No LP - All Electric, is it realistic?

[J.air.doe]

Hello, first post and first time 'streamer!

I'm doing a full renovation (rewiring too) on a 1972 31' Sovereign, looking at relying on shore/generator power for an electric on demand hot water heater, a single A/C unit (either combination with heater or a separate electric space heater), an electric refrigerator, an electric cook top, a toaster oven, and all the little other things.

Because it only has a black water tank and our style of travel we only plan on being without full hookups while on the road.

My question is;

If I rewire the trailer for 50AMP service, have a good sized generator and possibly build a battery box for multiple batteries... would I be able to expect to run say the refrigerator for 24-48 hours on battery/inverter power alone, and will a decent sized generator provide enough for running the A/C and/or the on demand hot water unit?

I plan on keeping 12V for lights and such, but basically is an all 110/120V trailer realistic? I apologize if I'm extremely naive...

[jdalrymple]

Welcome to the forums!


That question has been hashed around several times.

The answer tends to be it works for some, not for others. I am a “not for others”.


I guess my question is why? The rest of this post is simply my opinion.

Having the ability to use two power sources adds flexibility. Lots of batteries are heavy. Inverters are inefficient. Generators are expensive and require constant feeding.

Propane for cooking, heating water, heating the trailer, running the refer, and even lighting is cheap, safe, and easy to carry a LOT of.

Having to have electric power constantly seems quite limiting to me.

Most all that consider total electric say they will never camp where there is no power. I would like to see true numbers on the folks whom choose to go that way and later regret it at some point.

[InsideOut]

I agree with what Jeff said:

Originally Posted by jdalrymple

The answer tends to be it works for some, not for others. I am a “not for others”.

I guess my question is why? The rest of this post is simply my opinion.

Having the ability to use two power sources adds flexibility. Lots of batteries are heavy. Inverters are inefficient. Generators are expensive and require constant feeding.

Propane for cooking, heating water, heating the trailer, running the refer, and even lighting is cheap, safe, and easy to carry a LOT of.

Having to have electric power constantly seems quite limiting to me.

Most all that consider total electric say they will never camp where there is no power. I would like to see true numbers on the folks whom choose to go that way and later regret it at some point.

Not to mention resale...most potential buyers (believe it or not, you will sell it someday) would expect your trailer to have the capabilities it did when it was new.

If anything, from the sounds of your restoration, you may want to consider adding a grey water tank - it certainly is easier during a restoration rather than after ~

Shari

[Bill M.]

There was an all electric in the vintage trailer section at the Fl state rally last year. The propane tanks were removed and there was a fairly large generator mounted in their place on the front with a nice custom Al cover. Yes, a decent sized generator should operate everything you need. Maybe not all at once. Certainly will run the AC. I do not think you will be able to run much at all with the inverter and batteries.

[Scott J-24]

I would be concerned with having a 110v only refrigerator when traveling... Can an all electric refrigerator run off the TV while getting from one place to another? If not, I would be concerned with food spoilage while underway especially with the high summer heat a lot of folks are experiencing lately.

[SteSpot]

We can be without electricity and still be able to take a hot shower and cook. We prefer all hookups but they are not aways available where we want to go.....and yes, you will want to add a grey tank.....the more flexibility you build into your trailer the more useful it will be.....some places do not allow generators.....like the park we are in right now.....and we are using the parks electricity.....it is very nice and quiet here now.....paula

[richinny]

from what i've read on the forums the on demand water heater needs to be rated for RV use.

look into a danfoss type 12v refrigerator.

will 50a service power the stove and everything else?

use the search tab on top (google search box) for the various items and you should find some good reading :-)

[richinny]

similar thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...dea-78643.html

[TBRich]

I have to agree with most here...even though you project now that you will only camp where there is electricity, it is not always possible. And when you can run a generator, there are usually quiet hours involved when you aren't allowed to run it...usually in the 9 or 10 PM - 7 or 8 AM range (overnight)...some places have even more generator restrictions...only for 3 or 4 hours a day around meal times. Then there is the resell issue. I would never buy an all electric rig simply because it wouldn't have the flexibility to do everything we like to do.

[J.air.doe]

Thanks for all of the quick and well put comments.

After toying with the idea (the ease of all electric is what tempted me) I've decided to keep the LP system with one exception - the furnace.

