| Author |
Message |
Mike Tornesello (63.23.17.51)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 4:44 pm: | |
I am doing a conversion in which I have a large electrical heating system that I bought with my bus. I'm looking for a small propane back-up that is propane fired, forced hot air that vents combustion air through the roof. RV heaters all seem to vent through the side wall. I've read through the archives and don't understand what others have done. Boy am I into this conversion up to my... I'm loving every minute of it. Mike |
Wulf P. Ward (63.59.218.236)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 8:33 pm: | |
I know what your taking about. I am on my third bus in the last 7 years. I do not know any furnace that will exhaust out of the roof.
"WEST MARINE" 800-621-6885 (that is their commercial "PORT SUPPLY" #) has a Propane heater
it looks like a little fire place Model # 491969
list price $ 685.00 Also they have two other heaters one is solid fuel and one is diesel/kerosene Model # 246538 $ 338.35 and Model # 359802 $ 679.05. I am sure they can send you a sheet on this stuff. It is on page 767 in their 1999 catalog. good luck |
Mike Tornesello (63.23.31.148)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 2:34 am: | |
Dickenson Marine has a really nice fireplace type also. It's amazing what you CAN find when you get set on something. There are some really expensive deisel heaters too. Well maybe we'll vent out the side. So much for vanity. Thanks, mike |
FAST FRED (63.208.81.188)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 6:38 am: | |
The Dickinson line of heaters is great ,
I lived with one for a couple of decades,
BUT they are only about 20,000BTU each,
so in a real winter situation two would be needed.
I would use one range in the galley area , and the floor mounted Antartic somwhere in rear.
Most time the range / cooktop would keep the coach toasty , using no electric! IF the fuel supply tank is above the range, to gravity feed.
FAST FRED |
Wulf P. Ward (63.59.218.52)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 11:43 am: | |
I had and still have diesel heat like the aqua-hot system in all my buses. You can find the Webasto 50,000 BTU for about $ 500.00 used or
$ 2,500.00 new. I use hydronic heat in my new bus, so you need very little AMP's to run the system. It will do your hot water too. I had bad experience with all electric heat, since most places don't let you run the gen-set at night.
But if you stay in plugged on most of the time at 50 AMP's they it does work nice. Good luck. |
Mike Tornesello (63.46.0.120)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 12:28 pm: | |
Fred,
You have me worried I'm doing something wrong. When you said gravity feed, did you mean propane going to the range/cooktop? Where all fuel supplies are in the lower compartments I'm having trouble understanding. Thanks, Mike |
jmaxwell (66.42.92.172)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 1:10 pm: | |
There are several brands of updraft forced air furnaces, ranging from 30k-75k btu. They are used extensively in the newer park-model trailers being sold. There is an RV parts dealer in Glendale, Az. that sells them (name of the company slips my mind right now;compact and advertised at about 70% effecient. Hydronic is good but expensive and space consuming for either fan units or base-board/wall coils. Also, the problem of leaks; plays hell with the floating wood floors that are popular nowdays. Have a friend with a GM 04 that has to replace his 3 yr. old floor because the coil in the bathroom developed a leak at the connection. Using the range top to heat with is an absolute no-no; unvented! And if you do have a power vent for it, guess where the heat goes? Great for quick warmup on a chilly morning but certainly not for full time use. Catalytics, like the Olympian or the WarmGlo ceramic or blue flame work well in most atmospheres, except when you have "heavy air" conditions--then they tend to accumulate odors and non-combusted fumes. Find a park model mobile dealer and you will have a lead on what u wanted in the 1st place--top vented forced air. |
Ol Jim, myveryownself (163.205.18.138)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 5:52 pm: | |
I have heard that park model heaters are NOT rated or built for use in RVs. They do not withstand the vibration which comes from constant movement, and they will not be safe under way because of the way they vent. |
Mike Tornesello (63.23.26.48)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2001 - 1:02 am: | |
I'm going for the suburban SF42F which has only the vent cap measuring 3 3/4" wide x 6 3/4" high. It will go through the 2" wall thickness with no problem from what I understand and fits between ribbing on my exterior at a workable height. I have a shore cord outlet at the same height and it isn't much more noticeable than that I expect. Always open to comments and thanks for all of the help. This is an awesome site. Mike |
FAST FRED (63.215.230.41)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2001 - 6:53 am: | |
Park heaters are made for UN mobile homes , they are usually NOT safe in an RV that ever travels.
Dickinson ranges are OIL [diesel} fired , and need gravity to work, with out any electric.
Their line of propane stuff , like all propane , stuff gets its fuel from the propane tank , under a tiny amount of pressure , so no gravity or lift pump is used.
BEWARE there is a BIG difference in propane regulators , be sure to find one thats RV aproved , NOT a gas barbcue replacement.
The fridge , and furnace need a specific pressure to work {from a RV unit} the backyard grille doesnt care.
FRED |
Mike Tornesello (63.23.28.187)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2001 - 10:59 am: | |
Thanks Fred. I have the two stage regulator for RV use. I really want to use the propane because I have a good size tank and wanted to balance out my fuel usage. I hear good things about the deisel heaters but since this is a back-up for the lounge and plumbing I'm looking to keep the cost and effort down. Plumbing is there already.
Thanks again, Mike |
CoryDaneRTS (4.17.253.15)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2001 - 8:07 pm: | |
There are several models of through the roof exhaust furnaces that use no power to work at West Marine. depending on the size heater you select,you will have the option of a stack the size of 1" diameter to 3" diameter. I lean toward the furnaces that use no power after I had problems with the standard RV furnace pulling my battery power down to nothing.
Good luck in your choice - CD |