Forum Discussion
azrving
Aug 29, 2013Explorer
I do understand that solar has nothing to do with the battery/inverter/ amp draw but it has a huge amount to do with how long it takes to replace the burned energy. Everyone has a different situation and point of view as to how to get done what they want to get done. I just put the coffee pot on the propane burner and use that one time conversion process to heat the water. I considered solar/inverter but figured I would be lugging around 500 pounds of batteries plus hundreds in solar panels and wiring/components. The tow vehicle has to burn fuel to haul all the solar equipment and batteries. It may take propane and refilling the tank when using it to heat my coffee but Im only lugging around a bottle that weighs 35 pounds. I do carry a generator but I leave a lot of the weight at a different storage point, which is the propane suppliers tank/plant. I can absolutely understand using solar but not for heating of any type in an RV. Resistance heating is always more expensive then gas or propane and it just seems its even worse when you then have to haul around all the equipment in a mobile application to convert the sun to do that heating.
The small inverter I do have is used to run the 2 led tv's and laptop. The batteries obviously also are used for led lighting, water pump and fantastic remote control vent. I use a non electric powered propane heater that is backed up by my on board digital thermostat controlled heater. If the quiet little propane heater cant keep up on a particular night we don't wake up cold. Yes, I do wake up when I hear the RV heater kick on but at least Im warm. I use two group 29's and keep the charge above 12.30 or so all the time. We have been out for 4 days/3nights this summer and still had the batts above 12.30. I could make it a week if we tried to conserve more.
Thanks to everyone who posts data. I want to use solar some day but it will never include heating anything. Do they make a propane powered hair dryer?
The small inverter I do have is used to run the 2 led tv's and laptop. The batteries obviously also are used for led lighting, water pump and fantastic remote control vent. I use a non electric powered propane heater that is backed up by my on board digital thermostat controlled heater. If the quiet little propane heater cant keep up on a particular night we don't wake up cold. Yes, I do wake up when I hear the RV heater kick on but at least Im warm. I use two group 29's and keep the charge above 12.30 or so all the time. We have been out for 4 days/3nights this summer and still had the batts above 12.30. I could make it a week if we tried to conserve more.
Thanks to everyone who posts data. I want to use solar some day but it will never include heating anything. Do they make a propane powered hair dryer?
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