Electricity questions....

[pjtjmn]

Okay, I have a question that

[tjy355]

Welcome aboard!

The heater uses propane to make heat, but it also has a blower fan that is DC powered.

When dry camping, one needs to be "conservative" with furnace usage so as not to drain the battery.  You will likely get a lot of useful advice from members of this forum.

Enjoy!

Tom

[AustinBoston]

Okay, I have a question that

[wynot]

The campsite I wanted to go to has no electric hook ups, soooo

[wavery]

AHHHHHHHH Yes.....Dry camping

I do recommend hook-ups for the first trip or 2 to get a "Feel" for your new rig....HOWEVER........there is a certain amount of "Machoness" (Hey....I made up a new word....We're good at that stuff here in SoCal....Dude) to be had with dry camping.

I mean.....there is nothing like the sound of a (quiet :p ) generator running 8 hours a day. But, then again... we usually start ours up and let it run (to charge batteries) while we go for a hike and enjoy nature......what's that you say?..........what about others around us?  They should get out more :p .

Oh ya, to answer your question :p  your furnace derives it's heat from propane.....LOTS of propane.....20,000BTU :confused:  are you sure? That's enough to heat an average home :p  j/k. That is a large furnace though and you can expect to be more concerned about propane than electric. If you are going on a 3-dayer, you should be OK if you bring along a fully charged spare battery and go easy on the heat. If it's warm, you may not even need the 2nd battery but I would bring it anyway. Especially since it's your 1st trip.

Seeing as this is your 1st trip, charge both of your batteries (asuming that you have 2) about 2 weeks ahead of time (Even if they are brand new). Check the voltage 24 hrs after charging. It should still be above 12.5. Check it again in about a week. It should lose no more than .1V in that week. You might want to use both of the batteries before you go. Once you determine that the batteries are good, disconnect them and charge them again just before you leave.

[abbear]

That said, we really don't care for dry (no hookup) camping.  We can, and have, and have 2 batteries to do it with - but, I just like having tacky lights, microwave, A/C, and TV available.  I hate constantly watching where the batteries are at charge-wise, and being in the dark.  We just don't go camping to do without.

:yikes:

If I want all that stuff I'll check into the Motel 6.  It's cheaper and cleaner.  On the other hand since the state campgrounds here in CA and all of the national park, national forest, and BLM sites have no electricity or water I'll go camping at them just so I can do without.  The whole purpose of the pup was to facilitate my wife, who has great difficulty getting up and down on the ground, being able to continue camping.  

That said - do whatever floats your boat.  If I'm out for a while (we've been out for a month before) I'll find a place when the battery is starting to show low volts that has elect hookups and will top off the battery and then off we go again.  I have 1 battery and in summer can go a week using lanterns and no heater.  But that's me.  Your mileage may vary.

[tlhdoc]

I understand that the fridge works with 3 different power sources, but what about the heater? Is it exclusively electric? :confused:

No the furnace is not just electric. The furnace uses propane to produce the heat and DC/12/battery power to run the fan. For a weekend your battery should last if you use the furnace sparingly.
 

The campsite I wanted to go to has no electric hook ups, soooo

[VaporTrails]

DW and I bought our first popup (tired of tenting it) many years ago and I was a member here. Alas, we sold the popper and bought a TT a few years ago and I guess my membership on PUT was terminated after years of non-use. But, I've been lurking around here for a while because I'm seriously considering one of those "Off Road" style popups to haul my dirt bike and camp back into places that my TT will never go.

Anyway, on to your questions:
Some recommended your first trip should be at a campground with hookups. I whole-heartedly agree. I'd also add that you might want to stay somewhere that has a WallyWorld (or Target/Kmart) nearby.

It might even be worth your while to do an "overnighter" at your nearest CG as a trial run before you head off to strange lands for Memorial Day.

In reference to hookup or non-hookup sites: There are as many types of "campers" as there are different makes of "campers." Get it? That was clever, huh? Sorry... Some want ultimate peace and quite, some want a group atmosphere, some want to get away from it all but still want the comforts of a formal CG, etc.

And then there's my twisted desires. I (with my equally twisted friends and family) like to be out in the middle of nowhere (winter-desert, summer-mountains) where we can be as loud or quite as we want. We run our generators, ride our motor-bikes, take target practice (where permitted) and generally enjoy doing things we can't do in suburbia. We also like the TV and/or stereo. There's nothing more fun than watching The Playoffs out in the middle of the desert with good folks and cold suds! But, when it's lights-out time, it's gotta be quite. You just can't get all that with campgrounds or popular camping/riding areas.


Someone pointed out that even the quite generators can be annoying, how true. But I personally think that EVERY RV owner should have one. If for no other reason than to charge the batteries. If you've ever been out in the boonies with your furnace and fridge running and your batteries die, that was the day you wished you'd spent a few bucks on a little genset...

I guess what I'm really saying here is that you'll eventually figure out what type of camping you really enjoy. Then get the equipment that will meet your needs.

Enjoy that new rig!!!

[tlhdoc]

. If you've ever been out in the boonies with your furnace and fridge running and your batteries die, that was the day you wished you'd spent a few bucks on a little genset...

I don't run my refrigerator on battery power, so it will not die if the battery is drained.

[pjtjmn]

I have read all your replies, and I must say that I'm amazed at how helpful and responsive you all have been!

Thank you!

I do appreciate the explanation of how the heater works.  Now I know at least that if I really want that *dry* site, I can use it... (I learned a new term today, *dry* camping...  :p )

I'm leaning towards a more comfy site to begin the season.  I have three kids, (9, 6, & 4), and I want their first experience to go as smoothly as possible.  I also found one that has some scheduled activites, family movies, and a game room!!  (I know, it's not exactly pure camping, but it's much more rustic than last year's trip to Disney!!) Let's ease them into this nature thing gently!  

I'm sure we'll graduate to various other types of CG's,  but for now, I think I'll opt for the easy way..

Again, I'm grateful for all your support.   This is a great board!

Jen N.

[dthurk]

How about dry camping in the backyard to work out the bugs?  If you have a terminal problem, no harm is done, the house is there.  Get to a point that you can get through an evening, night and morning without the resources of the house.  You'll find out quickly along the way what you might need and what you think you need that you can do without.  It might not be as glamourous as a CG, but would provide a lot of learning for little expense.  Just hope the neighbors don't call the fire department when they see you huddled around the campfire.

[VaporTrails]

I don't run my refrigerator on battery power, so it will not die if the battery is drained.

That's a good point. I forgot that the fridge in popups doesn't need battery power.