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Eyetattoo's avatar
Eyetattoo
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013

Space heater while in storage?

The next few days the temp is going to drop to between 15-25 degrees overnight and mid to high 40's during the day. I'm wondering if I should plug in a space heater and set it at 55 degrees to keep the pipes from freezing. I haven't winterized the trailer nor will I have time before the freeze starts (normally we only see temps in the mid 30's.

I have no shore power where it is stored so I would be depending on my 2 6 volt batteries plus a single solar panel system to handle the load from Thursday to Tuesday. Do you think would be ok?
Toy Haulers

18 Replies

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  • I_am_still_wayn's avatar
    I_am_still_wayn
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2013
    Forget counting on the batteries to power a space heater. You will get about 30 minutes of heat before dead batteries. Forget about using the batteries to power the furnace. You will get about 24 to 36 hours before dead batteries.

    Just spend the 30 minutes and winterize!
  • powderman426's avatar
    powderman426
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2013
    edsland wrote:
    It doesn't take more then 30 minutes to winterize, if I where you I would squeeze a half hour into my schedule.


    X2. I can do mine in less time than that.
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2013
    The BEST option is to winterize (takes maybe four times as long as dropping off a space heater and getting it running), will cost about the same and be MUCH safer for your RV. You can blow out lines in about ten minutes or do a replacement of antifreeze in about the same time.
    Good luck / Skip
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Dec 04, 2013
    Hi Eyetattoo,

    Yes, the furnace draws at most 9 amps, and produces 30,000 btu's. A 1500 watt heater may draw 150 amps, and produces about 5120 btu's.

    I have 875 amp-hours of battery bank. That means I could run a 1500 watt space heater for perhaps 2.5 hours, before I hit 50% state of charge.


    Eyetattoo wrote:
    Yeah I was considering a electric heater.

    So the furnace will use less power than the space heater?
  • edsland's avatar
    edsland
    Explorer
    Dec 04, 2013
    It doesn't take more then 30 minutes to winterize, if I where you I would squeeze a half hour into my schedule.
  • old_guy's avatar
    old_guy
    Explorer
    Dec 03, 2013
    if you don't have shore power there is no way in haddes you can run an electric space heater. and if you think two 6 v's will power the furnace for 4 days then you are again wishing for a miracle. You should have winterized long before now. I suggest you run it for one night and get it winterized tomorrow with out fail or you will need to replumbe the TT next spring.
  • Eyetattoo's avatar
    Eyetattoo
    Explorer
    Dec 03, 2013
    Yeah I was considering a electric heater.

    So the furnace will use less power than the space heater?
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Dec 03, 2013
    Hi,

    Are you talking an electric space heater? If so, all all you will end up with is a set of extremely dead batteries.

    I'd set the propane furnace as low as it goes, if I were not prepared to winterize.

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