Propane question

[holmarwil]

I’m going camping this weekend and the nights are going to be quite chilly. If I run my propane heater (which is really the only thing I run off the propane) how much gas is it going to use? Do you think I’ll have enough for 2 nights?

I have a forest river 176ltd Mac for reference.

 

[Econ]

Is the tank full or nearly empty? Probably.

 

[generok]

One 20# tank will last you the weekend for sure.

 

[xxxapache]

If you only have one battery, you will likely run out of 12v before propane.

 

[Econ]

One 20# tank will last you the weekend for sure.

I spent 10 days in the SMNP during fall (Nov???). Ran the refrig and heater. I just answered 2 "my heater won't work posts" and they gave minimal info. I'm a grumpy old man and wish people would think this thru as to what info I may need to answer the question intelligently. There's a difference "in it hurts", "my leg hurts" and my leg hurts as there is an arrow stuck in it".<gg> One didn't even tell the model.

It's getting down to 59*F low tonight for the first time this season. Quit laughing<GG>.

 

[Raycfe]

Your propane should last
You battery may not unless you are plugged into power.
To make your popup more comfortable stop a big box store and get a roll of refex insulation it is like foil covered bubble wrap that can easily be cut with a scissors I can place it between the screen and its canvas cover and will help keep the heat in.
Also be frugal with your heat use. Cozy when putting the kids to bed and bundled up. Turn it down after that. And back up early in the morning. I replaced the crappy thermostat that comes with the campers with a less than 30 dollar digital one and mounted it near my bunk in easy reach. Just before it gets light I could just reach down from the comfort of my sleeping bag and turn it up before everyone gets up.
Also leave a little opening in one of the windows or vent to prevent condensation as you sleep.

 

[xxxapache]

If I had electricity, I probably wouldn't even use the furnace. I would use a small ceramic space heater.

 

[Snow]

Roughly calculated a furnace uses 1lb of propane for an hour of run time, so if your furnace ran non stop a full tank would last 20 hours.

 

[tombiasi]

I’m going camping this weekend and the nights are going to be quite chilly. If I run my propane heater (which is really the only thing I run off the propane) how much gas is it going to use? Do you think I’ll have enough for 2 nights?

I have a forest river 176ltd Mac for reference.

Are you going to be on battery?

 

[Snow]

If I had electricity, I probably wouldn't even use the furnace. I would use a small ceramic space heater.

That's what we do, we'll I try to do, sometimes I'm over ruled by the boss.

 

[holmarwil]

If you only have one battery, you will likely run out of 12v before propane.

I didn’t think my heater ran off battery

 

[holmarwil]

Are you going to be on battery?

I do have a battery and a solar panel on the roof. I didn’t think my heater ran off battery

 

[holmarwil]

Not sure what information I left out that you needed. Seemed like a pretty simple question 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

[tombiasi]

Not sure what information I left out that you needed. Seemed like a pretty simple question 🤷🏼‍♀️

I asked because the battery will die before you run out of propane.

 

[Sjm9911]

The heat is produced by propane, the fan that distributes the heat is run of 12 v power. How long it lasts is the same as how much your heating bill is in your home. It depends on the weather, insulation and how high you set it for. For a few nights, with solar and a battery that will run the fan you should be fine. As long as its not 30 degrees out. Then it will run constantly. So, what temps are expected?

 

[Dnodoz]

The furnace burns propane but the blower motor runs off 12v.

 

[neighbormike]

Not sure what information I left out that you needed. Seemed like a pretty simple question 🤷🏼‍♀️

It IS a simple question… with a slightly complicated answer. As mentioned, your furnace requires 12v power to run the blower. Without the blower, the furnace is useless. Literally. If you are camping with Shore Power, make sure the lp tank is full and and you’re golden! If you are dry camping, you need to make sure you have enough power to get through your trip.

 

[holmarwil]

I asked because the battery will die before you run out of propane.

I think I was trying to reply to a different post. Sorry!

 

[Econ]

I didn’t think my heater ran off battery

My camper is designed to be used at a site that doesn't have full electrical and water hookup. Therefore, it has a water tank. The 120VAC operates the 120VAC circuit that the A/C is plugged into and a few misc outlets. It also operates the battery charger that is hidden in the converter. The majority in that camper is 12VDC.

The main thing about my Atwood heater is you have to have battery voltage above 10.5VDC to operate it. The first thing you check if your heater won't work.

Campsites without 120VAC are superior campsites. They eliminate the Riff Raff that bring 65" Tv's.

 

[davido]

A propane 20 pound tank, when full, contains over 400,000 BTUs of energy in it. A typical popup furnace is 19,000 BTUs. If you run your furnace 10 hours, at 50% duty cycle, that's 5 hours of run-time. If you have 5-hours of run-time per day, for two days, that's a total of 10 hours, or 190,000 BTUs of energy. You'll use about half your propane in two days, ten solid hours of run-time.

Your Group 24 battery holds 80AH of power. The furnace consumes 3A per hour to run its blower. (Saying your furnace doesn't run off of electricity is wrong; it has a blower. Electricity powers the blower motor.) So in those ten hours of constant runtime, you'll consume 30A of capacity. You should not run a battery past 50% charge. So you have 40AH available, you're using 30AH for the furnace, that leaves 10AH for lights and other accessories. You're more likely to run out of battery than out of propane.