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Topic: Propane heater fuel burn question ?  (Read 513 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 #1 –
Here is a write up I did a decade ago.

Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

I think the answer is 70-80 hrs of furnace run time with no other propane use.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

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.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

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.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

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.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport