Keeping warm - dry camping

[groundpounder]

I understand running the generator at night is dangerous. So other than lots of blankets how do you keep warm?

[CC38EL]

Originally Posted by groundpounder

I understand running the generator at night is dangerous. So other than lots of blankets how do you keep warm?

A properly installed and maintained generator with propane and CO2 detectors shouldn't be any more dangerous at night than during the day. We've run ours at night many times. All three kinds....gas, propane, and diesel.

Other than that, lots of propane for your heater and more blankets.

[JamieGeek]

If you are dry camping I don't think there is any advantage to using an electric heater over the propane furnace.

Its advantageous if you have electrical hook ups simply because you are saving propane and using the campground's electricity for heat.

[fchabotski]

Why would running a generator at night be dangerous.

[Miramar Owner]

I often have my generator running all night when dry camping. I install a Gen-Turi generator exhaust vent which lifts the exhaust above the RV. This also helps a little with the noise. I sleep better knowing it is not letting the exhaust out near my bedroom slide.

If you happen to be parked near another RV, they appreciate it as well.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by fchabotski

Why would running a generator at night be dangerous.

If there was a way for the exhaust to enter the coach you could have CO issues.

[groundpounder]

I had read in the manual not to run the generator at night due to CO hazzard. Yes have CO Detector. The exhaust is underneath and can not be re routed. I have a Generator for the house and the building code says it has to be 3 feet from any window.

Someone said electric heater, I have one and use it when plugged in, but no power when camping in the desert.

Anyone come up with a 12 heater solution?

[jpmihalk]

We also use a Genturi with our generator for things like AC and microwave. We have 400W of solar that keeps the batteries pretty charged on sunny days, depending on power consumption. We have found that using electric heaters during the day and propane furnace at night works best, keeping the nighttime temps down a bit to conserve LP. Plus we have 3 dogs who want to share the bed with us for a big snuggle pile on cold nights!

[groundpounder]

My concern is at night. During the day there is plenty of activity to open doors etc. so running the generator is not a concern.

I have found a number of electric heaters. The trick is how much power they need and can my coach batteries provide it overnight.

Then how much heat do I need. Would a 150 Watt heater be enough?
Found this one for $100, 300 watts (that is a 25 amp draw). https://www.amazon.com/Back-Seat-Hea.../dp/B0002D6JW8

I am in a 24' Class C so not in huge space.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by groundpounder

I had read in the manual not to run the generator at night due to CO hazzard. Yes have CO Detector. The exhaust is underneath and can not be re routed. I have a Generator for the house and the building code says it has to be 3 feet from any window.

Someone said electric heater, I have one and use it when plugged in, but no power when camping in the desert.

Anyone come up with a 12 heater solution?

Which manual would that be? 12 VDC heaters will not last very long overnight unless you have a very large battery bank.

[Bob Denman]

If you think that you might get some generator exhaust inside the coach: add an exhaust extension, that takes it up to the roofline (or higher!)...

[groundpounder]

I have 2 6v deep cycle batteries rated for about 210ah. The spec say I can get 10 hours @ 20 amps or 5 hours at 35 amps. That is ideal with fully charged new battery. A 300 watt heater will draw 25 amps. So the idea is that we warm up the coach before bed and when someone gets up for a bio break then the heater goes on for maybe 4 hours.

[Chance]

Why not just run your propane heater? That way the batteries only have to power the blower and controls.

Originally Posted by groundpounder

....cut...

Someone said electric heater, I have one and use it when plugged in, but no power when camping in the desert.

Anyone come up with a 12 heater solution?

If you must go electric, instead of 12-Volts, why not use an inverter? In the power range you're looking at, inverters are really cheap.

Regarding your other posts -- we use a 1,000/1,500 watt electric heater, and found that 1,000 watts is normally adequate to keep our mostly uninsulated van comfortable if it's not too cold outside. The 1,500-watt setting has worked good enough down to high 20s F.

Based on our experiences, I doubt 150 to 300 watts would heat enough to keep your entire motorhome comfortable when cold outside. I'd stick to propane for heat.

[groundpounder]

I just assumed the propane heater fan needs 110vac, I guess I will have to check that out.

[jpmihalk]

Originally Posted by groundpounder

I just assumed the propane heater fan needs 110vac, I guess I will have to check that out.

Nope the typical Atwood furnace runs on 12V.

[groundpounder]

To my surprise (newbie), the Propane heater system does operate on 12 volts. So no need to run the generator at night.
Thanks

[gnach]

Originally Posted by groundpounder

To my surprise (newbie), the Propane heater system does operate on 12 volts. So no need to run the generator at night.
Thanks

12v yes, but the fan is a major power draw. I don't have numbers but it can consume your batteries, thus the need for the generator. Many dry campers opt for propane catalytic heaters. There's a bit of info on the forums. You need to have adequate ventilation. A friend of mine, a desert rat, runs the hose in from a separate bottle thru a window, ensuring he wakes up in the morning. There can be issues with them at high altitude with decreased O2. I'm looking into it.

[groundpounder]

Originally Posted by gnach

12v yes, but the fan is a major power draw. I don't have numbers but it can consume your batteries, thus the need for the generator. Many dry campers opt for propane catalytic heaters. There's a bit of info on the forums. You need to have adequate ventilation. A friend of mine, a desert rat, runs the hose in from a separate bottle thru a window, ensuring he wakes up in the morning. There can be issues with them at high altitude with decreased O2. I'm looking into it.

I measured the fan power draw, it was 7.7 amps. If it ran for 10 hours constantly it would take down the battery 77 amps. There is no way it would deplete a 200ah battery array overnight.

[gnach]

Originally Posted by groundpounder

I measured the fan power draw, it was 7.7 amps. If it ran for 10 hours constantly it would take down the battery 77 amps. There is no way it would deplete a 200ah battery array overnight.

Okay, depletion wasn't intended as total. How many recharge cycles will you get out your golf cart batteries if you run them all the way down? Each time, (warning! generalization coming) you total them out you've cut the life of the battery in half. So running them down to 50% is standard procedure, yes, running to 20% occasionally is okay.
So, back to your calcs, take the 77 amps, add in the pump, ;lights and anything on the inverter and you are running your generator the next morning to recharge your batteries.
Just sayin'.

[groundpounder]

Originally Posted by gnach

Okay, depletion wasn't intended as total. How many recharge cycles will you get out your golf cart batteries if you run them all the way down? Each time, (warning! generalization coming) you total them out you've cut the life of the battery in half. So running them down to 50% is standard procedure, yes, running to 20% occasionally is okay.
So, back to your calcs, take the 77 amps, add in the pump, ;lights and anything on the inverter and you are running your generator the next morning to recharge your batteries.
Just sayin'.

I guess I need to say I would run the generator in the evening to run stuff, and start with a fully charged battery. Once I go to bed everything is basically off except for the heater. My calculation 77 amps was if the fan ran all night, worse case. In reality it would go on and off as needed to keep the coach warm. My real guess is maybe 20-30% or about 2-3 hours overnight. Now we are talking about only 23ah or 11% of the battery capacity. In the morning the generator comes on (wife wants coffee). I think there is a 50 amp charger so a recharge happens in an hour with coffee.

There seems to be no way the batteries don't hold up over night.