Forum Discussion

carlsdrivein's avatar
carlsdrivein
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014

Calculating Your Energy Usage

I'm looking to hopefully soon purchase a 1990 Coachmen Catalina and start living in it full time, but I'm having some issues figuring out if the idea is actually going to be cost effective, because the main reason I'm considering it is because is to save money from the ridiculously expensive rent in Anchorage, Alaska, where I'm currently living. I'm looking for estimates how much it would cost for powering this mobile home. It would be myself and my girlfriend living in it, and we are pretty conservative when it comes to even using electricity in our apartment, but we would like access to laptops, small tv, lights of course, but nothing like an air conditioner will be needed (since it's about to be freezing in Alaska) I'm trying to figure if the best route would be a generator, or solar panels. I'm curious if solar panels would even provide enough power in the winter time due to the lack of sunlight and cloud coverage. For heat, I'm looking into a kimberly wood stove (like this one http://www.timmystoyota.blogspot.com/2014/02/winter-rv-living-in-alaska-update.html) the winter, and possibly propane as a backup. If you have any clues as to how I could figure out these costs I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
  • Aridon's avatar
    Aridon
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2014
    Average temps there aren't as bad as I thought:
    http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USAK0012

    You might be able to make it work but personally the only way I'd even consider it is if it was in a skirted, high end unit that had excellent insulation.

    If you do it, please write a journal here or something so you can chronicle the experience. I think you could get away with it but I'm not sure how comfortable you would be in that particular coach.
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2014
    Bumpyroad wrote:
    fla-gypsy wrote:
    Bumpyroad wrote:
    the over/under on you selling it and going back to an apartment is 13 months.
    bumpy


    LOL, more like 6 months during that first cold spell


    I figured he'd tough it out for one winter just because. :)
    bumpy


    LOL, I feel you
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2014
    fla-gypsy wrote:
    Bumpyroad wrote:
    the over/under on you selling it and going back to an apartment is 13 months.
    bumpy


    LOL, more like 6 months during that first cold spell


    I figured he'd tough it out for one winter just because. :)
    bumpy
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2014
    Bumpyroad wrote:
    the over/under on you selling it and going back to an apartment is 13 months.
    bumpy


    LOL, more like 6 months during that first cold spell
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2014
    the over/under on you selling it and going back to an apartment is 13 months.
    bumpy
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2014
    The first thing that came to my mind is heating it because its like heating a tin can. Its good that you are using wood because I think the apartment would be cheaper if you were using propane. There may be a problem with temperature inconsistency depending on where the wood burner is placed. I use to burn wood in our house and piggy backed another thermostat in the far end of the house. When it kicked on the furnace would mix and blend the air from the warm area. The other big issue might be freezing holding tanks and it would seem that you would need to skirt it somehow. As far as energy use the house furnace is one of the biggest draws at probably 4 to 7 amps depending on models. Then my 40 inch led tv is next at about 5 amps. If I used my 30 foot rig at say the low 40's I would guess that my furnace would run constantly.
    Led lighting is a must as its about 10 to 1 less energy for led. With my rig just sitting and running the frig and system monitor panel it draws about one amp. I really cant see doing it in those temps. The ideal situation for an rv is a mobile lifestyle so as to escape the temperature extremes. If you were in Arizona in the summer it would just be the opposite of what you are doing in the winter. RV's are terrible in the cold.

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