Heating my 2004 with Battery Power

[alreed]

I'm going to be doing a lot of airstreaming (2004 International 22') this winter away from shore power. I want to run my propane heater without the fan so that I don't drain my batteries too much. I have a 100 watt solar PV that I use to charge two trojan batteries, so I've got quite a bit of juice. How do I disconnect the fan.

In fact, how do I run the system from batteries even if I don't disconnect the fan, since I only see that it runs off 120 volts?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, my furnace runs on 12 volts and propane. And I don't think you can run the furnace without the fan running.

[KJRitchie]

The propane furnace won't light if it doesn't detect the fan running.

Kelvin

[HowieE]

You can not even consider doing what you said. the heater will not light with out the fan and the fan will kill 2 batteries overnight.

The option is to install a catalytic heater and use it while you are up and around.

[perryg114]

It if did light you would have an explosion. The burner also gets air for combustion from the fan.

There are folks who have installed a catalytic heater that works off of convection only. However, there are risks. If it is running correctly there won't be any CO but it does consume oxygen. I think the heater uses 4.5 Amps so that is about 24 hrs of fan on run time if you have 100 AH worth of batteries. It most likely won't be on all the time. I would consider a small generator to charge batteries with.

Perry

[bovk]

You can be comfortable on battery as perryg114 described.
At 24 degF and above during the day I can camp dry for days running my Honda 1000W every second - third day to recharge and bake bread. Below 24 degF all the time - I go home, I do not know how to camp in AS in these temperatures even connected to 110V.

Also I think all catalytic propane heaters will generate water (+CO2), not good in cold damp weather inside the camper.

[timzog]

I really love my Newport Dickinson propane fireplace. It can run without any power, but it works best with its small fan running.
I think it is way safer than the catalytic heaters since it uses a double flue which brings in fresh air from outside and exhausts all combustion products outside too. It is pricey at about $700 but it is totally cool. Here is a pic of my installation:
.
I don't know the exact amp draw of the fan but it is just like a small computer fan so it does not use much power and is very quiet. I bet that you could run it for weeks on your battery.


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[crisen]

Standard Interstate batteries run the furnace fan all night with no problems. We have done it a lot. Coldest was last March at Liard River Hot Springs at -27 F.

[perryg114]

Ding Ding we have a winner folks.

Perry

Originally Posted by timzog

I really love my Newport Dickinson propane fireplace. It can run without any power, but it works best with its small fan running.
I think it is way safer than the catalytic heaters since it uses a double flue which brings in fresh air from outside and exhausts all combustion products outside too. It is pricey at about $700 but it is totally cool. Here is a pic of my installation:
Attachment 223406.
I don't know the exact amp draw of the fan but it is just like a small computer fan so it does not use much power and is very quiet. I bet that you could run it for weeks on your battery.


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[mefly2]

Originally Posted by crisen

Standard Interstate batteries run the furnace fan all night with no problems. We have done it a lot. Coldest was last March at Liard River Hot Springs at -27 F.

Ditto for us here in Montana ...we have AGM batts and they will easily last 5-6 days of furnace, lights, refrig and occasional inverter use for TC - with below freezing temps. The rest of the AS is winterized and we carry water in jugs.

[perryg114]

Personally, I don't see a reason to camp in winter cold. We go south in the winter where is it warm. That is the beauty of having a trailer. You can pull it to where the weather is good.

Perry

[10Smiles]

Originally Posted by timzog

I really love my Newport Dickinson propane fireplace. It can run without any power, but it works best with its small fan running.
I think it is way safer than the catalytic heaters since it uses a double flue which brings in fresh air from outside and exhausts all combustion products outside too. It is pricey at about $700 but it is totally cool. Here is a pic of my installation:
Attachment 223406.
I don't know the exact amp draw of the fan but it is just like a small computer fan so it does not use much power and is very quiet. I bet that you could run it for weeks on your battery.


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I like this a lot. According to the manual (that I just looked at), the fan draws 0.2 amps. Beautiful!

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Personally, I don't see a reason to camp in winter cold. We go south in the winter where is it warm. That is the beauty of having a trailer. You can pull it to where the weather is good.

Perry

That'd be nice if....1)south was close...and 2) I was retired!

[cramar]

Originally Posted by timzog

I really love my Newport Dickinson propane fireplace. It can run without any power, but it works best with its small fan running.
I think it is way safer than the catalytic heaters since it uses a double flue which brings in fresh air from outside and exhausts all combustion products outside too. It is pricey at about $700 but it is totally cool. Here is a pic of my installation:
Attachment 223406.
I don't know the exact amp draw of the fan but it is just like a small computer fan so it does not use much power and is very quiet. I bet that you could run it for weeks on your battery.

Now THAT is an impressive heater! Their website lists the propane usage and for comparison this begs the question: How much propane does the stock Airstream heater use?

[perryg114]

If it is a 30,000 BTU furnace it uses 30,000 BTU/hr. You can look up the BTU's in a bottle of propane. The furnance only puts out about 22,000 BTU/hr. A pound of propane is about 21,000 BTU. So if the furnace ran all the time it would suck a 30lb bottle dry in a day.

Perry

[idroba]

Originally Posted by cramar

Now THAT is an impressive heater! Their website lists the propane usage and for comparison this begs the question: How much propane does the stock Airstream heater use?

There is nothing magic about any propane heater. They all burn at approximately 75% efficiency, the Marine heater in question, or the Airstream furnace (whatever brand). So, for equal heat output they burn the same amount of Propane. One is not more efficient than the other.

As far as I can tell, the 9000 is the actual BTUh input in propane. The input for small Airstream furnaces is generally 16,000, and larger ones up to 35,000. But if not needed the thermostat shuts the furnace off, so they do not run full time, effectively reducing their input. A small furnace has to run longer or full time to keep the place warm.

This heater has a much lower propane input and lower heat output. It may be enough for your Airstream, or it may not, depending on how you use it and in what conditions.

It does use less 12 volt power to run the fan, no question about that.

[timzog]

Originally Posted by idroba

There is nothing magic about any propane heater. They all burn at approximately 75% efficiency, the Marine heater in question, or the Airstream furnace (whatever brand). So, for equal heat output they burn the same amount of Propane. One is not more efficient than the other.



As far as I can tell, the 9000 is the actual BTUh input in propane. The input for small Airstream furnaces is generally 16,000, and larger ones up to 35,000. But if not needed the thermostat shuts the furnace off, so they do not run full time, effectively reducing their input. A small furnace has to run longer or full time to keep the place warm.



This heater has a much lower propane input and lower heat output. It may be enough for your Airstream, or it may not, depending on how you use it and in what conditions.



It does use less 12 volt power to run the fan, no question about that.

I agree that it is not big enough for all Airstreams and is not for everybody. My Caravelle is only 20' and it is more than enough for heating that. There are definite tradeoffs to this type of heater. The biggest pluses for me are that it has a visible flame, low amp draw and is fully vented. The downsides are that it does not have a thermostat and has to be lit manually. You can adjust the heat output somewhat with a knob, but you have to relight it each time manually that you want to start it. If you want your trailer at an even 70 degrees all night it won't do it, but it will heat the trailer up and provide a nice ambiance when you want it. I can use the fantastic vent thermostat to moderate a bit, but that is pretty wasteful.


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[StreamlineAK]

Timzog, could you post a picture of how your heater is vented?

[timzog]

It is vented through a double wall flexible stainless tube.



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[StreamlineAK]

One more question Timzog, is the fresh air inlet the double wall pipe or is there another vent for fresh air. Also, did you install it or was it professionally installed. If professional, was it an airstream place or a marine place?


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