Gas usage. Blimey!!

[mistericeman]

I wonder if it makes a difference how much stuff is in your fridge. Michelle always has ours full to bursting.

'Generally' a full fridge will be more efficient...
Less 'free' air to drop out each time if it's a vertical, fridge...
And a large cold mass inside (obviously negated if you were to put none chilled stuff in.....

BUT

Generally filling it (whilst still allowing for air circulation)
As much as you can is about as efficient as it gets.

 

[barryd]

Dunno then. The old van used about the same. 0.7 to 0.9 a day in summer with no heating which is about what this one uses. Michelle boils a lot of kettles though and loves that feckin shower.

 

[rtbjedi]

This last week is the first time we have used the heating off grid in this van for any sustained period. Usually by this time of year I am nicely tucked away for a few weeks on a site with hookup. Thanks to Merl's super Solar system though we haven't had to do that so far. However the bloody Truma heating system in this van (Which is a huge space to heat) don't half use some gas. Its not like we have it on all the time either. Maybe last thing at night and for a couple of hours in the morning.

Filled the 6kg Gaslow on Sunday and its pretty much empty today. Some days its not been on at all apart from the Fridge. I do have the 6kg Calor back up but apparently we are not allowed to use that. Will fill up tomorrow at Marquis motorhomes near Exeter. I had expected it to do better than it has. Ten days off grid at our next place solar permitting but its the gas that is going to be the issue I think not power. Huge van, puny gas locker.

Are you saying you only use 6kg of gas a week?

 

[barryd]

Are you saying you only use 6kg of gas a week?

Not far off if you have the heating on. I think in the end we used 10 litres in six days so not quite a full 6kg tank.

 

[REC]

The only motorhome we bought new ( and returned six months later for full refund!) had a 3.9 kg calor gas bottle and a Truman heating system, we were full timing in it for a short while during the "Beast from the East" in Jan/Feb 2018 ....tried not to use it too much but it was needed, and we were chasing buying gas every three days! Luckily this was before the countrywide shortage and temporary stop in selling this size bottle.
We have an Eberspacher and are never cold. Was discussing the power usage with RAC chap ( long story) and he was insistent that you should keep the engine running while the heater starts up, to prevent battery drain, but I was sure that I read somewhere this was not a good idea?

 

[mistericeman]

The only motorhome we bought new ( and returned six months later for full refund!) had a 3.9 kg calor gas bottle and a Truman heating system, we were full timing in it for a short while during the "Beast from the East" in Jan/Feb 2018 ....tried not to use it too much but it was needed, and we were chasing buying gas every three days! Luckily this was before the countrywide shortage and temporary stop in selling this size bottle.
We have an Eberspacher and are never cold. Was discussing the power usage with RAC chap ( long story) and he was insistent that you should keep the engine running while the heater starts up, to prevent battery drain, but I was sure that I read somewhere this was not a good idea?

As Long as your battery is decent.... There's no need.

Eberspacher d2s pull around 8 amps on start up (a Chinese diesel heater around 10 amps)

Dropping back to a couple or 3 amps when running
That initial draw can be problematic for a weak battery/poor wiring.

 

[REC]

As Long as your battery is decent.... There's no need.

Eberspacher d2s pull around 8 amps on start up (a Chinese diesel heater around 10 amps)

Dropping back to a couple or 3 amps when running
That initial draw can be problematic for a weak battery/poor wiring.

We have an ongoing battery draw issue with van battery, and was having another issue with the leisure battery! Think we have finally worked out the van battery issue ( a pre installed tracker and GPS which were removed but active "stuff" left ...sorry don't understand it all!) and found out the flexible solar panel has packed up which is reason for leisure battery not being charged/ flattening fast. Two new batteries installed last month and the panel is being replaced and "gubbins" being removed from dashboard next week. Have had three auto electricians do their thing on it and till now the only advice has been to disabled the alarm ....invalidating the insurance! Oh and they all agree there is a draw which flattens the van battery if left for more than a week. But apparently hard to identify ...we have had four new batteries in five years! So pray for us that it is sorted...