question about heat pumps for travel trailers

[lewisma9]

Thank you Byron - and yes, boondocking will be a big part of my future! I also plan on installing solar power collectors on the roof plus a portable one to put outside in the sun. So I'm especially interested in electric heat like the heat pump and the ceramic heater discussed earlier, in addition to the regular furnace. Do you think solar could provide enough power to run a heat pump?

[David Tilston]

A couple of split AC systems installed on eggs:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ces-79339.html
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...nit-58009.html

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by lewisma9

Thank you Byron - and yes, boondocking will be a big part of my future! I also plan on installing solar power collectors on the roof plus a portable one to put outside in the sun. So I'm especially interested in electric heat like the heat pump and the ceramic heater discussed earlier, in addition to the regular furnace. Do you think solar could provide enough power to run a heat pump?

5000 btu air conditioner uses about 500 watts. Heaters run around 1500 watts.

You can expect about half the rated watts out of a typical solar cell. So for the AC a 1000 watt solar array would be ideal. This is about 6.5 square meters, (70 square feet) of solar cells. This kit could do it for $1320, including a some wire, (though not enough) large solar controller, and inverter:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1000W-Kit-1...id=p5731.m3795
Since it is the hot sun that makes AC necessary, batteries would not be a big issue, and the solar array could act as shade to help keep things cool. Wind would still be a concern.

Heat is another matter. Since you will likely require heat mostly when the sun is not shining, a large battery bank will also be required, along with 3000 watts of solar. I hope you see that this becomes impractical for boon docking, or camping in general.

It has been said before. For heat, it is hard to find a more practical solution then a propane furnace.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by lewisma9

Thank you Byron - and yes, boondocking will be a big part of my future! I also plan on installing solar power collectors on the roof plus a portable one to put outside in the sun. So I'm especially interested in electric heat like the heat pump and the ceramic heater discussed earlier, in addition to the regular furnace. Do you think solar could provide enough power to run a heat pump?

Propane is much more efficient than electricity. That's one of the reasons fore propane cook surface, fridge, and furnace. When recently in the Southern AZ I refilled by propane tank at the half full point. Cost less than $10.00 for the a full month.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by lewisma9

Do you think solar could provide enough power to run a heat pump?

no. when you need heat, there is no (or not nearly enough) sun. a 1000 watt electric heater will flatten a 12V 100AH marine/rv battery in about 1 hour.

1000 watts is about 3400 BTUs/hour. a 20 lb propane bottle is about 400,000 BTU's. nuff said?

[lewisma9]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

no. when you need heat, there is no (or not nearly enough) sun. a 1000 watt electric heater will flatten a 12V 100AH marine/rv battery in about 1 hour.

1000 watts is about 3400 BTUs/hour. a 20 lb propane bottle is about 400,000 BTU's. nuff said?

Yup, nuff said. Thx.

[Paul O.]

Originally Posted by ordjen

That heat pumps have not been efficient at low temps has certainly been true. However, modern home heat pumps are now highly efficient and work down to zero temps. I have seen modifications of these "split system"units being used on RV's. The condensing units are commonly placed on the trailer yolk with hoses running to the cooling/heating unit inside.
Modern split system units are actually now more efficient than gas fired furnaces.

I hope you don't mind, but where is the yolk in an egg camper? I think you meant yoke, or tongue and the spell checker got you.

[rbryan]

Gonna have to second all the statements that there's nothing better than a propane heater when it's really cold. The Atwood propane furnace in my trailer is a common one called the "Everest Star 7900 II". The reason they named it Everest is that it actually was taken to Mt. Everest with the American Medical Research Expedition. If it can handle the Himalayas, it can certainly heat up my little trailer quickly and efficiently. Now, about the noise....