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Topic: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck... (Read 271 times) previous topic - next topic
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How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Well, it's monsoon season in north Missouri--the pond is filling & it's rapidly beginning to look like a repeat of the Flood of '93 in some places that have been underwater in Iowa/Nebraska/Kansas/Missouri for over 100 days...

So I came to Texas for end-of-school programs for the granddaughters on Thursday.  Communication snafu's being what they often are, I didn't know the girls would be gone to their dad's from Friday pm to Monday pm--family politics being what they are, seeing them while they're with my son isn't an option  :P, so I'm going to stay over to see them some next week.  I'm thankful the DIL is allowing a relationship to develop, & I'm currently dry camping in front of her mother's house (where she & the girls are currently camping, 'til life stabilizes) in Copperas Cove...but her mother doesn't want me plugging in...well, OK.

But the humidity is making me yearn for some electricity to have AC over the weekend while the girls are gone--except, it's a holiday weekend, & everything in the area is booked solid, though there was one place about 1.5 hours away that might have something come up at $20/night ($60 for three nights could pay for nearly half tank of gas, and then there's the gas used to travel to/fro for 3-ish hours to consider).

So, to the Wizards--how much of a gas-guzzler is the generator?  I remember some of the Ladeze were running theirs, in order to keep their puppies safe when we were at Moab a few years back.  I've found some towns with nice city parks that allow overnighting & as a United Methodist I've availed myself of some church parking lots in some of my meanderings.  If Copperas Cove/the church/etc.  would allow me to park in the back/out of the way, would I use 25-ish gallons running the genn/AC--and not even sure I'd need the genn/AC fulltime  (it's actually fairly comfortable with the windows/roof vents open right now)?  I'm guessing it would make sense to put the fridge on gas, rather than leave it on auto & default to the electric?

Thx in advance for the thoughts & wisdom the FOLD brings--

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #1 –
Quote from: Lynne Broyles-Greenwood  - 

But the humidity is making me yearn for some electricity to have AC over the weekend while the girls are gone--ee genn/AC--and not even sure I'd need the genn/AC fulltime 

The estimated fuel use while running the A/C is around a half gallon an hour, about $1.85 an hour, here in SoCal.
Texas has lower gas prices so expect to pay about $1.20 an hour, not too bad if you are sweating.

The weather here has been unusual for late spring, instead of being hot, it has been cool with on and off rain showers.
We are not complaining.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #2 –
Larry--

Thx for such a rapid response.  Gas was $2.52 when I left Chillicothe on Tuesday; not paying attention to the gauge, I was nearly on fumes & paid $2.84 in Oklahoma for enough to get to another at $2.59.  Here in Copperas Cove, TX, I've seen it from $2.45 to $2.64.  If the city or the church will let me park in the back of somewhere, guess I'll just run the genn.

It's not been terribly hot yet in Missouri--we did have a couple of days when it hit 90-ish, but with all that wet ground our usual humidity has been kicking into high gear earlier in the season.  Those March snows & deep cold & gave way to thaws that triggered the flooding, with temps going from 20s-30s into the 50s-60s-70s.  I learned during our summer sojourns with Missouri-transplanted educator family in Denver & to their happy place at Cedaredge on the Western Slope that 95+ was actually bearable without the Missouri humidity.

This is what I'm especially enjoying with the LD--learning about the wonderful other parts of our country by being there, rather than what just comes through on the evening news about storms/fires/etc.

Thx, again--

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #3 –
Lynne,

If DIL's mother won't let you plug in, I wonder how she (or her neighbors) will feel about the generator running all the time?  Maybe running it for a couple of hours will cause her to have a change of heart?  If you end up running it, might as well leave the fridge on Auto and save your propane.

Bill
Bill
2003 -- 23' FL
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #4 –
Quote from: krmugn  - 
Lynne,

If DIL's mother won't let you plug in, I wonder how she (or her neighbors) will feel about the generator running all the time?  Maybe running it for a couple of hours will cause her to have a change of heart?  If you end up running it, might as well leave the fridge on Auto and save your propane.

