From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel


Okay, I've been thinking through whether we can camp with our
Lance 1475 trailer without shore power, and if so for how long.

We can make do without the microwave and AC (if I pick dates and
locations well), and I picked up a coffee grinder so we can make
coffee using hot water from the stove. The Truma Combi furnace
runs fine off propane with the 12 Li Time battery, and it looks
like that could go for a couple of days--maybe more (using the
estimated run time from the battery app).

I've also been looking at the Norcold N400. In 12 V mode it'll
run down the battery in a matter of hours, so I checked the
propane option. At first it threw an error (code 3) which a quick
check online suggested low voltage from the 12 V power. This
didn't make sense to me, given that it does runs on battery alone.
I tried it a second time and it threw the same code. Third time
there was no error, but neither was it drwaing anything from the
battery. Hmmm.

After checking the Norcold manual, it seems the error code 3
actually indicates no gas. The instructions also say it may take
2-3 startup tries to get the gas lines cleared of air and filled
with gas. This is consistent with what I observed, leading me to
think it was actually runing off of propane at the end of my
testing.

I also did a Google search on what the N400 might draw from the
battery while in propane mode, and came up with roughly 0.5 A. A
second search suggested that the Li Time battery monitor would
stay on standby until maybe 1.5 A is being drawn. So this leads
me to think the fridge was running and the draw was just too low
to trigger the monitor into showing it.

Does this all make sense? I suppose I could go back, turn on
enough lights for the app to show some draw, then add the fridge
to confirm the draw increases slightly. But at this point I feel
relatively confident that I've got it figured out. What say the
rort brain trust?
--
Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
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From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:25:21 -0000 (UTC),
Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> wrote:

Does this all make sense? I suppose I could go back, turn on
enough lights for the app to show some draw, then add the
fridge to confirm the draw increases slightly.

Okay, my OCD went into overdrive so I had to go check it. I'd say
the results are inconclusive, mostly because the built in battery
monitor isn't precise enough. With enough lights on to register
withdrawal the current and power readings were -2.0 A and -29.4 W
and fluctuated (current measurment seems to have 0.2 A resolution)
to slightly above and slightly below. With the fridge added the
fluctuating ranges didn't change, but they may have stayed at the
end with greater draw for a slightly longer portion of time.

I guess I need a more precise way to measure. Failing that (not
sure I really want to buy yet another gadget), I guess I'll just
see if it'll get cold on propane next time we set it up to use.
--
Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On 4/18/2026 1:25 PM, Ted Heise wrote:

Okay, I've been thinking through whether we can camp with our
Lance 1475 trailer without shore power, and if so for how long.

We can make do without the microwave and AC (if I pick dates and
locations well), and I picked up a coffee grinder so we can make
coffee using hot water from the stove. The Truma Combi furnace
runs fine off propane with the 12 Li Time battery, and it looks
like that could go for a couple of days--maybe more (using the
estimated run time from the battery app).

I've had plenty of cold nights, even down to 10F, and I thought the
furnace used really very little to power the fan.

I've also been looking at the Norcold N400. In 12 V mode it'll
run down the battery in a matter of hours, so I checked the
propane option.

The manual for mine said basically the same thing. I think it is more a
cover their ass thing. I start it at home and get it cold, and once
there, it too used very little to keep going. I figure I could run
almost indefinitely with it running down a little during the night and
then charging during the day. With your lithium setup I would think
your results would be at least as good, and probably better.

At first it threw an error (code 3) which a quick
check online suggested low voltage from the 12 V power. This
didn't make sense to me, given that it does runs on battery alone.
I tried it a second time and it threw the same code. Third time
there was no error, but neither was it drwaing anything from the
battery. Hmmm.

After checking the Norcold manual, it seems the error code 3
actually indicates no gas. The instructions also say it may take
2-3 startup tries to get the gas lines cleared of air and filled
with gas. This is consistent with what I observed, leading me to
think it was actually runing off of propane at the end of my
testing.

I also did a Google search on what the N400 might draw from the
battery while in propane mode, and came up with roughly 0.5 A. A
second search suggested that the Li Time battery monitor would
stay on standby until maybe 1.5 A is being drawn. So this leads
me to think the fridge was running and the draw was just too low
to trigger the monitor into showing it.

Does this all make sense? I suppose I could go back, turn on
enough lights for the app to show some draw, then add the fridge
to confirm the draw increases slightly. But at this point I feel
relatively confident that I've got it figured out. What say the
rort brain trust?

My fridge doesn't have a propane option, so I can't help you much with
that. You are getting much more experience in testing this stuff than I
am, and all I can say is you keep working on it and eventually you
somehow get to an understanding. I should do what you are just for the
hell of it, but in truth the first time I knew I had to go into a very
cold night and had a fridge filled with food, I just figured if I woke
up and was freezing, I'd start either the generator or the engine up. Fortunately, it turned out I had plenty of juice to spare.
--
Science DoesnrCOt Support Darwin. Scientists Do

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:49:38 -0500,
sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

On 4/18/2026 1:25 PM, Ted Heise wrote:

Okay, I've been thinking through whether we can camp with our
Lance 1475 trailer without shore power, and if so for how
long.

