CheapHeat Add on for Propane Furnace
I recently wrote a lengthy rant about my attempts to prepare for full time winter camping in my Trailer. I installed an extend-a-stay valve so that I could add an external propane tank for heat. The...
Forum Discussion
cmcdar wrote:Old-Biscuit wrote:
There are three available models.
The DH-50 puts out the most heat and draws 21.6 amps from each of
two legs of 120-volt AC power.
The middle unit (DH-37) draws 15.6 amps from each of two 120-volt AC legs
The smaller system (DH-18) draws 15.6 amps but from only one 120-volt AC leg, which makes it the only unit that can operate on 30-amp service.
The other two require 50-amp service.
The above info is from Trailer Life 2013 Article (Couldn't find info at CheapHeat Website :H)
DH-50.....
120V AC at 21.6 amp---that's 2592W per 50A leg (almost 1/2 of available amps/watts)
DH-37....
120V AC at 15.6 amp---that's 1872W per 50A leg
DH-18......
120V AC at 15.6 amp---that's 1872W on 30A leg (over 1/2 of available amps/watts)
$495 for heat unit........and company states installation of 5-8 hrs with costs between $1200-$1500 (Roughly $1700-$2000 total)
Granted....I have no doubt the DH-50 can heat up an RV pumping out almost 5200W of heat using 43.2A or even the DH-37 at 3744W of heat using 31.2A.
The DH-18 might have issues cause it is not much larger wattage than a 1500W space heater which does a OK job in a limited area. Pumping that low of a heat source thru ducting will not have much heat at end of run.
Electric costs........all of them are going to really jack up the electric meter.
OK if electric is included in CG site.......although CG owners will catch on quickly and then there will be 'issues'.
As it is some don't allow electric heaters already.
Cheap Heat is a great name!
I get my propane tanks filled for $15. (I'll round this up to $20. just to make it easy).
$2000 to acquire "Cheap Heat".
So I can buy 100 20 lb tanks of propane with the money I would spend on Cheap Heat.
How long would it take me to work my way through 100 tanks of propane? Because it is only after that amount of time using Cheap Heat, that it would take to actually become "CHEAP".
No way going to say it will "save" you money but there are somethings in life that are worth every penny and not be the least expensive way to go.
Just think about how many tents you could buy for the cost of the average RV.
It cost me $1,500 for the install of the CheapHeat and to me worth every hard earned penny!
