Winter RV camping
Winter RV camping: This information on winter RVing is provided courtesy of Tiger Run Resort, Breckenridge, CO. DianneOK, moderator -----------------------------------------------------------...
Forum Discussion
Hi all,
Here is the data. I invite conclusions. I've posted the same information in F, after the version in C.
November 19, 2011 12:50 test begins on 28'5" Class C with dual pane windows
Ambient temperature -18 C
RV temperature was -18 C when picked up but rose to -10 C after 10 kilometers of driving, mostly at highway speeds. The area under the kitchen cabinet was -18 C.
I plugged in two oil filled heaters @ 462 watts each and one radiant heater @ 556 watts for a total of 1480 watts, or the equivalent of 5051 BTU's. The oil filled heaters are in the rear corners of the rear bedroom and the door is open. The radiant heater is in the door way facing the driver's compartment.
13:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -7.6 C in the shelf over the dinette, -18 C under kitchen cabinet, -3.6 C rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature -17 C, RV temperatures, -5.5 C in the shelf over the dinette, -15.7 under kitchen cabinet, -1.3 C rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature -17.8 C, RV temperatures, -3.7 C in the shelf over the dinette, -14.6 under kitchen cabinet, 0.1 C rear bedroom
16:50
Ambient temperature -17.8 C, RV temperatures, -2.4 C in the shelf over the dinette, -14.2 under kitchen cabinet, 1 C rear bedroom
17:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -2.1 C in the shelf over the dinette, -14 under kitchen cabinet, 1.3 C rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature -18.3 C, RV temperatures, -1.8 C in the shelf over the dinette, -13.8 C under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
19:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -1.5 C in the shelf over the dinette, -13.7 C under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
20:50
Ambient temperature -18.1 C, RV temperatures, -1.8 C in the shelf over the dinette, -13.8 C under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
The RV has arrived at steady state. The next part of the test involves switching on a dual fan to blow air into that rather frozen kitchen cabinet. This, by a happy circumstance, also causes a some air to flow through the furnace duct work.
21:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -2.2 C in the shelf over the dinette, -7.9 C under kitchen cabinet, `1.1 C rear bedroom
22:50
Ambient temperature -18.6 C, RV temperatures, -2.2 C in the shelf over the dinette, -7.2 C under kitchen cabinet, 0.6 C rear bedroom
23:50
Ambient temperature -18.7 C, RV temperatures, -2.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, -7.4 C under kitchen cabinet, 0.2 C rear bedroom
07:50
Ambient temperature -18.3 C, RV temperatures, -5.4 C in the shelf over the dinette, -9.7 C under kitchen cabinet, -1.9 C rear bedroom
08:50
Ambient temperature -17.2 C, RV temperatures, -5.5 C in the shelf over the dinette, -9.7 C under kitchen cabinet, -2.0 C rear bedroom
09:50
Ambient temperature -16 C, RV temperatures, -5.2 C in the shelf over the dinette, -9.2 C under kitchen cabinet, -1.7 C rear bedroom
On to the next part of testing. I've added 1500 watts of fan based heaters raising the total to just under 3000 watts.
10:50
Ambient temperature -15.1 C, RV temperatures, -2.1 C in the shelf over the dinette, -4.1 C under kitchen cabinet, 3.1 C rear bedroom
11:50
Ambient temperature -14.2 C, RV temperatures, 1.8 C in the shelf over the dinette, -1 C under kitchen cabinet, 6.6 C rear bedroom
12:50
Ambient temperature -13 C, RV temperatures, 4.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, 2.1 C under kitchen cabinet, 10.0 C rear bedroom
13:50
Ambient temperature -12 C, RV temperatures, 7.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, 4.9 C under kitchen cabinet, 12.1 C rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature -12 C, RV temperatures, 9.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, 2.8 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off range between -1.1 and 4.7 C), 14.3 C rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature -12.3 C, RV temperatures, 10.6 C in the shelf over the dinette, 3.8 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off) 15.1 C rear bedroom
I've adjusted the under kitchen cabinet thermostat upwards, which was one of the "side issues" for doing this testing.
16:50
Ambient temperature -12.8 C, RV temperatures, 11.1 C in the shelf over the dinette, 2.9 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off), 15.6 C rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature -15.8 C, RV temperatures, 11.3 C in the shelf over the dinette, 4.9 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off; range between 2.7 and 6.3 C), 15.8 C rear bedroom
I've ended the test and shut down the heaters except for one just to keep a little heat going in the RV.
So far, my thoughts are that without the fan, the kitchen cabinet area essentially never warms up except if the propane furnace, (which happens to "live there") is running. The difference in temperature varies between 10 and 12 degrees C from the temperature at the dinette.
With the fan running that difference is about 1/2 as much or 5 to 6 degrees C.
