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I'm all electric! And something weird under the sink [message #267715]

Wed, 17 December 2014 19:29

kerry pinkerton

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

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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

zhagrieb

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'

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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

kerry pinkerton

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

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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

kerry pinkerton

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

Embarassed

Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L

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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

rcjordan

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

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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

mild bill

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]

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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

kerry pinkerton

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

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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

mild bill

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.

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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

Bullitthead

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

Laughing

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.

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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

USAussie

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

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

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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

Mr ERFisher

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
-------
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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

kwharland

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

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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

rcjordan

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

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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

Ken Burton

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

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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

jknezek

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

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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

tphipps

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

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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

Bob de Kruyff

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

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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

rcjordan

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]

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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

kerry pinkerton

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

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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

jknezek

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

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