Electricity Question for you experts: Which is better high watts at a short time, or low watts for a longer time?

JeepHammer said:

Thermal Mass.
In that case, you would be better off with Solar Thermal panels and a 'Mass' Tank/Pump in the RV...
Evacuated Tubes (Double Walled Glass With Vacuum In Between) will produce water that will SCALD you!

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Zero effort and zero watts keeps things plenty warm for a New Mexico night.

New Mexico Will said:

Zero effort and zero watts keeps things plenty warm for a New Mexico night.

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Thermal Mass, think Adobe or Brick along with water...
Absorbs heat all day keeping it out of the house, radiates heat all night.

Only if you sit that 8lb.Gal barrel outside in the day time, and lift back into an RV at night.

My point was, she's hitting the road in a SMALL converted van and has a tank full of petroleum...

JeepHammer said:

Thermal Mass, think Adobe or Brick along with water...
Absorbs heat all day keeping it out of the house, radiates heat all night.

Only if you sit that 8lb.Gal barrel outside in the day time, and lift back into an RV at night.

My point was, she's hitting the road in a SMALL converted van and has a tank full of petroleum...

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She? What van? I'm confused.

New Mexico Will said:

She? What van? I'm confused.

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I live in the state of confusion, Indiana...

The OP is testing her system and wants to know which is more efficient, low Watts on electric heater for longer period?
Or high Watts for shorter period?

Since she has a grand total of 2 Battle Born batteries, I said using petroleum fuel from the tank and RV/Big Truck heater would be most efficient, just a fuel pump and small fan running with the petroleum RV heater.
In a small van it will most certainly keep up if the van is well insulated.

2 BBs are going to get sucked down QUICK, and you need a lot of heat in short winter days,
It might work in spring & fall, but she's planning north east coast winter, and solar just isn't going to cut it heating the van.

They make the heaters in gas, diesel & propane, the top end units are about $1,200...
You can find eBay specials for $300 or so, less install.
I've got one in my camper and one in my delivery truck, and they do work...

Well maybe posts were edited, but I see no mention of any small van, an east coast winter, or any compelling evidence that Santa is a she (though I'm certainly not opposed to it, but I don't know how Mrs. Claus will feel)

New Mexico Will said:

Well maybe posts were edited, but I see no mention of any small van, an east coast winter, or any compelling evidence that Santa is a she (though I'm certainly not opposed to it, but I don't know how Mrs. Claus will feel)

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Santa is a 'She', learning and building from scratch, and doing quite well!

Her plans are a 'Sprinter' type van converted to RV, and to travel to the north east soon as she's done.
She has cable, terminal ends, crimper, inverter, charge controller, breakers & fuse block, 2 BB batteries and PV panel set Will recommended for small RVs, and is using his plans.

She's working up cables, crimped, soldered, heat shrink, used the large/thick terminals, good cable, brass bolts, etc.
She has absorbed the Watts/Amps/Volts math, has sized her own cables for the inverter load correctly, and is now waiting on Amazon to stop canceling her orders so the panels get to her.

She has absorbed everything suggested on the different threads, asked relevant question about cleaning terminals, corrosion control, etc.
She's REALLY interested in doing things correctly, and scavenging every bit of information she can find,
And she's absorbing it.
Not only wants to know 'What', but 'Why'...
So... I'm trying to help where I can. Anyone that gets off their butt is just aces with me!
I'll help anyone that's willing to learn & work.

Now you are caught up!

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I think the confusion was not knowing a 'Watt' is a measure of energy, electrical to heat is a 1:1 exchange,
Resistance heating is 100% efficient, 100 Watts of electricity converts into 100 Watts of heat.
Most times we talk about heat in BTUs, not Watts, and since she has grasped electrical Watts, it's clear to her now.
Watts to BTU, multiply by 3.12
100 Watts is 312 BTUs.

The heater unit is expensive, (knock-offs from China start at $100 on eBay/Amazon)
But consuming 1/4 gallon of fuel, 34 electric Watts per hour,
Makes 2,200 Heat Watts/6,864 BTUs an hour.
Batteries live MUCH longer at 34 Watts Load an hour!

2,200 heat Watt/Hr. would take 3 ea. $1,000 batteries so you didn't run them flat,
That's $3,000 for ONE HOUR (or just a little over) before you had to wait for them to recharge while freezing to death!
Gas heater, For $100-$1,200... 1/4 gallon of fuel, 34 Watts, 2,200 Watts of heat continuously as long as there is fuel in the tank.