I am not attempting to keep the kitchen cabinet at the same temperature as the rest of the RV--just trying to keep the water lines from freezing up while not running the propane furnace. Apparently doing so requires about 3000 watts or around 10,000 btu's when there is an ambient temperature of -12 to -15 C.
F Version
November 19, 2011 12:50 test begins on 28'5" Class C with dual pane windows Temperatures converted to F
Ambient temperature -0.4
RV temperature was -0.4 when picked up but rose to 14 after six miles of driving, mostly at highway speeds. The area under the kitchen cabinet was -0.4.
I plugged in two oil filled heaters @ 462 watts each and one radiant heater @ 556 watts for a total of 1480 watts, or the equivalent of 5051 BTU's. The oil filled heaters are in the rear corners of the rear bedroom and the door is open. The radiant heater is in the door way facing the driver's compartment.
13:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 18.4 in the shelf over the dinette, -0.4 under kitchen cabinet, 25.5 rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature 1.4, RV temperatures, 22.1 in the shelf over the dinette, 3.7 under kitchen cabinet, 29.6 rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 25.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 5.7 under kitchen cabinet, 31.8 rear bedroom
16:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 27.7 in the shelf over the dinette, 6.4 under kitchen cabinet, 33.8 rear bedroom
17:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 28.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 6.8 under kitchen cabinet, 34.3 rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature -0.9, RV temperatures, 28.8, in the shelf over the dinette, 7.2 under kitchen cabinet, 29.3 rear bedroom
19:50
Ambient temperature =0.4, RV temperatures, 29.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 7.3 under kitchen cabinet, 34.7 rear bedroom
20:50
Ambient temperature -0.6, RV temperatures, 28.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 7.2 under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
The RV has arrived at steady state. The next part of the test involves switching on a dual fan to blow air into that rather frozen kitchen cabinet. This, by a happy circumstance, also causes a some air to flow through the furnace duct work.
21:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 36 in the shelf over the dinette, 17.8 under kitchen cabinet, 34 rear bedroom
22:50
Ambient temperature -1.5, RV temperatures, 36 in the shelf over the dinette, 19 under kitchen cabinet, 33 rear bedroom
23:50
Ambient temperature -1.7, RV temperatures, 26.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 18.7 under kitchen cabinet, 32.4 rear bedroom
07:50
Ambient temperature -0.9, RV temperatures, 22.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 14.5 under kitchen cabinet, 28.6 rear bedroom
08:50
Ambient temperature 1, RV temperatures, 22.1 in the shelf over the dinette, 14.5 under kitchen cabinet, 28.4 rear bedroom
09:50
Ambient temperature 3.2, RV temperatures, 22.6 in the shelf over the dinette, 15.4 under kitchen cabinet, 29 rear bedroom
On to the next part of testing. I've added 1500 watts of fan based heaters raising the total to just under 3000 watts.
10:50
Ambient temperature 4.8, RV temperatures, 28.2 in the shelf over the dinette, 24.6 under kitchen cabinet, 37.6 rear bedroom
11:50
Ambient temperature 6.4, RV temperatures, 35.2 in the shelf over the dinette, 30.2 under kitchen cabinet, 43.9 rear bedroom
12:50
Ambient temperature 8.6, RV temperatures, 40.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 35.8 C under kitchen cabinet, 50 rear bedroom
13:50
Ambient temperature 10.4, RV temperatures, 46.2 in the shelf over the dinette, 40.8 under kitchen cabinet, 54 rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature 10.4, RV temperatures, 50.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 37 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off range between 30 and 40.5), 57.7 C rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature 9.9, RV temperatures, 51 in the shelf over the dinette, 38.8 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off), 59.2 rear bedroom
I've adjusted the under kitchen cabinet thermostat upwards, which was one of the "side issues" for doing this testing.
16:50
Ambient temperature 9, RV temperatures, 52 in the shelf over the dinette, 37.2 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off), 60 rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature 3.5, RV temperatures, 52.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 4.0.8 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off range between 36.9 and 43.4), 60.4 rear bedroom
I've ended the test and shut down the heaters except for one just to keep a little heat going in the RV.
So far, my thoughts are that without the fan, the kitchen cabinet area essentially never warms up except if the propane furnace, (which happens to "live there") is running. The difference in temperature varies between 18 and 21.6 degrees lower than from the temperature at the dinette.
With the fan running that difference is about 1/2 as much or 9 to 11 degrees lower.
I am not attempting to keep the kitchen cabinet at the same temperature as the rest of the RV--just trying to keep the water lines from freezing up while not running the propane furnace. Apparently doing so requires about 3000 watts or around 10,000 btu's when there is an ambient temperature of 10.4 to 5.
Here is the data. I invite conclusions. I've posted the same information in F, after the version in C.
