GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink
I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267715] Wed, 17 December 2014 19:29 Go to next message
kerry pinkerton is currently offline  kerry pinkerton   United States
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
Senior Member
So I decided to ditch the gas furnace and propane tank. I've got 15000 watts of electric heat and if that's not enough, we'll drive further south or go home.

No mo propane!

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc/p56695-de-propaneing.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6256/IMG_20141217_130636_720.jpg

Whoo Hoo a basement! Or a crawl space. Anyway, a lot more space than I had before.

Big hole where the DuoTherm was:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc/p56696-de-propaneing.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6256/IMG_20141217_130656_255.jpg

Side view

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc/p56697-de-propaneing.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6256/IMG_20141217_130714_413.jpg

I've got plans for that space. Drawers for spares and tools. We've removed Carolyn's couch/bed and gone back to the rocker/recliners that I posted a couple weeks ago. I lost a lot of storage under the platform.

Now here is something odd. Notice the two black lines that go into a TEE on the floor? The photo is a bit dark

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc/p56698-de-propaneing.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6256/IMG_20141217_130733_675.jpg

I was thinking, what the heck is that? Air lines? Why would there be black air lines below the sink? WTF over?

Then I got on my back and crawled in the hole and looked up. Well how about that?

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc/p56699-de-propaneing.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6256/IMG_20141217_163915_325.jpg

The black lines are on shutoffs on the hot and cold water lines. They are drains for winterizing the coach. Now, I never claimed to be a rocket scientist or engineer but down South they do teach us that water (and other stuff) runs downhill. These drain lines have two definite problems.

1- They run uphill for 6" and I doubt they will siphon clear.
2- There is no way to reach the valves. They are behind cabinetry that has backs. Short of removing the side panel of the kitchen cabinets base, there isn't any way to get to them.

Since I use low pressure air to blow out my water lines, these things are fine where they are. In the project list is a new kitchen base cabinet and I'll scrap them then.

Btw, I bought a line voltage thermostat and will be hooking that up to the AC heat strip so we can set it to a temp and it will stay near it. The problem we've had just turning it on is that we get hot during the night. We've actually only used more than the one heat strip once or twice and that was just to take the initial chill off.

No Mo Propane!


Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267717 is a reply to message #267715] Wed, 17 December 2014 19:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
zhagrieb is currently offline  zhagrieb   United States
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Where do you get your watts?

Glenn


Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG '73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267722 is a reply to message #267717] Wed, 17 December 2014 19:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kerry pinkerton is currently offline  kerry pinkerton   United States
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
Senior Member
zhagrieb wrote on Wed, 17 December 2014 19:36
Where do you get your watts?

Glenn


We don't dry camp and in an emergency situation, we'd run the generator....or drive south. We've had the coach going on 3 years now and, other than to verify it works, never remotely needed to use the furnace.

I've kept everything in case I (or whoever buys the coach someday) wants to put it back.


Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267724 is a reply to message #267715] Wed, 17 December 2014 20:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kerry pinkerton is currently offline  kerry pinkerton   United States
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
Senior Member
well I'm stupid, not 15000 watts, I have 3 1500 watt heaters, one in the BriskAire and two portable infrared units. Embarassed

Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267725 is a reply to message #267715] Wed, 17 December 2014 20:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Don't forget your wife's hairdryer --they market those things to hit 10kw, easy. And that's just the 'warm' setting.

SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267727 is a reply to message #267715] Wed, 17 December 2014 20:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mild bill is currently offline  mild bill   Canada
Messages: 98
Registered: November 2014
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma: 0
Member
Now you can't try my next idea, I thought if you have a propane tank anyway why not use propane fo fill your airbags? What's the downside?

So electric stove and oven? Or just restaraunt?

[Updated on: Wed, 17 December 2014 20:49]

Report message to a moderator

Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267733 is a reply to message #267727] Wed, 17 December 2014 22:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kerry pinkerton is currently offline  kerry pinkerton   United States
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
Senior Member
Mild Bill wrote on Wed, 17 December 2014 20:34
So electric stove and oven? Or just restaraunt?


We have a convection microwave mounted at eye level in the hall unit, an electric hotplate, and a Kurig coffee maker.


Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267734 is a reply to message #267715] Wed, 17 December 2014 22:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mild bill is currently offline  mild bill   Canada
Messages: 98
Registered: November 2014
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma: 0
Member
Im in a cooler climate however I expect most of our traveling will be south of our border so keeping propane stove, oven, hot water and furnace. Bought a dual speed 38000 furnace out of a wrecked unit, way quiter. Want to mostly rely on boondogging? New to the terms.
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267736 is a reply to message #267734] Wed, 17 December 2014 23:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Boondocking...self contained and self supporting. No external assistance. You'll have to ask Johnny Bridges about boondogging Laughing

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.
Re: [GMCnet] I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267739 is a reply to message #267724] Thu, 18 December 2014 00:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Kerry

I don't think you're stupid you just suffer from CRS like many of us!

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Kerry Pinkerton

well I'm stupid, not 15000 watts, I have 3 1500 watt heaters, one in the BriskAire and two portable infrared units. :blush:
--
Kerry

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267745 is a reply to message #267715] Thu, 18 December 2014 04:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
Senior Member
On Wed, Dec 17, 2014 at 5:29 PM, Kerry Pinkerton
wrote:
>
> So I decided to ditch the gas furnace and propane tank. I've got 15000
> watts of electric heat and if that's not enough, we'll drive further south
> or
> go home.
>
> No mo propane!
> ​


​wish you well, just keep remembering Covey's note



*1 gallon of gasoline is equivalent in energy content to a lead acid
battery weighing a mere........2144 pounds. Brent Covey*

http://gmcmotorhome.info/generator.html



​i am going the other way
NO 110

only propane :>)

boondocking - Oregon to quartzite
- dark
- hot
- cold

erf​

> ​
>


--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267749 is a reply to message #267715] Thu, 18 December 2014 05:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kwharland is currently offline  kwharland   United States
Messages: 246
Registered: November 2005
Location: Central Florida
Karma: 0
Senior Member
I'm considering the same thing, mainly to gain the space under the sink and the tank locker outside. I'm definitely ditching the stove in favor of a electric cooktop so heat is the only need for propane and that's my concern - I hate being cold and I don't want to run the generator overnight in those rare cases we can't plug in. Both rooftop A/C's work fine so I won't be replacing those with heat strip models.


1978 Eleganza II
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267754 is a reply to message #267715] Thu, 18 December 2014 06:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
So we went to Orlando for the impromptu December rally and the temp dropped to 40 at night --maybe lower, all we know it was cold enough for Johnny's heat pump to shut itself off because they couldn't extract any heat. We slept warm and comfortable using only the heated mattress pads which I had Amazon 1-day ship to the Co-op. But the cabin air was 50 in the morning, the floor felt like it was 40. A little chilly. So I'm going to need the LP blast furnace.

*HIGHLY* recommended:
http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Heated-Warming-Mattress-Stripe/dp/B001JEPSSA/


SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
Re: [GMCnet] I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267757 is a reply to message #267745] Thu, 18 December 2014 07:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
Senior Member
I was thinking the same thing. As often as I use the generator, I wonder why I carry it around. They only thing I ever use it for on rare occasion is to run the microwave. Everything else is propane, 12v or in the case of the water heater warmed up off of the main engine coolant. I did use the generator one time when it got too hot inside for the engine driven AC to keep up. But that was only once.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267758 is a reply to message #267715] Thu, 18 December 2014 07:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jknezek is currently offline  jknezek   United States
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Welcome to the propane-less club Kerry. I did the same thing years ago and never looked back. Picked up a ton of space. We've camped in 35 degrees with just a couple electric space heaters and no problems. So long as you aren't planning on boondocking or camping when it is below freezing, you can definitely get away with no propane. The coldest we ever camped it was in the mid 30s overnight, mid 40s during the day. At night the coach didn't get much warmer than 68, but that's good sleeping temps for us anyway.

Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267763 is a reply to message #267758] Thu, 18 December 2014 09:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tphipps is currently offline  tphipps   United States
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Heat strips can be easily added to A/C units. Somewhat expensive for the low heat output, but I like them for being out of the way. The only thing now that I trip over is the cats. Cats also put some heat, and I'm sure the dog lovers will vouch for a dog's heat output.
I also carry a small heat cube. It's December and it's in the 60's outside in Lower Alabama.
Tom, MS II


2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267778 is a reply to message #267763] Thu, 18 December 2014 11:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bob de Kruyff   United States
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I'm thinking methane may be the answer.

Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267784 is a reply to message #267715] Thu, 18 December 2014 11:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rcjordan   United States
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
Senior Member
>methane

And to think we're just letting it go up the vent, heh.


SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC

[Updated on: Thu, 18 December 2014 18:59]

Report message to a moderator

Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267785 is a reply to message #267715] Thu, 18 December 2014 13:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kerry pinkerton is currently offline  kerry pinkerton   United States
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
Senior Member
Speaking of vents. When I pulled the furnace out, I realized how much cold air was coming in through the vents in the side. They are now plugged with foam and taped shut on the inside.

Since I have an 2 way electric only (110 and 12V) fridge, I'm also going to remove that big vent over the fridge and seal it. Can't think of a disadvantage and I can always put it back if I ever get a 3way.

Btw, this morning it was 35 outside and 40 degrees in the coach when I went out. I turned on the heat strip in the AC and plugged in one of the 1500W heaters and the interior was up to 60 in about 15 minutes. The heat strip alone would have kept the interior a comfortable sleeping temp. Actually it would have been too hot which is why I'm putting a line voltage thermostat on the heat strip.


Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
Re: I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267788 is a reply to message #267785] Thu, 18 December 2014 14:14 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
jknezek is currently offline  jknezek   United States
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
Senior Member
kerry pinkerton wrote on Thu, 18 December 2014 14:02
Speaking of vents. When I pulled the furnace out, I realized how much cold air was coming in through the vents in the side. They are now plugged with foam and taped shut on the inside.

Since I have an 2 way electric only (110 and 12V) fridge, I'm also going to remove that big vent over the fridge and seal it. Can't think of a disadvantage and I can always put it back if I ever get a 3way.



The big vent over the fridge cools the coils. The hotter that compartment gets, the worse your fridge will perform. Those vents allow air to flow. Just something to consider.


Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
Previous Topic: [GMCnet] Dash Camera with DVR
Next Topic: [GMCnet] 76 GMC in NV
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Wed May 01 20:37:37 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.05300 seconds