I will be designing a different floor plan and simply do not want the hassle of a installing a furnace and ducting, I instead will rely on a heat pump and possibly a Catalytic heater in addition if deemed necessary.

Any recommended threads to read concerning rewiring?

[SmokelessJoe]

Nick,

Before you give up on the all-electric idea consider that most of the people posting here have no actual real world experience of doing without propane. They just somehow "know" that you can't or shouldn't go all-electric.

I deliberately don't have propane in my trailer and have been happily living without it for four years now.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f287...tml#post560322

In the process of building my diesel powered 1976 Argosy I came to realize that I could just as easily, more easily in fact, have gone all-electric.

What many people don't realize is that every traveler's circumstance is unique. What would be no good for some people can be perfect for you. Not everyone goes boon-docking for weeks at a time.

You can go all-electric if you want to and you won't be the first person to have done so.

Sergei

[SteSpot]

You might want to check into a Precision Twin Temp tankless waterheater/furnace combination. We love having endless hot water when we are hooked up to water.....don't think the ducting is all that daunting..... I think Lewster has posted on this....

We had an opportunity to camp in a city park for the Wally Byam Birthday Bash in Baker City, OR.....with no hookups....having propane made the difference of being able to actually camp there for several days comfortably. Did I ever plan to do that? Not exactly, but the opportunity arose and we were able to be in the middle of the festivities and shower and cook...just a thought....but then I would give up my electricity before giving up propane.....good luck in your project and I don't think there is a propane police that I am aware of.....do what you want...paula

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by NickSimcheck

I instead will rely on a heat pump and possibly a Catalytic heater in addition if deemed necessary.

I see that you are from Michigan. The heat pump becomes pretty useless when it gets down anywhere near freezing. You will definitely need another heat source such as the catalytic heater anywhere north of Florida or the Rio Grande Valley.

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by SmokelessJoe

Nick,

Before you give up on the all-electric idea consider that most of the people posting here have no actual real world experience of doing without propane. They just somehow "know" that you can't or shouldn't go all-electric.

I deliberately don't have propane in my trailer and have been happily living without it for four years now.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f287...tml#post560322

In the process of building my diesel powered 1976 Argosy I came to realize that I could just as easily, more easily in fact, have gone all-electric.

What many people don't realize is that every traveler's circumstance is unique. What would be no good for some people can be perfect for you. Not everyone goes boon-docking for weeks at a time.

You can go all-electric if you want to and you won't be the first person to have done so.

Sergei

I'm with Sergei on this one.

Diesel water heater also used for space heating

Diesel stove / oven - Wallas 87D

Diesel genset for when it all goes wrong

+ Big solar

[Gene]

Sure you can do it without another energy source such as propane, but it appears those using only electric have another energy source—diesel. You could do it with a gas generator, but you'll need a generator for when the campground power goes out. You will need heating near the water tanks and that will have to be electric. The propane furnace has heat ducts to the tanks and you will have to supplement or replace those.

Solar may not be enough unless you want to spend many thousands on many panels plus a big inverter and lots of batteries. On stormy, dark days you will need a generator.

If you are camped somewhere without an electric hookup and have to use a generator a lot, your neighbors will not be happy. A big solar setup can solve that unless the weather is bad.

Jeff summed it up well in post #2.

Gene

[Darkspeed]

I need to start building my own brand of super sneaky extra quiet generators.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

I need to start building my own brand of super sneaky extra quiet generators.

Nuclear is quiet.

Gene

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Nuclear is quiet.

Gene

Yeah, but then you need an HD tow vehicle for the reactor and you know that just beats the tar out of the Airstream.

[Mr.Bill]

If you go all-electric wouldn't that mean that you could also eliminate the 12V system? My idea would be to eliminate the propane and 12V, and eliminate the generator. Would only work if you were in a campground. Not a good idea for extended stays, but if you were using a small (16 foot?) trailer, only camping for a few days at a time and stayed in temperate (non-freezing) areas, it might work. And limiting yourself to campgrounds with full hook-ups would also mean that you could greatly reduce the size of the freshwater tank and combine the gray and black water tanks into one small tank (in case you wanted to use the toilet while you were between campgrounds.

[Gene]

If you want to sell it someday, the more different it is, the harder it will be to sell.

Gene