November 19, 2011 12:50 test begins on 28'5" Class C with dual pane windows
Ambient temperature -18 C
RV temperature was -18 C when picked up but rose to -10 C after 10 kilometers of driving, mostly at highway speeds. The area under the kitchen cabinet was -18 C.
I plugged in two oil filled heaters @ 462 watts each and one radiant heater @ 556 watts for a total of 1480 watts, or the equivalent of 5051 BTU's. The oil filled heaters are in the rear corners of the rear bedroom and the door is open. The radiant heater is in the door way facing the driver's compartment.
13:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -7.6 C in the shelf over the dinette, -18 C under kitchen cabinet, -3.6 C rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature -17 C, RV temperatures, -5.5 C in the shelf over the dinette, -15.7 under kitchen cabinet, -1.3 C rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature -17.8 C, RV temperatures, -3.7 C in the shelf over the dinette, -14.6 under kitchen cabinet, 0.1 C rear bedroom
16:50
Ambient temperature -17.8 C, RV temperatures, -2.4 C in the shelf over the dinette, -14.2 under kitchen cabinet, 1 C rear bedroom
17:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -2.1 C in the shelf over the dinette, -14 under kitchen cabinet, 1.3 C rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature -18.3 C, RV temperatures, -1.8 C in the shelf over the dinette, -13.8 C under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
19:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -1.5 C in the shelf over the dinette, -13.7 C under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
20:50
Ambient temperature -18.1 C, RV temperatures, -1.8 C in the shelf over the dinette, -13.8 C under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
The RV has arrived at steady state. The next part of the test involves switching on a dual fan to blow air into that rather frozen kitchen cabinet. This, by a happy circumstance, also causes a some air to flow through the furnace duct work.
21:50
Ambient temperature -18 C, RV temperatures, -2.2 C in the shelf over the dinette, -7.9 C under kitchen cabinet, `1.1 C rear bedroom
22:50
Ambient temperature -18.6 C, RV temperatures, -2.2 C in the shelf over the dinette, -7.2 C under kitchen cabinet, 0.6 C rear bedroom
23:50
Ambient temperature -18.7 C, RV temperatures, -2.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, -7.4 C under kitchen cabinet, 0.2 C rear bedroom
07:50
Ambient temperature -18.3 C, RV temperatures, -5.4 C in the shelf over the dinette, -9.7 C under kitchen cabinet, -1.9 C rear bedroom
08:50
Ambient temperature -17.2 C, RV temperatures, -5.5 C in the shelf over the dinette, -9.7 C under kitchen cabinet, -2.0 C rear bedroom
09:50
Ambient temperature -16 C, RV temperatures, -5.2 C in the shelf over the dinette, -9.2 C under kitchen cabinet, -1.7 C rear bedroom
On to the next part of testing. I've added 1500 watts of fan based heaters raising the total to just under 3000 watts.
10:50
Ambient temperature -15.1 C, RV temperatures, -2.1 C in the shelf over the dinette, -4.1 C under kitchen cabinet, 3.1 C rear bedroom
11:50
Ambient temperature -14.2 C, RV temperatures, 1.8 C in the shelf over the dinette, -1 C under kitchen cabinet, 6.6 C rear bedroom
12:50
Ambient temperature -13 C, RV temperatures, 4.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, 2.1 C under kitchen cabinet, 10.0 C rear bedroom
13:50
Ambient temperature -12 C, RV temperatures, 7.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, 4.9 C under kitchen cabinet, 12.1 C rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature -12 C, RV temperatures, 9.9 C in the shelf over the dinette, 2.8 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off range between -1.1 and 4.7 C), 14.3 C rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature -12.3 C, RV temperatures, 10.6 C in the shelf over the dinette, 3.8 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off) 15.1 C rear bedroom
I've adjusted the under kitchen cabinet thermostat upwards, which was one of the "side issues" for doing this testing.
16:50
Ambient temperature -12.8 C, RV temperatures, 11.1 C in the shelf over the dinette, 2.9 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off), 15.6 C rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature -15.8 C, RV temperatures, 11.3 C in the shelf over the dinette, 4.9 C under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off; range between 2.7 and 6.3 C), 15.8 C rear bedroom
I've ended the test and shut down the heaters except for one just to keep a little heat going in the RV.
So far, my thoughts are that without the fan, the kitchen cabinet area essentially never warms up except if the propane furnace, (which happens to "live there") is running. The difference in temperature varies between 10 and 12 degrees C from the temperature at the dinette.
With the fan running that difference is about 1/2 as much or 5 to 6 degrees C.
I am not attempting to keep the kitchen cabinet at the same temperature as the rest of the RV--just trying to keep the water lines from freezing up while not running the propane furnace. Apparently doing so requires about 3000 watts or around 10,000 btu's when there is an ambient temperature of -12 to -15 C.
