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Topic ClosedDry Camping with a Little One - Heater?
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Dry Camping with a Little One - Heater?
    Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 5:59am
Originally posted by GlueGuy

Originally posted by Woody.1

Been digging through numerous threads, but can’t find any real information on running the r pod furnace through a night while only on battery. Wondering if the battery will make it through the night. 
Our first night out will be most likely be dry camping, but probably in the 20s at night. I was wondering if the battery would make it through a night? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Not sure how well insulated the r pod is. It’s a 2018 179.
We have run our furnace overnight, but never when it was really cold. Even with that, it can seem like it runs a lot. The R-pod (we have an RP-179) does not seem to be very well insulated. The windows are all single pane, and there also seems to be several air leaks. However, the furnace does run on battery, and I've heard anecdotally that you can run 2 or 3 nights on just the battery.

I suppose it all comes down to how cold is it outside, and how warm you need it inside. Probably not a simple answer.

If the furnace runs a lot on a very cold night, assume you set it at 60°F and it's below 35°F outside, then the ONE 12 volt battery will make it but be quite low. I experienced this on my first cold trip with the R-Pod on a Memorial Day weekend in Vermont.

2 nights and my battery was flat during the second night. No juice except for very dim lights. Furnace would not work. Slide wouldn't move. Water pump wouldn't run for more than a couple seconds. Had to connect to my SUV for 20 minutes while getting the Pod ready to leave later that morning.

I went with 2 12 volt batteries and had good experiences after that. I also went with the Buddy Heater as the heating option with a window and bathroom vent cracked. Plenty of battery life if you aren't using the furnace.

 I have 2 6V Trojan T-105 batteries in my new trailer, plus a 150 watt solar charge unit on the roof. I was going to remove the batteries this past winter, but decided to see what happens (they are frickin heavy in an inconvenient location for lifting). The solar panel has kept them topped off all winter, just checked yesterday, and they had just happened to be charging, 13.6 volts on my meter. Solar is great.
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 1:27am
If you are blowing a 30 amp breaker at a time when you need heat you have something going wildly wrong with your electricals.  The biggest drain is the AC, and you aren't running that with the microwave and a heater too are you?
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rawest50 View Drop Down
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Posts: 440 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 8:49pm
That is not what I am doing. 30 amp RPod plug supplies the RPod requirement. If I use a heater or additional 1,500 watt appliance it trips the 30 amp feed. I am not using any plug adapters. 30 amp for the Pod and the 20 for additional amps on another circuit at the pedistal. Two separate circuits.
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 8:41pm
Or get a 20 amp to 30 amp adapter and use the cord that came with your Pod.  You can charge your battery and use almost all of your pod accessories. If you have a 20 amp plug in at the site.
Keith-N-Dar
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rawest50 View Drop Down
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Posts: 440 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 8:06pm
Here is a simple solution for hear. Most sites hav a 20 amp outlet for tent campers. I bought a couple of outlets you can install through you floor or walls. Be careful about drilling the 1.5” outlet holes. Plug male end of a 20 amp chord into the pedistal and female into the outlet installed through the trailer wall or floor. Plenty for a 1,509 way heater if needed. Also used for othe high amp devices since your Pod can only handle 30 amps.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2629 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 7:27pm
Originally posted by Woody.1

Been digging through numerous threads, but can’t find any real information on running the r pod furnace through a night while only on battery. Wondering if the battery will make it through the night. 
Our first night out will be most likely be dry camping, but probably in the 20s at night. I was wondering if the battery would make it through a night? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Not sure how well insulated the r pod is. It’s a 2018 179.
We have run our furnace overnight, but never when it was really cold. Even with that, it can seem like it runs a lot. The R-pod (we have an RP-179) does not seem to be very well insulated. The windows are all single pane, and there also seems to be several air leaks. However, the furnace does run on battery, and I've heard anecdotally that you can run 2 or 3 nights on just the battery.

I suppose it all comes down to how cold is it outside, and how warm you need it inside. Probably not a simple answer.
bp
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Woody.1 View Drop Down
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Posts: 31 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 6:15pm
Originally posted by GlueGuy

None of the propane Buddies that I looked at is certified for "indoor" use. Sure they have an oxygen sensor, but I think you may be taking chances with children or infants. I believe I would not be comfortable using one inside the pod. I'd prefer the built-in furnace.

Been digging through numerous threads, but can’t find any real information on running the r pod furnace through a night while only on battery. Wondering if the battery will make it through the night. 
Our first night out will be most likely be dry camping, but probably in the 20s at night. I was wondering if the battery would make it through a night? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Not sure how well insulated the r pod is. It’s a 2018 179.
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Sep 2017 at 4:41pm
With proper venting , having an open ceiling vent, and crack a couple windows, there's zero risk of CO poisoning. It makes no smell whatsoever and is very quiet. Makes nearly no noise at all.

http://www.mrheater.com/portable-buddy-heater.html

The Portable Buddy Heater has a safety tip-over shutoff and a low oxygen depletion sensor (ODS). 

The real problem is it has ONLY a low/high setting. It's either 4000 or 9000 BTU/hr. It cannot be regulated except for those two heat outputs. It's one or the other heat setting. It has NO thermostat. When in low output, I had to open the windows enough (in front near the dinette, not near my head in the bed) or I would roast. It puts out a lot more than needed in low. In low it is supposed to take about 6 hours to burn through a 1 pound propane bottle.

I wish it had a variable output, or at least a thermostat on a remote wire, That would be awesome if it could go very low (off) when the room temp was reached, and fire up as needed when it starts to cool.

If you use your furnace, make sure to run it hard before your trip!!! It will STINK until it runs hot for many hours. I didn't know this the first couple trips, and t stunk so bad it made me think of just bundling up with sleeping blankets and wool hat instead.

If you are handy I would also recommend that you remove the furnace and check that the fan/impellers are not rubbing on the plastic shroud. Mine was and when I had it out I adjusted the fan and also shook out and blew compressed air into it and a lot of sawdust came out, burnt and other wise!! After reinstalling, it was so much quieter!!
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fwunder View Drop Down
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Sep 2017 at 4:04pm
Originally posted by StephenH

Yes, that would make it stable. I would nto want to bring a 20 lb cylinder into the 'Pod though.

I wouldn't either. That tank is a one gallon Worthington tank. Got some weight to it.

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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Sep 2017 at 3:45pm
Yes, that would make it stable. I would nto want to bring a 20 lb cylinder into the 'Pod though.
StephenH
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