Propane!

BarneyS wrote:
If you are going to run all those electric heaters at the same time, be aware of what other things you run like hair dryers, coffee pots, microwave, elec fry pans etc as otherwise you will be running outside to fix the tripped breaker often. Also may trip the trailers breaker on the electric panel inside. \

I'm not sure how many things you can run at once in a 50amp rig but in my 30amp it is only 3 big items like microwave, coffee pot, and electic heater. In fact, I added a new 110 inlet/outlet in my slide out to be able to use an extension cord from the campground pedestal for our electric heater.
Barney

Thanks for the advice! The bigger heater fan actually had to be plugged into the bathroom, where the hair dryer would go because it did keep tripping. At night while using the heater, we were able to run our other small heater fan, fridge, and tv/lights. Haven't tried to run the microwave yet. Fortunately, it is now in the 60's in TX so we don't need them currently.

Since electricity is included in the price at a campground I run electric heaters during the day and do my best to limit the use of the propane heat.

You are learning and all of us had had some form or another of a learning curve and have run into issues along the way.

When using the electric be prepared to trip some breakers as you will forget the heater is on and try to use some other electric appliance. :)

If you are going to run all those electric heaters at the same time, be aware of what other things you run like hair dryers, coffee pots, microwave, elec fry pans etc as otherwise you will be running outside to fix the tripped breaker often. Also may trip the trailers breaker on the electric panel inside. \

I'm not sure how many things you can run at once in a 50amp rig but in my 30amp it is only 3 big items like microwave, coffee pot, and electic heater. In fact, I added a new 110 inlet/outlet in my slide out to be able to use an extension cord from the campground pedestal for our electric heater.
Barney

Consider picking up an extra propane cylinder if you will be doing this for an extended period. If you are out having fun it is easy to get in late and be low on propane when you just want to warm up and relax.

All, thanks for all the comments, even the rude comments about 'how we let it run out in the first place without noticing'.

We filled them both on a thursday, by mid saturday night, one tank was out. I know that the arrow has to point at the one you are using...and that is needs to be open...which it was. Went sunday to Lowe's and picked up an electric fan tower for the bedroom, and a smaller fan for the kitchen area, and the den is covered by the electric fireplace. So, hoping we won't need to use the propane for the furnace anymore. Also, that Friday was the one time Houston got snow, so it was pretty cold. Also hard to keep a 40' FW warm on just the fireplace, and I can imagine that it (obviously) uses a lot of propane to keep it at a steady 65-68 throughout the night and day when it is overcast, wet, and cold. So now I can gauge a bit how long the propane lasts since this was our first experience...

Thanks to those comments who were actually trying to be helpful and not condescending!

hotpepperkid wrote:
Your signature show Mesa AZ I cant image it getting cold enough there that you would have vaporization problem

I don't have a problem here in Mesa. My stick house is in Canada where it occasionally gets really cold.

joebedford wrote:

jkwilson wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:
In a pinch, I can hook up a 20# BBQ grill cylinder to get things going until the delivery guy can refill it.

I'm far from a propane expert, but my understanding has always been that a small cylinder can't produce vapor fast enough to supply gas to a big appliance like a household furnace.

Maybe a 1 pound cylinder can't. A 20lb and 30lb have the same surface are for propane to vaporize so same rate of vapor production.

At my stick house home, I have two big tanks not for capacity but for vaporization. When it's really cold, one tank can't produce enough gas gas for the furnace. I think you would call each of my tanks 100 gallon.

Your signature show Mesa AZ I cant image it getting cold enough there that you would have vaporization problem

jkwilson wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:
In a pinch, I can hook up a 20# BBQ grill cylinder to get things going until the delivery guy can refill it.

I'm far from a propane expert, but my understanding has always been that a small cylinder can't produce vapor fast enough to supply gas to a big appliance like a household furnace.

Maybe a 1 pound cylinder can't. A 20lb and 30lb have the same surface are for propane to vaporize so same rate of vapor production.

At my stick house home, I have two big tanks not for capacity but for vaporization. When it's really cold, one tank can't produce enough gas gas for the furnace. I think you would call each of my tanks 100 gallon.

I have never had a problem with the auto change over valve.

When camping for more than a couple days each morning I check for water leaks, the sewer lines, my propane, trailer tires and pressures with my TPMS. The red indicator is obvious and indicates time to fill the empty tank.

But if you do not want to venture out of the trailer this device may be handy.

Tank level monitor.

DiskDoctr wrote:
If you have a decent internet connection, this Youtube video can help explain how the dual propane automatic changeover regulators work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0FSyrpG2OA

Don't sweat running out. Now you have an adventure and a lesson learned. It's part of the RV experience! We've all done something and we've all learned something, mostly every time we go out :C

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new camper!

Yea you can use that feature if you like but choose not to because I would rather wake up in the middle of the night and change tanks and not wake up in the middle of the night and find out I have NO propane