Will my furnace heater run soley on battery power?

[Kygreen10]

I just bought a Jayco X19H. I'm learning a lot. Will my furnace heater in the couch run solely on my RV battery or do I need to buy a generator? Will a 1000W generator do the trick to run the furnace and charge the battery? I only have 1 battery on there now.

[pconroy]

Assuming the battery is in good shape, most RV furnaces can make it thru a night running just on battery. Of course, if it's really cold outside and the insulation is especially poor, you might wake up chilly.

1000 watt generators will charge anything you want - it just might take a looooooong time.

If you figure most motorhomes come with a 4000 watt generator, then maybe 1000 watts is a bit light. Seems like folks are picking 2000 watts as a minimum and 3000 to 3500 if they want to run the A/C.

[dzwiss]

A 1000 watt generator will charge your battery fine providing that your converter is 40 amps or less. If your converter is larger than 40 amps you will need a 2000, or as I did get a smaller auxillary charger. I use a 25 amp Vector smart charger with my 1000 watt Honda.

[Subaru297]

Just to be clear your furnace needs battery power and propane to heat up your trailer. And yes a 1000W generator would be fine for just charging your battery. If you want to use anything else like the microwave or a coffee maker then you should get a 2000W generator. Add in running the air conditioning and most people recommend around 3000W or more.

Cheers

[RoyBraddy]

The RV Furnace needs Propane for heat but needs 12VDC to run the furnace blower and start-up electronics...

Rule of thumb has always been one night one battery...

Of course you will be running alot of other things from the battery when not on shore power...

Here is a 30A Electrical wiring configuration that will show most of the 120VAC and 12VDC appliances and systems. Everything in your trailer is hinged around the 120VAC and 12VDC Power Distribution Panel...



When on Shore Power the converter/charger will provide the necessary 12VDC to operate your 12VDC Power Distribution Panel and also will charge your battery.

Make note of what is being operated from the 12VDC Power Distribution Panel. It does not include your receptacles or any of the 120VAC appliances...

Just the bare RV Trailer necessities are available to use when just running from the battery without shore power...

It is a great idea to camp out in your back yard a few nights to get acquainted with what things work and not work when running off the battery...

Roy Ken

[Kenelz]

You don't need shore power, or a generator to run the furnace. Its a big "it depends" on how many nights you will get without recharging the battery.

Do you want it 80F, or get by with 60F or less. Are the nights in the 20s, or 50s. Do you have LED lights, or incandescent lights on half the night with the radio in party mode.

I've spent winters on the road south, overnighting in rest stops/big box store parking lots, etc, used the furnace a lot, one battery, and it charged up on the next days drive. But, I'm an old man, LED lights, listen to a ballgame, or play the guitar, and set the thermostat around 62F. I would stop at an RV park every few days to dump and take on water.

I also boondock, I have a Yamaha 2400iv generator. As others have suggested, go with a 2000 minimum generator if you are picking one up.

[crumgater]

When we had a 34ft fifth wheel and two deep cycle batteries, one cold night (into the 40's) could drain the batteries to <25% with the furnace set to 65F. Your space is smaller, but if you only have one battery, you might be in about the same situation.

We used a Honda EU2000 generator to recharge and run everything we needed (no microwave or A/C), including two TV's, all lights, water pump, furnace fan... left the fridge and water heater on propane and used the gas stove/oven for cooking (or a grill or campfire). The EU2000 is a quiet little genny, highly recommended!