For me, I might try a knock-off, If you got 1 winter out of it, it would be worth the $100-$200 price tag.
The Eberspacher unit runs about $1,200 before install!
You can get a home furnace for that! But the Eberspacher heater lives for YEARS in big trucks/RVs, so you kind of have to do the math and check the bank account...

I don't have a clue what you all are talking about. I never had a Sprinter or even a van. IDK what to say beyond you confused me with someone else? and then ...confused me more?

Santa said:

I don't have a clue what you all are talking about. I never had a Sprinter or even a van. IDK what to say beyond you confused me with someone else? and then ...confused me more?

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THANK YOU!

Santa said:

I don't have a clue what you all are talking about. I never had a Sprinter or even a van. IDK what to say beyond you confused me with someone else? and then ...confused me more?

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Methinks Jeep has you and she jeans mixed up.

Could be, Santa started with a diagram with a starting battery in the diagram...

Just a couple people got mixed up a little I guess. To clarify things, in case anyone cares, I want to buy a van right now with cash. If anyone knows of one, I can fly anywhere, if it's a good one (Chevy). I want to leave ASAP, and yes, I am a she. As of this minute, I have (4) 100 watt solar panels, a pair of 4/0 cutting pliers, (and a 100 watt suitcase panel that went with my All-in-one that was stolen.) I have Will Prowse's book, and 2 BB batteries. I am trying to get rid of the sticks and bricks so I can leave. I am trying to get all the components of a slightly modified version of Will's blueprint of the DC-DC Renogy MPPT contoller, etc. I ordered the controller directly from Renogy after I ordered the Amazon stuff that was unjustly cancelled. Renogy took my money, then a couple hours later they said the controllers are back-ordered until mid-December. I THINK I have a refrigerator coming again? My upstairs neighbor flooded my bathroom twice last week and won't fix it. I am going to have to sue him now, which makes me very stressed out and is going to delay even more, my leaving here. :-( There are other things, but now you know more about me. I am really going through a lot right now...I hope this clears things up.

New Mexico Will said:

Well maybe posts were edited, but I see no mention of any small van, an east coast winter, or any compelling evidence that Santa is a she (though I'm certainly not opposed to it, but I don't know how Mrs. Claus will feel)

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I'm standing in for the old man (Santa) Kind of busy this time of year, lol.

Doesn't matter to me, willing to learn and pays attention.

Santa said:

Just a couple people got mixed up a little I guess. To clarify things, in case anyone cares, I want to buy a van right now with cash. If anyone knows of one, I can fly anywhere, if it's a good one (Chevy). I want to leave ASAP, and yes, I am a she. As of this minute, I have (4) 100 watt solar panels, a pair of 4/0 cutting pliers, (and a 100 watt suitcase panel that went with my All-in-one that was stolen.) I have Will Prowse's book, and 2 BB batteries. I am trying to get rid of the sticks and bricks so I can leave. I am trying to get all the components of a slightly modified version of Will's blueprint of the DC-DC Renogy MPPT contoller, etc. I ordered the controller directly from Renogy after I ordered the Amazon stuff that was unjustly cancelled. Renogy took my money, then a couple hours later they said the controllers are back-ordered until mid-December. I THINK I have a refrigerator coming again? My upstairs neighbor flooded my bathroom twice last week and won't fix it. I am going to have to sue him now, which makes me very stressed out and is going to delay even more, my leaving here. :-( There are other things, but now you know more about me. I am really going through a lot right now...I hope this clears things up.

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That's a mega bummer. I've had to navigate the court system here for similar issues. PM if I can be of help there.

JeepHammer said:

I live in the state of confusion, Indiana...

The OP is testing her system and wants to know which is more efficient, low Watts on electric heater for longer period?
Or high Watts for shorter period?

Since she has a grand total of 2 Battle Born batteries, I said using petroleum fuel from the tank and RV/Big Truck heater would be most efficient, just a fuel pump and small fan running with the petroleum RV heater.
In a small van it will most certainly keep up if the van is well insulated.

2 BBs are going to get sucked down QUICK, and you need a lot of heat in short winter days,
It might work in spring & fall, but she's planning north east coast winter, and solar just isn't going to cut it heating the van.

They make the heaters in gas, diesel & propane, the top end units are about $1,200...
You can find eBay specials for $300 or so, less install.
I've got one in my camper and one in my delivery truck, and they do work...

Click to expand...

Yes, I will be getting the diesel one like you showed me on Ebay. Thanks!

New Mexico Will said:

That's a mega bummer. I've had to navigate the court system here for similar issues. PM if I can be of help there.

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Thank you!