Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Going all Electric
| Going all Electric [message #61383] |
Fri, 23 October 2009 19:27  |
Oldngray
Messages: 544
Registered: August 2009
Location: Punta Gorda Florida
Karma: 0
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I have pretty much made up my mind to get rid of the Propane on my coach. My Refrig works great on Elec and I have 4 Trojan T105's as House Batteries.
Before I start this project I was wondering if upon completion I will be able to remove the vents on the roof. The one for the Frig is enormous and I think it is also a source of leaks. The one for the stove and Furnace is not so big but I would like to remove it too.
What problems am I likely to run into with this project?
Anything else that I should consider?
Thanks
Richard MacDonald
Punta Gorda, Florida
Sold our TZE April 2015
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| Re: Going all Electric [message #61386 is a reply to message #61383] |
Fri, 23 October 2009 19:48  |
zhagrieb
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
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Richard, if your refrigerator has a compressor you can remove the roof vent. If it uses the evaporative cycle common to most RV units then you must retain the roof vent as well as the lower side vent.
Glenn Giere
Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG
'73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
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| Re: [GMCnet] Going all Electric [message #61400 is a reply to message #61397] |
Fri, 23 October 2009 21:36 |
zhagrieb
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
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Also Richard, how about heat? The propane heater in your coach is probably 30,000 BTU and not truly adequate in really cold weather. To get that much heat from electric you'll need about 8500 watts.
Glenn
Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG
'73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
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| Re: Going all Electric [message #61423 is a reply to message #61383] |
Sat, 24 October 2009 05:38 |
Oldngray
Messages: 544
Registered: August 2009
Location: Punta Gorda Florida
Karma: 0
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I quite agree, I love this place too!
These were my reasons for going Electric.
1. We live in SW Florida, most of our travels will be during the Spring and Summer Months, Will see the Mountains of GA, TN, WVA and NC but believe the Heat strip should take care of us there.
2. We will rarely dry camp, (have to satisfy my lovely wife)
3. I am scared to death with Propane. I know I shouldn't be but the fear is there.
4. Have had the Refrig on since the 1st of August, It did not work well with propane but is really good on Elec.
5. From what I have read here, the furnace (original) has its problems so I would not fire it up anyway.
You have given me more food for thought and I will rethink this before going ahead.
Richard MacDonald
Punta Gorda, Florida
Sold our TZE April 2015
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| Re: Going all Electric [message #61471 is a reply to message #61423] |
Sat, 24 October 2009 14:25 |
Larry C
Messages: 1168
Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
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I have pretty much made up my mind to get rid of the Propane on my coach.
______________________________________________________
I like seeing people with the spirit to try something new.
REMEMBER the old saying, Don't burn any Bridges Behind you.
I have experimented with many systems on different rigs/places.
They don't always react in the way we expect them to.
Going fully propane on a gen set will find the genset rather hungry when compared to the gasoline burner. Its a composition in the propane, or shall we say a lack of.
It would be very much worth your while to try to set up a temp electric coach and take a few runs in it and see if you can live with it. Include boooning, campgrounds, trips, etc.
At least if you find All Electric not up to your expectations, you can go back or partially back to propane depending on your results.
Or then you can get the mini reactor/generator, that'll take care of that.
Gatsbys' CRUISER 
Gatsbys' CRUISER  08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
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| Re: [GMCnet] Going all Electric [message #61474 is a reply to message #61467] |
Sat, 24 October 2009 15:12 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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As a test, just turn off everything run on propane in your coach for the next year and see how you survive. There is a main shut off valve on the tank. If you find you did not need it then remove everything propane and be done with it.
I cannot imagine not having propane. I can not imagine having to find a place to plug into every night or running the generator all day to keep my refrigerator cold. I also can not imagine sleeping with the generator running so I had heat. I guess you could convert the refrigerator to an ice box and buy ice every two days.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Going all Electric [message #61477 is a reply to message #61471] |
Sat, 24 October 2009 16:01 |
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Good advice, set up the electric stuff but leave in the LP stuff inceace you need to reverse your dicision. at least leaving in the lines will make the transition back to LP easy if needed. if your fridge vent leaks you may want a new cover and to invest in a clear silicon calking tube from home depot, does wonders sealing up little leaks...
| Larry C wrote on Sat, 24 October 2009 14:25 |
I have pretty much made up my mind to get rid of the Propane on my coach.
______________________________________________________
I like seeing people with the spirit to try something new.
REMEMBER the old saying, Don't burn any Bridges Behind you.
I have experimented with many systems on different rigs/places.
They don't always react in the way we expect them to.
