Using the heater for the first time.

[Skamper]

I've had my pop-up for many years, but this coming weekend is the first time ever that I am planning to use the heater.  I have always just roughed it (sleeping bags and warm clothes).   I had the heater checked out, and it works fine and is safe.  Also test ran it myself this weekend when I was preping the camper just to make sure I knew how to operate it.  

My question is, anything else I need to know about using a heater in the camper?  Should I open a vent at night?  How long will a battery last if the heater is running on/off through the night?

Thanks for any comments you mught have on this topic.

[beacher]

....  My question is, anything else I need to know about using a heater in the camper?  Should I open a vent at night?  How long will a battery last if the heater is running on/off through the night?....

Yes. Yes. Depends.

Yes, you should make sure "meltables" and flammables are kept away from the furnace output, and don't forget to set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature.

Yes,  open your window flap farthest away from the furnace to help circulate the warm air.  Also run some fans to help control or usually - completely eliminate condensation.

Depends.  The life of your battery will depend on it's AmpHour capability, (it's size), and how much your furnace is actually working throughout the night.  In freezing weather our single Group27 battery has lasted for two nights, (when the furnace is cycling on for 30 minutes, off for 10 minutes for eight hours of constant use) and maintaining a toasty 72 degrees, (with Gizmos, insulating foil in the windows, and rugs on the floor).  If, for example, you're camping in 60F degree night time weather, your furnace will run much less and your battery might last three nights.  Our two nights included using the lights, two combo light/fans, propane alarm, and any passive voltage used by the refrigerator control circuit board.  In non-freezing warmer weather we would also use the water pump to have access to water at the galley and inside shower and can expect three nights use of the entire electrical 12v workings.

[Skamper]

Yes. Yes. Depends.

What, why, and on what?

[mountainrev]

I've had my pop-up for many years, but this coming weekend is the first time ever that I am planning to use the heater.  I have always just roughed it (sleeping bags and warm clothes).   I had the heater checked out, and it works fine and is safe.  Also test ran it myself this weekend when I was preping the camper just to make sure I knew how to operate it.  

My question is, anything else I need to know about using a heater in the camper?  Should I open a vent at night?  How long will a battery last if the heater is running on/off through the night?

Thanks for any comments you mught have on this topic.

You don't need to open a vent for safety sake.  Popup furnaces vent to the outside, so there is no carbon monoxide.  As Beacher mentioned, your battery life will depend on the size of battery, how often your furnace runs, other electrical appliance use (lights, etc.).  We've never had a problem running two or three nights of the furnace with a group 24.  But we generally keep the thermostat set low.  Mostly, we run the furnace for a half-hour before going to bed, and then I turn it back on early in the morning.

[Skamper]

Thanks for the info everyone.  
I have two group 24's, so I think I could go 2-3 days if need be.  I plan to only run it at night, and probably just to about 65-68 degrees or so.  I figure in that small of a space, that should be plenty warm for us all to be comfortable.

[AustinBoston]

Thanks for the info everyone.  
I have two group 24's, so I think I could go 2-3 days if need be.  I plan to only run it at night, and probably just to about 65-68 degrees or so.  I figure in that small of a space, that should be plenty warm for us all to be comfortable.

At least 2-3 days.

Be aware that (like any heating device that hasn't been used much) it may stink the first night.

Austin

[chkster]

I would vent ...but only for condensation reasons ... If working properly the furnace is approved for indoor use.  Ten minutes PM and then AM usage used here... No concerns for several days with conservative usage of 12 volt system. We use a MR. Buddy Heater for heating. approved for indoors. Hook it up to a #20 lb tank and run 12 volt fan(s) on those cold nights. No furnace fan noise.  :-D

[AustinBoston]

I would vent ...but only for condensation reasons ... If working properly the furnace is approved for indoor use.  Ten minutes PM and then AM usage used here... No concerns for several days with conservative usage of 12 volt system. We use a MR. Buddy Heater for heating. approved for indoors. Hook it up to a #20 lb tank and run 12 volt fan(s) on those cold nights. No furnace fan noise.  :-D

No furnace fan noise, but significantly greater risk of fire.

Furnaces do NOT need to be vented for condensation, but heaters like the Buddy do.

Austin

[Skamper]

At least 2-3 days.

Be aware that (like any heating device that hasn't been used much) it may stink the first night.

Austin

That is the other reason I tested it out this week.  I got a lot of that smell burned off.

Ok thanks for all the responses.  I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something obvious I needed to know about using it since I have always just not even bothered with it when I am camping by myself.   This is the first time I am going with my daughter who is 1, so having heat is a little more important now.

[mountainrev]

Furnaces do NOT need to be vented for condensation, but heaters like the Buddy do.

Austin

Austin's right.  In fact, if you have a condensation problem already, the furnace will greatly help to reduce it.  Think of how dry your home gets in the winter if you have forced air heating.  The only reason to leave the windows unzipped a bit if you're running the furnace is for some fresh air or to improve air circulation.

[Skamper]

Well, the heater worked great, sort of.  It did a fantastic job of heating the camper.  I set the thermostat to 65.  While the heater was running, the camper got up close to 70.

The problem was, there was some sort of noise going on while it was running.  It didn't start doing it right away, only after it came on and off 4 or 5 times.  It sounds like the blades of the fan hitting something, or some vibration in the metal close to the fan.  I could bang on the side of the heater with my hand (reaching in with the vent cover off), and it would go away.  Sometime it would go away for several on/off cycles, and other times it would only go away for a few seconds.  So, I think I need to take it apart some to get where I can see the fan (it's enclosed inside a metal case) to see what is making the noise.  Hopefully its just something rubbing or vibrating when the metal expands, not a bearing in the fan or something.  Or maybe it just needs a shot of WD-40 or something.

One battery could have lasted us 2 full nights, but I swapped in my spare the second night anyway just so the fan would blow harder and the lights would be a little brighter.

[DoubleD]

My experience with fans making that kind of noise and hitting it quieting it for random periods of time tells me it is one of these things:
1)  Fan blade hitting fan housing, or
2)  Fan blade out of balance, or
3)  Loose bolt or nut somewhere on fan or housing, or
4)  A combination of 2 or 3 factors listed above.