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10-30-2016, 07:39 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1964 17' Bambi II
Vintage Kin Owner
Schererville
, Indiana
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,637
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Can a furnace run all night on a fully charged battery?
Just planning our trip down to the Keys for January. This year we're taking the big cahoona Avion & I want to boondock at a Wally Mart or Cracker Barrell or something on that order along the way. Will my furnace run the entire night if my battery is fully charged? We have a generator, but I don't think we want to haul it along for one night of boondocking.....Should I pack lots of blankies?? Lol!
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Becky
1964 Bambi II
1988 Avion 32S
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10-30-2016, 07:44 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2014 25' FB International
2007 20' Safari SE
2005 19' Safari
Qualicum Beach
, British Columbia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,096
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We just had a weekend away where we ran our heater all night starting at only 95% and 12.6v
Ended each morning at about 72% and 12.4v from 2 interstates with only 160 amp total capacity, so I would have to say that you should be fine.
George
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10-30-2016, 07:44 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
1987 25' Sovereign
Oregon
, Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 491
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It depends on three things. How good are your batteries. How cold it gets over night. How warm you want your trailer.
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10-30-2016, 08:05 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2021 25' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,720
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What size battery/batteries?
We have a 200 amp hour 4D battery and we can easily make a long evening of heat when it is in the mid 30's.
Bruce
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Loving our 2021 Globetrotter 25 and our 2022 Ford F-150 King Ranch 5.0!!! Plenty of payload, not even close to axel limits and it drives and rows beautifully…
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10-30-2016, 08:28 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1964 17' Bambi II
Vintage Kin Owner
Schererville
, Indiana
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,637
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I'll have to check the size.....
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Becky
1964 Bambi II
1988 Avion 32S
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10-30-2016, 08:59 PM
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#6
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.-. -...
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake
, ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,837
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Once your trailer gets warmed up the furnace will only run a fraction of the time to maintain the temperature; so you won't be using the furnace rated amps 100% of the time.
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Ray B.
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10-30-2016, 09:17 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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You have time to test the battery.
Give it a full charge. Unplug the the power to the trailer. Let the battery " rest " for about two days. Check the voltage of the battery. Anything above 12.6 is good indicates a healthy battery. Anything below 12.6 is less than good.
You could also run the furnace all night long and check the voltage in the morning. 12 volts is considered to be depleted.
How old is your battery?
I use 2 batteries. I always bring a small electric heater. I always bring extra covers or a sleeping bag, just in case.
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10-31-2016, 05:22 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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I believe the standard charts for flooded cell batteries indicate that a voltage reading of 12 volts equates to approx. 50% discharged, not depleted. It is below this point that more serious damage occurs to the battery IMO. Trailer batteries are intended to get down to this level in normal use, although charging is recommended if possible at a reading of 12.5 volts (90% of capacity).
PS you can get a 12-volt electric blanket which uses the battery more efficiently than does the furnace, but of course you need a 12-volt outlet nearby.
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10-31-2016, 06:05 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2017 30' Classic
Loretto
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 507
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Depends on the conditions. From my experience this time of year it will not last the night. I leave the trailer plugged into the truck in the morning I hit the remote start, the truck fired up and the furnace comes on. Doesn't take long to warm up the trailer.
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10-31-2016, 07:49 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Naper
Depends on the conditions. From my experience this time of year it will not last the night. I leave the trailer plugged into the truck in the morning I hit the remote start, the truck fired up and the furnace comes on. Doesn't take long to warm up the trailer.
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Don't you run the risk of draining the tow vehicle's battery this way?
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10-31-2016, 12:19 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Caledonia
, Michigan
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 169
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Presuming your batteries will run the furnace fan all night, how will you recharge them the following day? The charge from your two vehicle, while towing might not be enough to bring them back up.
I recently boon docked at a race track for a week and had to run my generator for 2 or more hours each day (I used an external 3 stage AGM specific battery charger) to bring my batteries back up to 100%. We didn't need to run the furnace, so I had about a 40% drop to recover from each day.
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10-31-2016, 12:34 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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A few years ago we went to South Padre Island Texas. Unusually cold, below freezing, and the electricity went out. Had just installed two new group 27s. I opened the lower cabinets to expose the plumbing. Turned the thermostat to the lowest position, 50 something, and went to bed. In the morning the batteries were still above 12v. Electricity did not come back on until 1 pm. All camp out OK.
You might want to give it a try before you head out on your trip. Easy thing to do, then you will know, rather than waiting until you really need the heat.
Why worry, better to know.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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10-31-2016, 12:35 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2017 30' Classic
Loretto
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
Don't you run the risk of draining the tow vehicle's battery this way?
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The trailer will only draw power when the truck engine is running.
This is on a Ford not sure about other brands
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10-31-2016, 01:59 PM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
2005 31' Classic
Gretna
, Nebraska
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 152
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Also depends on size of trailer of course.
I ran truck and trailer down to "won't start " condition heating our 31' overnight.
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10-31-2016, 02:33 PM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2001 25' Safari
Ridgefield
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 322
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Once you get to your destination, the Keys, it's unlikely you'll need your furnace at all unless a bitter cold spell works its way that far south. I lived in Homestead for 4 years and I can recall needing a coat only once. On your drive to the Keys, you're probably looking at overnighting in an area that's far enough south it doesn't get cold enough to cause real concern very often. You'll know when you see the weather forecast for your travel dates and route. Unless your battery is nearing end of life, you should be OK as long as you don't crank up the thermostat above 60 (that's good sleeping temperature). If you're really worried, replace your battery. Could be cheap insurance before starting out on a long trip. And, don't be afraid to use a few blankets.
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10-31-2016, 02:51 PM
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#16
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.-. -...
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake
, ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,837
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Amsterdamer
Presuming your batteries will run the furnace fan all night, how will you recharge them the following day? The charge from your two vehicle, while towing might not be enough to bring them back up....
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My TV alternator recharges my Group 31 battery easily on a 6-8 hour trip. If I have used 50% of my battery capacity overnight I need to replace about 50 amps. My alternator provides 14 amps when the battery is really low and drops to 8 amps as the battery charge goes over 80%. At 8 amps/hr the battery will fully charge in 8.5 hours (from 50%).
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Ray B.
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10-31-2016, 02:53 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2015 30' Classic
2012 28' International
Greensboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,708
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If you can't run a furnace all night on your batteries, there's something wrong with them. Now, if you're doing this in February in Minnesota and it's 32 below? I retract my statement.
__________________
_________________
"SilverLeaf II" 2015 30' Classic
2019 RAM 2500 Limited 4x4 CC w/6.7L Cummins
ProPride 3P
AIR# 58452
WBCCI # 3430-Unit 21
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10-31-2016, 03:01 PM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Box Elder (formerly Long Island, NY)
, South Dakota
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 363
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It all depends on the amp-hour capacity of your battery. If you start with a fully charged battery that is is good condition, you should have no problem for one night. I would not be surprised if you got a second night as well. You do have a plan for recharging that battery, don't you?
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10-31-2016, 03:14 PM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
2004 19' Bambi
Cincinnati
, Ohio
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
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A better furnace.
Someone needs to come up with a more efficient way to power the heating system.
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10-31-2016, 03:36 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BAB
If you can't run a furnace all night on your batteries, there's something wrong with them. Now, if you're doing this in February in Minnesota and it's 32 below? I retract my statement.
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The original Post #1 suggests that she has 1 battery [ "my battery" ] in her 1964 17' Bambi II.
Peter
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