We can make do without the microwave and AC (if I pick dates
and locations well), and I picked up a coffee grinder so we
can make coffee using hot water from the stove. The Truma
Combi furnace runs fine off propane with the 12 Li Time
battery, and it looks like that could go for a couple of
days--maybe more (using the estimated run time from the
battery app).

I've had plenty of cold nights, even down to 10F, and I thought
the furnace used really very little to power the fan.

Yeah, that seems consistent with what I'm seeing for my unit.

I've also been looking at the Norcold N400. In 12 V mode
it'll run down the battery in a matter of hours, so I checked
the propane option.

The manual for mine said basically the same thing. I think it
is more a cover their ass thing. I start it at home and get it
cold, and once there, it too used very little to keep going.
I figure I could run almost indefinitely with it running down a
little during the night and then charging during the day.
With your lithium setup I would think your results would be at
least as good, and probably better.

Interesting thought. It stands to reason that the energy use
would be highest when starting up and that it would decrease when
the unit and its contents are at temp.

Does this all make sense? I suppose I could go back, turn on
enough lights for the app to show some draw, then add the
fridge to confirm the draw increases slightly. But at this
point I feel relatively confident that I've got it figured
out. What say the rort brain trust?

My fridge doesn't have a propane option, so I can't help you
much with that. You are getting much more experience in
testing this stuff than I am, and all I can say is you keep
working on it and eventually you somehow get to an
understanding.

Thanks for the encouragement. As I mentioned elsethread, I did go
back and try to determine the added 12 V draw for the fridge when
running on propane and found it wasn't discernable. I'm thinking
it's due to the battery's built in monitor having poor resolution
(I said precision before, which is not quite right).

Seems I'd be more likely to measure this successfully with
something like the Victron Smart Shunt, but I can't see spending
$100 just for that because the battery monitor is fine for routine
use. Maybe one of my neighbors has a shunt unit I could borrow.
Or I could hook up my multimeter in line, though that seems more
trouble than it's worth. This may change if my OCD kick in. lol

...I should do what you are just for the hell of it, but in
truth the first time I knew I had to go into a very cold night
and had a fridge filled with food, I just figured if I woke up
and was freezing, I'd start either the generator or the engine
up. Fortunately, it turned out I had plenty of juice to spare.

I like your reasoning!
--
Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On 4/20/2026 8:44 AM, Ted Heise wrote:

The manual for mine said basically the same thing. I think it
is more a cover their ass thing. I start it at home and get it
cold, and once there, it too used very little to keep going.
I figure I could run almost indefinitely with it running down a
little during the night and then charging during the day.
With your lithium setup I would think your results would be at
least as good, and probably better.

Interesting thought. It stands to reason that the energy use
would be highest when starting up and that it would decrease when
the unit and its contents are at temp.

Just to see what would happen as far as the batteries go, I decided to
just turn on my refrigerator this time without plugging in the RV at
all. We put steaks and burger and a few other things in the freezer.
They were unfrozen when put in. Filled the bottom with a case of water
and a gallon jug. Wife put other food items in there too.

I had been keeping an eye on the battery voltage and it was just fine,
after a couple hours of starting it up it was still fully charged.
Checked it before coming in tonight and everything in the freezer is
frozen solid, and all the water below is cold. Now that everything is
cold, I'm assuming it will require less running to keep it cold. Nice
to know how well it works with solar charging.
--
Science DoesnrCOt Support Darwin. Scientists Do

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:47:58 -0500,
sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

On 4/20/2026 8:44 AM, Ted Heise wrote:

The manual for mine said basically the same thing. I think
it is more a cover their ass thing. I start it at home and
get it cold, and once there, it too used very little to
keep going. I figure I could run almost indefinitely with
it running down a little during the night and then charging
during the day. With your lithium setup I would think your
results would be at least as good, and probably better.

Interesting thought. It stands to reason that the energy use
would be highest when starting up and that it would decrease
when the unit and its contents are at temp.

Just to see what would happen as far as the batteries go, I
decided to just turn on my refrigerator this time without
plugging in the RV at all. We put steaks and burger and a few
other things in the freezer. They were unfrozen when put in.
Filled the bottom with a case of water and a gallon jug. Wife
put other food items in there too.

I had been keeping an eye on the battery voltage and it was
just fine, after a couple hours of starting it up it was still
fully charged. Checked it before coming in tonight and
everything in the freezer is frozen solid, and all the water
below is cold. Now that everything is cold, I'm assuming it
will require less running to keep it cold. Nice to know how
well it works with solar charging.

Interesting. The reading I got from my LiIon battery when I
started up my fridge using only the 12 V power source indicated it
would be depleted in something like 5 or 6 hours. I suppose the
draw might drop quite a lot once it's past startup, but we'll have
to see.
--
Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2