Propane Heat - Good Old RVs2024-03-29T10:55:00Zhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/forum/topics/propane-heat?commentId=2093474%3AComment%3A195547&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI've used catalytic heaters f…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-07:2093474:Comment:1977732014-02-07T03:46:40.865ZRon Bucknerhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/RonBuckner
<p>I've used catalytic heaters for forty years. Therm x's, The Cat, Waves and Mr Heat, all work well for what they're designed to do. All catalytic heaters have one negative flaw that must be taken into account before using them. The byproduct of a catalytic reaction is Carbon Dioxide, (that's water vapor for you and me). In a high humidity area (SW United states 90% of the time) you HAVE to keep the air moving and the coach well ventilated. The safety of these heaters can be seriously…</p>
<p>I've used catalytic heaters for forty years. Therm x's, The Cat, Waves and Mr Heat, all work well for what they're designed to do. All catalytic heaters have one negative flaw that must be taken into account before using them. The byproduct of a catalytic reaction is Carbon Dioxide, (that's water vapor for you and me). In a high humidity area (SW United states 90% of the time) you HAVE to keep the air moving and the coach well ventilated. The safety of these heaters can be seriously compromised if you dont. The operating temperatures of these heaters is typically 450 degrees, but if the oxygen levels inside the coach should drop even 10% that temperature will be raised substantially to well over 650 degrees (spontainious combustion) and that wet water vapor becomes carbon monoxide. </p> There are 97,000 btu's in one…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-02-05:2093474:Comment:1975632014-02-05T02:29:34.672ZRon Bucknerhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/RonBuckner
There are 97,000 btu's in one gallon of propane. Your furnace is probably rated to burn at 30-40,000 btu's per hour. (Check the model #). Now, your furnace is thermostatically controlled so it will probably only really run about 20 minutes of every hour. So, 1/3 of 40,000 (high side)is 13,333 btu's per hour (not counting the water heater or stove). 13,300/97,000 = 72+- working hours per gallon. The questions remaining? How many gallons are you storing? Now, concerning your electric heaters,…
There are 97,000 btu's in one gallon of propane. Your furnace is probably rated to burn at 30-40,000 btu's per hour. (Check the model #). Now, your furnace is thermostatically controlled so it will probably only really run about 20 minutes of every hour. So, 1/3 of 40,000 (high side)is 13,333 btu's per hour (not counting the water heater or stove). 13,300/97,000 = 72+- working hours per gallon. The questions remaining? How many gallons are you storing? Now, concerning your electric heaters, typically all 1500 watt electic heaters will only produce a maximum of 6000 btu's, some not even that much if there's a fan involved (moving air creates a chill factor). Two electric heaters = 12,000 btu's (probably only 1/2 of the heat your coach requires) Excellent Point!! I am thinki…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-30:2093474:Comment:1959072014-01-30T14:37:58.957ZDeanhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/Dean
<p>Excellent Point!! I am thinking of getting a 100# bottle and hooking it up. That would help out a great deal</p>
<p>Excellent Point!! I am thinking of getting a 100# bottle and hooking it up. That would help out a great deal</p> You say you have two electr…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-30:2093474:Comment:1959042014-01-30T14:28:08.192ZJohn "T" Nordhoffhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JohnT
<p> You say you have two electric heaters that cant keep it warm WELL DUH that's NOT a surprise, they may be around 1500 watts or around 5115 BTU (3.41 BTU/Watt) each for a total of 10,230 BTU BUT THATS JUST NOT ENOUGH (subject to sixe and temperature and insulation). Your LP furnace may be in the range of more like 20,000 to 40,000 BTU and a good percentage of that heat (unlike electric) is wasted out the exhaust!!!!.</p>
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<p> The BTU required is based on outside ambient…</p>
<p> You say you have two electric heaters that cant keep it warm WELL DUH that's NOT a surprise, they may be around 1500 watts or around 5115 BTU (3.41 BTU/Watt) each for a total of 10,230 BTU BUT THATS JUST NOT ENOUGH (subject to sixe and temperature and insulation). Your LP furnace may be in the range of more like 20,000 to 40,000 BTU and a good percentage of that heat (unlike electric) is wasted out the exhaust!!!!.</p>
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<p> The BTU required is based on outside ambient temp,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Insulation of the RV,,,,,,,,,,,,Size of RV,,,,,,,,,,,, but generally speaking LP heat is the method they use so theres not such a high electrical load. </p>
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<p> When I camp I carry a spare 30# LP Tank and I have a 2 way (RV or External) LP gas auto changeover valve and hose so if the external tank runs dry it automatically switches to my internal RV tank so Im never without heat or hot water. I also have a gauge on my external 30# tank and when it gets near empty I take it in the car/truck to the local RV dealer where they fill it for $3 Gal or usually around $21.......... That way Im NEVER without LP Gas and its very cheap and easy to take the spare remote 30# tank to any LP Gas refill station</p>
