Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:10:16 -0800
Reply-To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Propex and outside temperature
In-Reply-To: <DF5D497C-FBCE-483C-A256-D1AC812FEC00@COMCAST.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
To better zone in on what size battery one should use, it would be useful
to find out if the Propex has a minimum voltage rating for its blower
motor -- I'm guessing that the heater might shut off if the motor turns
too slowly to move sufficient air. Lower battery voltage will likely cause
a slower motor.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
On 1/31/2008 3:17 PM Keith Ovregaard wrote:
> Well done, Mr Squirrel! Now we just need to apply that figure to the
> amp/hour rating of the battery (hopefully not the starting battery!)
> and that should give you approx. run time.
>
> BTW, my Propex HS1800 has kept me comfortable down to 16°F with the
> poptop down. I do not run the heater at night, so fuel and battery
> consumption are not really much of an issue for me. It does take quite
> a while to get the cabin warmed up, but it does the trick, especially
> while sitting on the back seat with a blanket over my legs which
> forces the heat where it's needed. If I had to do it all over again
> and had the $$, I'd go for more BTU's like the HS2800 delivers.
> However, the Propex heaters are no competition when compared to the
> factory installed gasoline-burning furnace that was in my 84 westy. I
> don't know what the BTU output was on that thing, but it got the van
> warmed up quickly! Also used a LOT of amps and gas and could only run
> for about 15 minutes unless the engine was running.
>
> Keith O.
>
>
> On Jan 31, 2008, at 12:59 PM, Michael Elliott wrote:
>
>> Well, 1.4 amps for one hour is 1.4 amp-hours (Ah) so if you run the
>> heater for 30 hours you'll use 42Ah.
>>
>> --
>> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
>> KG6RCR
>>
>>
>>
>> On 1/31/2008 9:40 AM Keith Ovregaard wrote:
>>
>>> According to the Propex website specs, the HS2000 uses 13kg propane
>>> in
>>> 91.5 hours (1/3 lb. per hour) and 1.4 amps continuous. I am not sure
>>> how many pounds the westy tank holds, but a typical BBQ tank is 20lbs
>>> and 5 gallons. The westy is 3 gal. So, lets say there is 10lbs. That
>>> would give you 30 hours of continuous heat.
>>> Someone else want to do the math on the battery drain?
>>> Keith O.
>>> On Jan 31, 2008, at 5:54 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
>>>> second battery was almost dead!!! So yes, it take some juice... and
>>>> i would
>>>> not count on this thing for a week in the cold wild unless the tank
>>>> is full
>>>> and you have 2 spare batteries. The fan motor must drain about 3-4
>>>> amp an
>>>> hour. The propane will outlast the baterry, that is for sure.
>
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