Can they go ALL Electric?

[83spyder]

Would it be possible to go all electric if doing full Monty...battery bank/ upgraded power etc and not have propane for anything? Realistic or pipe dream nightmare. Planning on doing majority of work myself and just spitballing for the future.

[FCStreamer]

It is possible. Question is whether you'd want to.

[AWCHIEF]

Your trailer, you are writing the checks so almost anything is possible.

[OTRA15]

Suggest making a complete list of every use for the electric, and some projected loads, with allowances for which will need to run at the same time. You may find that propane and gasoline (generator) energy are hard to replace with all-electric, especially during very hot or cold weather extremes.

Also -- are you talking about using shore-power sometimes, or mostly self-contained solar etc.?

[JimGolden]

I would say absolutely. What would be the biggest draw when not hooked to shore power? Probably water heater and fridge. If you're not doing a lot of boondocking, I'd think it'd be pretty easy. The battery pack would be heavy, but like the one used in a Prius or Volt or Tesla should power the fridge for a long time as you go down the road. Not sure how long it would last on the water heater. But, it's certainly doable.

Be a neat project. Post lots of pictures

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by JimGolden

I would say absolutely. What would be the biggest draw when not hooked to shore power? Probably water heater and fridge. If you're not doing a lot of boondocking, I'd think it'd be pretty easy. The battery pack would be heavy, but like the one used in a Prius or Volt or Tesla should power the fridge for a long time as you go down the road. Not sure how long it would last on the water heater. But, it's certainly doable.

Be a neat project. Post lots of pictures

What about air conditioning in the heat of summer, and the furnace fan and elecric heating element in the cold of winter. Huge draws!

Ever seen a trailer with all-electric heat in the fall and spring? Probably not . . . limited insulation in an AS . . .

Limited solar in cloudy weather . . .

Hmmmmmm . . .

[83spyder]

This is why I love these forums....lots of input. It was just an idea and as usual somebody always points out something I may have not thought about. Not die hard on any one idea at the moment.....just thinking. Gotta start gutting it though soon, know the subfloor needs some work and need to evaluate frame/ trailer.

[prairieschooner]

1st question is how will you be using it?
All of the answers depend on how you answer the 1st question.

[J. Morgan]

Anything that makes any real heat, like a furnace or a stove would be very challenging to run on battery power.

A good generator and/or being on shore power could make the project viable though.


Gradiens super tenui glacie.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by 83spyder

Would it be possible to go all electric if doing full Monty...battery bank/ upgraded power etc and not have propane for anything? Realistic or pipe dream nightmare. Planning on doing majority of work myself and just spitballing for the future.

Send a private message to 'beach bum' on the forums. He has gone all electric (with the exception of the furnace). I'm sure he would be willing to share his experiences.

[Trnpk Crsr]

The current Land Yacht has an induction cook top and a microwave oven instead of a propane stove. It does use propane for the hot water heater, furnace, and the refridgerator.

[fwjumper]

Cool idea, but my main concern would be a long-lasting power failure in cold weather. We are going to install a catalytic heater, which needs no 12v power source at all, for just such an occasion. (even though in 43 years of camping in rvs, we've never needed it.)

[paddle whisp]

I've successfully renovated 7 airstreams to total electric. Installed a new converter inverter box. WFCO fuse and circuit box. Hot water heater that will work on 110. New a/c with heat strip. 10cf refrigerator from HD.
I live in the south. And mainly winter camp in FL or GA coast.
While renovating the camper, I replaced old insulation when project exposed it with R14..
Heats and cools great.
I love it. I hate propane!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by paddle whisp

I've successfully renovated 7 airstreams to total electric. Installed a new converter inverter box. WFCO fuse and circuit box. Hot water heater that will work on 110. New a/c with heat strip. 10cf refrigerator from HD.
I live in the south. And mainly winter camp in FL or GA coast.
While renovating the camper, I replaced old insulation when project exposed it with R14..
Heats and cools great.
I love it. I hate propane!

And you are referring to using shore power for the electric?

[RalphR]

Some time ago, about 2005 I remeber hearing that Airstream built or was going to build a few electric motorhomes.........don't know what success they had as just about that time they quit building motorhomes.......might be some threads on it.........

[NY24]

An engineer on the Escapees HDT (Heavy Duty Truck) forum is doing just that. He has a Class 8, Volvo based HDT Super-C RV. Other that the diesel engine powering his rig, everything else will run off a 48VDC Lithium battery bank. Said bank can be recharged by the diesel engine when it's running, or the onboard diesel generator, or by shore power. Several HDT forumites are watching his progress with great interest.

[Gneiss Guy]

A nice wood stove could make it happen!

[TheGreatleys]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

[/I]Ever seen a trailer with all-electric heat in the fall and spring? Probably not . . . limited insulation in an AS . . .:

AC with heat strip and a wood stove, right here

[OTRA15]

electric wood?

[TheGreatleys]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

electric wood?

Well, I suppose that's one way to start a fire ...