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GettinAway · 08-21-2016, 01:09 PM

Thanks Peter. Yes, I misspoke regarding the converter. We were cooking batteries with the old converter/charger. The new one is much more quiet also.
Thanks again. I've been running the little Honda generator, and plugging the main trailer power into the generator. The only problem arises when my wife runs her blow dryer. Seems to draw more than the little Honda wants to produce.

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OTRA15 · 08-21-2016, 01:40 PM

You might consider a smaller blow dryer. I believe they exist, and only use the Low setting. Also, if a hair dryer challenges your gen, then the water heater will not work on electric, to modify my earlier comment, but the fridge might. We got a small Yamaha 1,000 tri-fuel gen recently, and it handles our OEM battery charger and the fridge at the same time, as long as the batteries are not very discharged. Further generator discussions should probably move over to another thread, if you want, as there are plenty of them.

pcskier · 08-21-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Streaminfree

May sound stupid, but do you know how to turn on the furnace, when I select hp on thermostat I get e7 error.

E7 means no power to the trailer--which there isnt since you aren't plugged in to shore power. The AC and HP will NOT run on just the batteries, which is why you will get and E7 code if the thermostat is set to HP (heat pump) or AC. You need to scroll through the 'Mode' setting on the themostat and select "Furnace". This will then kick on the furnace running on 12v and propane. Make sure of course that your batteries are not in "store" mode.

The furnace WILL drain the batteries relatively quickly, so use sparingly. Then use your generator to top up the batteries.

cazual6 · 08-21-2016, 08:53 PM

I was told and I have been using 40 above use HEAT PUMP. Otherwise use the FURNACE.

I tend to use the FURNACE it is quieter.

FURNACE uses Propane.

HEAT PUMP uses electricity.

Streaminfree · 08-22-2016, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewster

12.3VDC is close to 30% depth of discharge for some liquid cell batteries (50% is actually 12.2VDC for AGM batteries and 12.06VDC for many liquid cells) and 9.8VDC is effectively DEAD for a lead-based battery!! (these values heavily depend on the battery chemistry and manufacturer and you should always confirm these levels with the OEM of the batteries that you are using)

If you want your batteries to last more than a season or two, you should avoid drawing your batteries below 50% on a regular basis. Keep drawing them below 11.5VDC and they won't serve you very long.

Thanks, I was wondering what the threshold was. Definitely need to get some solar then to make this system work for cold weather boondocking.

m.hony · 08-22-2016, 06:48 AM

The propane furnace fan is 12 volt.
You can use your furnace.
How long depends on type of batteries.
Solar would be a nice accessory in this scenario.

sjoldersma · 08-24-2016, 07:43 PM

get a catalytic heater....we have one for boon docking times....use it frequently....keep a couple windows open about a half inch to keep air flow going. Bought it in Scottsdale and have never regretted it.

**wulfraat** · 08-24-2016, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cazual6

I was told and I have been using 40 above use HEAT PUMP. Otherwise use the FURNACE.

I tend to use the FURNACE it is quieter.

FURNACE uses Propane.

HEAT PUMP uses electricity.

We always use the furnace, never the heat pump even when on shore power. AC/Heat pump is way too loud in the middle of the night when you are trying to sleep... furnace is quiet relatively speaking...

When boondocking, with 2 group 27 lifelines, on a cold night we'll draw down about 20% of the battery capacity using the furnace. Tops right back up the next day with 480 watts of solar

CabinCruiser · 08-30-2016, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Streaminfree

Anyone have any ideas, I know we have an AC system that does heat, but that gives an e7 error, but I thought we had a heat pad option.

Any advice would be awesome!

I have run into the E7 error many times. E7 error means you do not have power. Check your electrical box and flip the switch. You are probably overloaded or taxing the 30 / 50 amp. Flip it off then on again. If you get it again, then start turning other things off, like microwave, water heater, etc.

capt_ron777 · 07-22-2020, 06:24 PM

Hope to revive this thread and get some answers from the more knowledgeable folks out there.Was boondocking last week in Colorado and it got pretty cold at nite. Turned on the furnace and got the E7 reading but realized that was for zone 2 and furnace is only zone 1. Set it to low fan and appropiate temp but nothing came on. Looked at circut breakers and fuses and all was good. Propane full , battery said around 12.3. Even plugged in generator for a couple of hrs. and battery was good .Thermosta said the right things but no fan. It was a cold 3 nites. Got home and called AS and service fellow didn't have much to say but at the end of conversation asked if I reset the use/store button. I hadn't. But I was plugged in by then so I'm not sure what did it. It now is working on battery alone. Sorry for the long story, but is that something that needs to be done if an appliance is not working. Simple as flip the use store button. Thanks for any responses.

GettinAway · 07-23-2020, 06:11 AM

Just got back from WY. We ran our furnace every morning. I believe I had it set for “automatic” on the fan. I know that makes a difference in some modes. It also did not seem to draw down the battery as much as I feared it would. It was in the 40s at night, and we let the trailer go into the 50s. Then turned on furnace when I got up to make coffee. Lovely wife got up when the trailer was warm enough.