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<p> Best wishes, my advice, carry a spare 30# LP tank with a gauge and install an automatic changeover valve and hose so you can hook to the 30# spare tank sitting outside the RV</p>
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<p> John T</p> Electric heaters are 100% eff…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-30:2093474:Comment:1962542014-01-30T13:21:44.944ZJohn Demarraishttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JohnDemarrais
<p>Electric heaters are 100% efficient but are limited to 1500 watts max if they come with a standard 120 volt 15 amp plug. That's only 5000 BTUs. To make the same heat as a standard 30K BTU RV propane furnace, you'd need five 1500 watt heaters all running at once!</p>
<p>Electric heaters are 100% efficient but are limited to 1500 watts max if they come with a standard 120 volt 15 amp plug. That's only 5000 BTUs. To make the same heat as a standard 30K BTU RV propane furnace, you'd need five 1500 watt heaters all running at once!</p> As John stated your furnace m…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-30:2093474:Comment:1961602014-01-30T04:39:57.299ZRichard W. Cobbshttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/xn/detail/u_32z78dfy6wa5w
<p>As John stated your furnace may produce 30,000 BTUs. Your two electric heaters at 1500 watts each are putting out approximately 5,000 BTUs each. !0,000 vs.30,000! One of the great things about RVs is redundency; use the furnace to bring your RV up to temperature, then turn back the thermostat and let the electric heaters try to maiatain that temp. The furnace will then kick on when the temp is too low.</p>
<p>As John stated your furnace may produce 30,000 BTUs. Your two electric heaters at 1500 watts each are putting out approximately 5,000 BTUs each. !0,000 vs.30,000! One of the great things about RVs is redundency; use the furnace to bring your RV up to temperature, then turn back the thermostat and let the electric heaters try to maiatain that temp. The furnace will then kick on when the temp is too low.</p> Thanks for the great informat…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-29:2093474:Comment:1961372014-01-29T15:05:34.109ZDeanhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/Dean
<p>Thanks for the great information!!! We can electric heat here but we have purchased two and they are not heating the RV. Any suggestions on a heater that will keep up?</p>
<p>Thanks for the great information!!! We can electric heat here but we have purchased two and they are not heating the RV. Any suggestions on a heater that will keep up?</p> You've probably got something…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-29:2093474:Comment:1961342014-01-29T13:38:19.964ZJohn Demarraishttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/JohnDemarrais
<p>You've probably got something like a 30,000 BTU furnace that runs 80% efficient. That means it makes 30,000 BTUs of heat and sends 20 % out the chimney and 80% inside the RV. It can use 2 pounds of propane an hour if running constantly. If it comes on about 1/4 of the time, that means 1/2 pound per hour or A 20 lb. tank when filled properly to 80% holds 20 lbs. of propane. That comes to 40 hours of heat if . . . as I stated . . . it comes on 1/4 of the time.</p>
<p>You've probably got something like a 30,000 BTU furnace that runs 80% efficient. That means it makes 30,000 BTUs of heat and sends 20 % out the chimney and 80% inside the RV. It can use 2 pounds of propane an hour if running constantly. If it comes on about 1/4 of the time, that means 1/2 pound per hour or A 20 lb. tank when filled properly to 80% holds 20 lbs. of propane. That comes to 40 hours of heat if . . . as I stated . . . it comes on 1/4 of the time.</p> At 9 degrees a small propane…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-27:2093474:Comment:1955542014-01-27T05:33:20.880ZRichard W. Cobbshttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/xn/detail/u_32z78dfy6wa5w
<p>At 9 degrees a small propane tank may not produce enough gas to run your furnace unless you wrap it with insulation or use a heater on it. Also, cold batteries sometimes don't make it through the night running the fan.</p>
<p>Check: <a href="http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=10186.0" target="_blank">http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=10186.0</a></p>
<p>RWC</p>
<p>At 9 degrees a small propane tank may not produce enough gas to run your furnace unless you wrap it with insulation or use a heater on it. Also, cold batteries sometimes don't make it through the night running the fan.</p>
<p>Check: <a href="http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=10186.0" target="_blank">http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=10186.0</a></p>
<p>RWC</p> Thanks, that will a great hel…tag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-01-27:2093474:Comment:1955502014-01-27T01:10:14.868ZDeanhttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/Dean
<p>Thanks, that will a great help.</p>
<p>I just spent 50 on a heater that doesn't do a thing.</p>
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<p>Thanks, that will a great help.</p>
<p>I just spent 50 on a heater that doesn't do a thing.</p>
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