Electrical Efficiency

[Merlin]

As we use more and more electricity in our camper and as solar panels are in our future, I've become interested in electrical efficiency. It seems to me that most appliances, equipment, and wiring in an RV pays no attention to efficiency (the change to LED lighting being one glaring (chuckle) example of the opposite). In fact, efficiency ratings are pretty non-existent for the appliances/equipment in RVs. That makes sense economically, because for most of us, once we pay the campsite fee, we can use all the electricity we want without paying extra. Therefore, cheap/inefficient wins out most every time over expensive/efficient in appliances and equipment. BUT, only when attached to the shore umbilical. As soon as we are "off the grid" while camping, electrical efficiency crosses the finish line first and wins out. And of course, most of us have camped at least once when the campground experienced a brownout from overall electrical use that exceeded campground capacity. So, hence my search for efficient appliances and equipment.

As anyone replaces appliances and equipment in their camper and finds a particularly efficient model (low power draw in relation to what the device does), post the info in this thread.

[bryan.a.white]

One of the biggest changes to conserve power I made was to bring in an alternative heat source so we don't have to run the furnace fan. The fan for us was the biggest culprit of our battery drain.

I installed a Camco Olympian Wave 8, and highly recommend it. It also uses less propane as 100% of the heat is put into the trailer, where the furnace uses a heat exchanger. Granted, one must crack a window and a roof vent to create cross flow ventilation so you don't run out of oxygen so you lose a little heat there, but it is real minimal.

[Pinstriper]

We have found that the best heating source is a good blanket and 2 dogs. Also, this is another reason to not buy a bigger trailer than you need. Small enough like a 14dbs and our own body heat/breathing plus the dogs is good for a few degrees. Just a few minutes of the furnace warms a small space.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk