CheapHeat furnace conversion
I was wondering if anyone has converted their factory installed LP furnace to the CheapHeat system. Seems like a very practical system when connected to shore power. No worrying about running out of g...
Forum Discussion
jcthorne wrote:Retired JSO wrote:
Your furnace will be close to 30-35,000 BTU.
I believe, Cheap Heat is about the same as the overpriced 120 volt electric heaters, so called produced by Amish Craftsman, to heat an entire home. The most heat they can supply is just over 5000 BTU. The same amount of heat a $39 Walmart space heater can supply. No where close to 30,000 BTU.
This is completely wrong. The 50A cheapheat system is roughly 5000 watts and runs 20A at 240VAC. Puts out approx. 16,000 BTU witch is roughly equal to a 26,000 BTU gas heater (60% efficient).
We installed the Cheapheat system about a year ago and could not be more pleased with it. Got rid of the 4 space heaters and the coach is warm and evenly heated throughout. Including the basement compartments. We have only used it in temps down to the low 20s but it was still cycling with significant off time so can go colder. This in a 38ft motorhome with 2 slides.
Good post reference the efficiency of propane furnaces. Propane furnaces work great but as stated they loose a lot of heat out the exhaust pipe. An electric approach is 100 percent efficient of course. The other thing is the heat becomes much more even without the valleys and dips of a propane furnace. The furnace motor runs longer but with less ups and downs I think the effect would be really comfortable, not too mention as Harold pointed out the ability to run it slow speed is a huge plus as it would be really quiet. Baseboard heaters are a nice and neat permanent solution but many RV's have limited open wall space so install can be difficult. This along with a combination of under floor heat worked for us but it can be a challenge. I'll include a picture of one of our 500 watt baseboard in case it helps the OP or others in solving a problem using a mixed approach. We have decided not to go the cheap heat route now as we solved out problem but had it been around when we made our mods (9 years ago now) I think we would have gone that way. Good luck and let is know what you decide.
Front stairway 500 watt heater. Takes the cold off the windshield effect.
Bedroom 300 watt.