F Version
November 19, 2011 12:50 test begins on 28'5" Class C with dual pane windows Temperatures converted to F
Ambient temperature -0.4
RV temperature was -0.4 when picked up but rose to 14 after six miles of driving, mostly at highway speeds. The area under the kitchen cabinet was -0.4.
I plugged in two oil filled heaters @ 462 watts each and one radiant heater @ 556 watts for a total of 1480 watts, or the equivalent of 5051 BTU's. The oil filled heaters are in the rear corners of the rear bedroom and the door is open. The radiant heater is in the door way facing the driver's compartment.
13:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 18.4 in the shelf over the dinette, -0.4 under kitchen cabinet, 25.5 rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature 1.4, RV temperatures, 22.1 in the shelf over the dinette, 3.7 under kitchen cabinet, 29.6 rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 25.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 5.7 under kitchen cabinet, 31.8 rear bedroom
16:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 27.7 in the shelf over the dinette, 6.4 under kitchen cabinet, 33.8 rear bedroom
17:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 28.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 6.8 under kitchen cabinet, 34.3 rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature -0.9, RV temperatures, 28.8, in the shelf over the dinette, 7.2 under kitchen cabinet, 29.3 rear bedroom
19:50
Ambient temperature =0.4, RV temperatures, 29.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 7.3 under kitchen cabinet, 34.7 rear bedroom
20:50
Ambient temperature -0.6, RV temperatures, 28.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 7.2 under kitchen cabinet, 1.5 C rear bedroom
The RV has arrived at steady state. The next part of the test involves switching on a dual fan to blow air into that rather frozen kitchen cabinet. This, by a happy circumstance, also causes a some air to flow through the furnace duct work.
21:50
Ambient temperature -0.4, RV temperatures, 36 in the shelf over the dinette, 17.8 under kitchen cabinet, 34 rear bedroom
22:50
Ambient temperature -1.5, RV temperatures, 36 in the shelf over the dinette, 19 under kitchen cabinet, 33 rear bedroom
23:50
Ambient temperature -1.7, RV temperatures, 26.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 18.7 under kitchen cabinet, 32.4 rear bedroom
07:50
Ambient temperature -0.9, RV temperatures, 22.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 14.5 under kitchen cabinet, 28.6 rear bedroom
08:50
Ambient temperature 1, RV temperatures, 22.1 in the shelf over the dinette, 14.5 under kitchen cabinet, 28.4 rear bedroom
09:50
Ambient temperature 3.2, RV temperatures, 22.6 in the shelf over the dinette, 15.4 under kitchen cabinet, 29 rear bedroom
On to the next part of testing. I've added 1500 watts of fan based heaters raising the total to just under 3000 watts.
10:50
Ambient temperature 4.8, RV temperatures, 28.2 in the shelf over the dinette, 24.6 under kitchen cabinet, 37.6 rear bedroom
11:50
Ambient temperature 6.4, RV temperatures, 35.2 in the shelf over the dinette, 30.2 under kitchen cabinet, 43.9 rear bedroom
12:50
Ambient temperature 8.6, RV temperatures, 40.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 35.8 C under kitchen cabinet, 50 rear bedroom
13:50
Ambient temperature 10.4, RV temperatures, 46.2 in the shelf over the dinette, 40.8 under kitchen cabinet, 54 rear bedroom
14:50
Ambient temperature 10.4, RV temperatures, 50.8 in the shelf over the dinette, 37 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off range between 30 and 40.5), 57.7 C rear bedroom
15:50
Ambient temperature 9.9, RV temperatures, 51 in the shelf over the dinette, 38.8 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off), 59.2 rear bedroom
I've adjusted the under kitchen cabinet thermostat upwards, which was one of the "side issues" for doing this testing.
16:50
Ambient temperature 9, RV temperatures, 52 in the shelf over the dinette, 37.2 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off), 60 rear bedroom
18:50
Ambient temperature 3.5, RV temperatures, 52.3 in the shelf over the dinette, 4.0.8 under kitchen cabinet (fan cycled to off range between 36.9 and 43.4), 60.4 rear bedroom
I've ended the test and shut down the heaters except for one just to keep a little heat going in the RV.
So far, my thoughts are that without the fan, the kitchen cabinet area essentially never warms up except if the propane furnace, (which happens to "live there") is running. The difference in temperature varies between 18 and 21.6 degrees lower than from the temperature at the dinette.
With the fan running that difference is about 1/2 as much or 9 to 11 degrees lower.
I am not attempting to keep the kitchen cabinet at the same temperature as the rest of the RV--just trying to keep the water lines from freezing up while not running the propane furnace. Apparently doing so requires about 3000 watts or around 10,000 btu's when there is an ambient temperature of 10.4 to 5.
