda. What I think I will do is I have a couple of those blue ice blocks. I think I will throw them in.

Kathy, except for my winter camping adventure where the cube heater ran all night, I usually just run it to take the edge off in the morning. The only reason it ran all night in January is because the bed was cold. Everything at shelf level or higher was nice and toasty. Next time, I will go prepared with a heated mattress pad if I have electricity or sleep in my sleeping bag if I don't. I was actually warm as long as I did not move. And yes, Bailey will be with me and he is a little heater unto himself.

Evan, I don't know why I worry. I got the bigger battery for just such occasions.

Thanks again for the suggestions and I hope everyone enjoys their Memorial Day Weekend!

 

[Ken & Peggy]

Joan, we camped in New Mexico/Colorado a couple of Memorial Days ago, with nighttime temps in the low to mid-40's and did just fine. We don't have the furnace, but do have a small ceramic heater. We used a down comforter, no heater, and left the doors open with the screens in at night. We thought it was perfect for sleeping! So I'd think a good warm blanket/comforter with a heater should work very well. Especially with daytime temps into the mid-60's - the mattress won't be cold to lay on.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how comfortable you are. Have a good trip.

 

[Bechtle]

Joan...

By now you've returned from your first Teardrop adventure.

Propane: I've changed propane tank to the 20#. We've camped in over night low tempretures in mid teens for two weeks. Never had a problem. I do have a propane scale to monitor the quanity of propane in the tank. I also run a propane campfire. So far, we've not run out of propane.

Battery: I have the largest 12v battery that Camp-Inn offers. I run a 12V breathing machine all night, every night, and have not experienced a dead battery yet. On the right side of the Gally, there is a device which monitors fresh water level, grey water level, and battery level.

 

[Bechtle]

Joan...

I concur with Sarah.

When I run my furnace, it is usually to warm up the cabin just before bed or first thing in the morning to take the chill off. Either time, I am probably running the furnace for 5-10 minutes.

On some rare occasions, I do set the thermistat at 55. Since its a mechanical thermistat, there's no electric draw while the thermostat is just waiting for tempreture to drop.

 

[Bechtle]

Some stores such as Safeway and Von's sell Dry Ice. One has to ask, though because of some California law.

 

[jfocallag]

Thank you Carl. I also have the biggest battery that Camp Inn offers. I am back and had no issues. I am just a worry wart. I ran the furnace both in the morning and just before bed at night to take the chill off. The temperatures during the day were in the low 60s and the frig ran fine. The battery monitor never went below G. I forgot to bring my meter so I don't know the exact numbers. Hopefully I will have my solar panel by the next time I dry camp.

Thanks again.

Joan

 

[fpoole]

Yeah, what Sarah said...

You'll be fine....
I run mine all the time for the 5-10min pre-night sleep and sometimes in the morning. I also have 750 Down Quilt and heating pad.

Just an FYI, 2 things:

- If propane is low, the fan will work, but the heater won't heat lite. Apparently there's a 'safety sensor' that checks the flow of propane? or is it battery juice?, I forget. Might be the low battery that won't power the "ignitor" so no heat. So if heater isn't working ie no heat after it starts up, it could be those two items, low Propane or low battery. You will hear the fan though, it works just fine as you crank up the heater to warm up the cabin.. but if the heat isn't there....heheh, well, you're bringing the COLDER outside air, kewl eh???

- Heat pad? heheh, well, I have the smaller TD battery and it's usually good to 3am in the morning, usually the coldest time of the night. Heating pad, that I have anyway, is the truckers pad, drains battery dry. I only use it when powered/hooked up.

Ceiling Fantastic Fan will drain also, I never really use that anyway.

I have, for the above reasons and the "Tech Stuff", finally, it would appear anyway, to have an external battery hook up that I can run. I got one with 28amps for 200hrs which translated to real time is probably 20amps for 40hrs which would be a week or so. It was a real PTIA setting it up, but now have 6 extra cigarette sockets available... 4 under the little side table for charging stuff... believer the newer TDs have it all wire up using the Solar Panel connection.

Me thinks I'm set as I also carry, but don't use, the Honda 2000i generator.. so I'm finally "Loaded and Tied, Ready to Ride..."

fun... cold? bring it.. heheh
yikes, what'd I just say...5F degrees??? whoops...
My bad...

 

[Bechtle]

Hi, Joan...

Glad your back safe and sound. I'm assuming you had a wonderful trip.

The more you use the teardrop, the more you will come to appreciate the CI Teardrop...hot, cold, wind, or rain.

Consider starting a trailer log or diary. "Dear travel log, today we visited The Grand Canyou. Tomorrow we're going to Death Valley and then on to Yosemite."