Going fully propane on a gen set will find the genset rather hungry when compared to the gasoline burner. Its a composition in the propane, or shall we say a lack of.
It would be very much worth your while to try to set up a temp electric coach and take a few runs in it and see if you can live with it. Include boooning, campgrounds, trips, etc.
At least if you find All Electric not up to your expectations, you can go back or partially back to propane depending on your results.
Or then you can get the mini reactor/generator, that'll take care of that.
Gatsbys' CRUISER
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73 Canyon Lands, (a.k.a. The Yellow Submarine) West Los Angeles CA
[Updated on: Sat, 24 October 2009 16:04] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Going all Electric [message #61485 is a reply to message #61477] |
Sat, 24 October 2009 17:31 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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I also wonder what you are doing to the future value of the coach.
Please do not use silicon as a sealant. It is almost impossible remove if you ever try to paint it.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Going all Electric [message #61490 is a reply to message #61383] |
Sat, 24 October 2009 18:34 |
Oldngray
Messages: 544
Registered: August 2009
Location: Punta Gorda Florida
Karma: 0
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Wow, is this a great Community or what!!!!
Considering the value of the experienced here with the GMC, I can slow down on my desire to rid myself of propane. I have turned off the main valve and have been all electric since the beginning of August when I bought the coach. Jeff Sirum also recommended that I leave the propane, (another experienced most wonderful guy to have in your corner) so I will hold off, use all electric for the next year, and perhaps make my decision then. I do want to replace the refrig with a all electric very soon. The vents on this coach are really bad for leaks.
I do not use silicone, (another Jeff Sirum recommendation) I use Excel clear exclusively.
I am almost to the point of posting some pictures of what I have been able to complete in the 3 months I've had it.
Maybe next week
Thanks all for your thoughts, it really helps.
Richard MacDonald
Punta Gorda, Florida
Sold our TZE April 2015
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| Re: [GMCnet] Going all Electric [message #61496 is a reply to message #61489] |
Sat, 24 October 2009 19:30 |
Tin Gerbil
Messages: 236
Registered: October 2006
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Larry;
My friends with the buses told me they got a large reduction in
insurance premiums by going all electric. I do not know if that works
with all insurance companies, but it has no effect in B.C. at all.
Gordon
Larry wrote:
>
> I also wonder what you are doing to the future value of the coach.
> _______________________________________________
>
> Some of the bus converters went total electric. but there seems to be a problem if you do not build up your electric bus properly. I read where a few coaches caught on fire.
>
> If you plan to run the gen set for your electric supply, and if your neighbors don't mind the sound, you might get away with it.
>
> If you are going all battery, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. there are others that want to do that, but it wont hold up to all the loads needed.
>
>
> Please do not use silicon as a sealant. It is almost impossible remove if you ever try to paint it.
>
> Almost impossible to remove???? NOT SO! Just ask RAY ESPAMMER :lol: :lol: :lol:
>
> "Gotcha"
>
> Gatsbys' CRUISER :d
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Gordon
'74 Canyon Lands "Tin Gerbil"
Vancouver Island, B.C.
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| Re: Going all Electric [message #61630 is a reply to message #61490] |
Sun, 25 October 2009 19:26 |
Larry C
Messages: 1168
Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I do want to replace the refrig with a all electric very soon. The vents on this coach are really bad for leaks.
________________________________________________________
Hey Oldn
Have you thought out your plan for the refrigerator up grade?
This is another one you need to know what you are doing or you will pay later.
Propane Fridges are good for booning. Use little power, the gas keep the box cool without too much excess, lets you stay where you want to be for a while longer than if you had electric.
I am with a 3 way Norcold that I really like. It switches between 12vdc ( travel ) Propane( booning country ) and 120vac(campground).
I dont have experience with electric friges but I do have experience with the battery life in MY GMC and I can say that if I had an electric frige, I would not be able to be booning long cause the frige will stop running in a day or so.
Please do consider all that you and your family will want to do with the GMC and how the refer fits in to those plans.
Pay particular attention to how and where you camp and IF YOU HAVE SHORE POWER. That is a big factor.
One alternate would be to cover your roof with solar panels to keep the batteries up, if you sit in the direct sun all day, that may keep everything going for you.
Another alternate would be to run the genset every so often, probably once a day by my GMC's needs. Consider some parks dont like the noise from GenSets.
The vent leak can be taken care of. most of us out here have those vents and few are leaking. I would check the sealant, mine was failing when I bought the coach, now it is sealed well.
Good luck,
Gatsbys' CRUISER
Gatsbys' CRUISER 08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
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