Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Propane heater fuel burn question ?  (Read 553 times) previous topic - next topic

Propane heater fuel burn question ?

This  is the first real cold weather test .  Cold for us is sub 50.  So.  How much propane will one heater use running about 50% duty cycle?. 

Also . the amp draw seems like a lot.  But I dont have any real numbers.  I had to run the gen set at about 3:00 am  to keep the
 LIPO 185amphr batts over 12.1 V .
 

Re: Propane heater fuel burn question ?

Reply #2 –
I have one 40,000 BTU propane furnace and it draws around 9 to 11 amps when running. A tank of propane lasted me about a month in February in Albuquerque. Overnight with a full battery bank, furnace use, some lights and residential fridge I saw 165 amp hours from end of solar to start of solar most nights. Temps got down to a low of 18.

Re: Propane heater fuel burn question ?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
This  is the first real cold weather test .  Cold for us is sub 50.  So.  How much propane will one heater use running about 50% duty cycle?. 

Also . the amp draw seems like a lot.  But I dont have any real numbers.  I had to run the gen set at about 3:00 am  to keep the
 LIPO 185amphr batts over 12.1 V .
 
Our U225 has a 174# tank or 40 gallons of propane total and lasts about a month with the temperatures running between 20ºF and 50ºF.  I keep a 40# tank as "reserve."

That 12.1V thing.  That would be 50% SOC for lead acid chemistry.  You should be able to draw a Lithium Ion battery down to 25% without damage.  But I don't know what voltage that would be for your particular LiPo battery chemistry.  When living off my lead acid batteries on the coldest of nights in New England, I would rely on the lead acid battery bounce to get me through to breakfast.  That is, the Dinosaur board shuts the fans off after three tries and waits one hour before trying again.  During that time a lead aid battery will bounce back enough for one more good furnace run.  Then I can run the generator and make breakfast.

Re: Propane heater fuel burn question ?

Reply #4 –
Google shows about.3-.4 gph per heater . My Gen uses .7 gph 
So total should be around 1 gph at 59-70 % duty   
I'll fill the tank this week and report actual.

Re: Propane heater fuel burn question ?

Reply #5 –
When I run the generator in the winter to charge up the batteries I use eclectic heaters to heat
the coach so to put a load on the generator. This year in March I never started the generator as
the solar panels kept the batteries charged.