Bill
If you do plug in, remember you will probably be on a 15 amp circuit (20 if you are lucky), so you will be power challenged when trying to run anything else in the LD. Is It OK To Run My RVs Air Conditioner When Plugged Into House Electricity?

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #5 –
"If you do plug in, remember you will probably be on a 15 amp circuit (20 if you are lucky), so you will be power challenged ..."

In particular, switch your refrigerator to propane. In this limited-power situation, the air conditioner is going to be hogging almost all the available power. While that may work when you first plug in, if the fridge is in "AUTO" mode, then as soon as its thermostat turns it on, it'll be drawing an additional 3+ amps (at 120 V). This is frequently enough to trip the homeowner's breaker, which is annoying to them and leaves you without air conditioning. If it happens in the middle of the night, you're not going to go knocking in their door asking them to reset their breaker.

So make sure the fridge is manually set to propane mode, and while you're at it, turn off the converter so it won't be drawing power to try to charge your batteries.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #6 –
Linda,

What Andy says is very true.  It would also be nice to check your draw with an amp meter.  Over taxing your AC unit with lower than required voltage or amps leads to an early compressor death............

Gary
2007 30' TB
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #7 –
"Over taxing your AC unit with lower than required voltage or amps leads to an early compressor death."

Yup. If you have an Energy Management System such as the Progressive Industries EMS units, it will shut off power to prevent this. If not, you are on your own to monitor voltage and disconnect manually to prevent compressor damage if the voltage drops too low. That's another good reason to buy an EMS.

This happened to me a couple of summers ago at the Mono Vista RV Park in Lee Vining, CA. The park's old, inadequate electrical system was to blame. I didn't realize what was going on until the EMS cut off power and the air conditioner stopped; then I looked at the voltage and was appalled to see 99 volts! I had to do without cooling for a while (and eventually got fed up and left the park before my reservation was up)... but the EMS saved my air conditioner from damage.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #8 –
Thx so much for all the good answers.

Bill--

I wasn't going to run the genn here in the residential neighborhood where  the DIL's mother lives.  I was actually on the phone with the United Methodist church & receiving permission to park in the back of their parking lot (I'd previously been there & it looked like a more developed area--library across the street, & some commercial buildings around, where I didn't think the genn would be disruptive) when the DIL's mother came out & invited me to try plugging in--don't know prompted the change, but I did appreciate & accepted the offer, so here I'll be.

Didn't feel the need to switch on the AC 'til about 1:00 when the sun began heating things up, despite the reflective window inserts.

Chris, thx for that link.  Like the questioner in the article, I've plugged in at home to run the AC/fridge/etc., as well as the DIL's previous house.  I have learned that the AC goes off before using the microwave or hair dryer, but neither of those appliances are needed at this point.

Andy, thx for the  points about the fridge & AC, & the compressor.  Though I've not had a problem with leaving it on auto before--& didn't know to switch until you added your note--it didn't trip the breaker, but I did switch it back to propane...and a Progressive Industries EMS unit is on the to-do list.

Thx again for such a good discussion from all.

Lynne

Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #9 –
Not sure you know this but if you do than just ignore (smile)

Put a large heavy blanket between the cab and rest of your LD.  Hang it off the overhead shelf.   Cab are is the largest conductor of heat/cold.

glen
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
 
Re: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck...
Reply #11 –
Glen--

Thx for the reminder.  I do that during cold weather outings (along with egg crate foam inserts between the blinds & windows), but I just put the reflective windshield  pieces in the cab windows & side windows this time (the cab is pointed south).  The humidity seems more of a bane to me, but I've gotten by with just running the AC from about noon- 4:00ish, and then about a half hour before bed. 

Joel--

To cadge Blanche's line from A Streetcar Named Desire, "I have always depended upon the kindness of strangers." (said in the most dripping southern belle voice imaginable) & am thankful wherever the blessings come from.   :)

Lynne

Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm