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| Re: [GMCnet] Radiant electric floor heating [message #215569 is a reply to message #215566] |
Wed, 24 July 2013 13:18   |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
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| Joan Kanel wrote on Wed, 24 July 2013 12:15 |
We are renovating our 76 Palm Beach and wondered if anyone has installed floor heating ?
Thanks
Max and Joan Kanel
Rogersville Mo
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I have done the math, but don't remember if I ever posted here on the forum the comparison between electric heat and the OEM propane heaters. So here goes:
GMCs came with either 22,000 BTU or 30,000 BTU Suburban furnaces. A 1500 watt (1.5kW) electric heater produces about 5,000 BTUs. That's either about 1/4 or 1/6 of the heat that the OEM furnace can produce. If the OEM furnace only runs 1/4 to 1/6 of the time, that 1.5kW heater might do the job. If the OEM furnace runs more than that when you use it, you are going to want more than 1500W (1.5kW) of electric heat.
That 1500W (1.5kW) heater draws 12.5 amps. Three of them on a single breaker will pull 37.5 amps. Some breakers will trip at more than 80% load sustained, that's 32 amps on a 40A breaker.
Any electric system would have to be sized appropriately for the poorly insulated and drafty GMC. Floor heating in a GMC will "leak" some percentage of the heat down to the outside world.
If you are going to rely on electric heat, you are either going to have to be connected to shore power, or you will have to run your genset. Propane is better for dry camping.
Electric heat would work best in a GMC that has had the factory insulation replaced or augmented, insulating blinds, a curtain to block off the cockpit, etc.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Radiant electric floor heating [message #215581 is a reply to message #215566] |
Wed, 24 July 2013 16:13 |
KB
Messages: 1262
Registered: September 2009
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I installed some of these electric floor mats in our coach:
http://www.thermosoft.com/radiant-floor-heat/
Not nearly enough to power heat the coach, but it does at least
take the chill off the floor if we happen to be plugged
into shore power. I put a radiant barrier below the
mats (basically just aluminum foil covered house wrap) since
most downward heat loss is radiative. Don't know that it's
the most effective solution, but at least it didn't cost much.
The most important thing is to fix the numerous air leaks.
Most aren't very big, but there are lots of them and they add up.
Karen
1973 23'
1975 26'
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Karen
1975 26'
San Jose, CA
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