While it may seem RV owners prefer to camp surrounded by the luxuries of home, many like to do just the opposite.
It is very common for RVers to spend several nights without an electricity connection, relying on their instincts and the power of a 12V battery for warmth and other vital necessities. This type of camping is commonly referred to as boondocking, and it can be a fun and exciting adventure for all types of campers.
While boondocking and relying on the 12-volt battery system that your RV runs on, you can keep your family warm on cold overnight stays at campsites and still enjoy the thrill of roughing it in the great outdoors.
Will an RV Furnace Run on a Battery?
Although the heat itself runs off of propane, your furnace in your RV will still run on batteries. That’s because the blower fan operates off the battery. Typically, a furnace will operate on around eight amps of power.
Therefore, it is a good idea to have a generator or solar panels available to supplement power while you charge your batteries.
The 12-volt battery system is designed to provide power to several electronics inside your RV. It will run the blower on your RV’s furnace, and that will allow you to heat your RV even while you are staying off the grid. Typically, this battery will not run your air conditioner, a TV, or anything else that operates on a 120-volt plug-in.
How Long Will a 12-Volt Battery Operate a Heater?
The furnace of your RV will still operate even if it is no longer connected to electricity as long as you have the right amount of battery power available. If you have two 12 volts, 100 amp-hour batteries, you can get up to 200 amp hours from them.
Remember that it’s not recommended to drain down more than 50% of the battery’s capacity when using lead-acid batteries. Therefore, you would have 100 amp hours that you could use.
While it may not sound like much, remember that you do not keep your heater running 100% of the time. On average most users keep their heater running for around 20 minutes out of each hour. So, it will last much longer than you think.
A reliable rule of thumb to keep in mind is if you are planning a 3-day camping trip, it’s good to bring along two reliable and fully charged 12-volt batteries. You can also bring a generator or solar battery chargers to use for backup.
You can also extend your battery hours by purchasing larger 12-volt batteries or 2.6-volt batteries that will last even longer and give you more heating power.
Can I Heat My RV Without Propane?
To help make your batteries last even longer, if you have access to electric power for a short time while camping, or if you have a generator to bring along, you can use it to power up a small electric heater to heat your RV while your batteries charge or if you simply want to give your batteries a rest.
Useful Tips for Making Your Battery Run Longer While Running a Furnace in Your RV
There are a few things you can do to help make your heating power last much longer while you are camping off-grid.
Set Your Thermostat Lower at Night
Setting your thermostat back at night is a great way to save on your battery usage. Sleeping in a cooler environment will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep. You can always bundle up using extra blankets.
Turn Off Your Furnace When You Are Not in Your RV
You won’t be staying inside your RV the entire time you are camping. You can conserve your battery’s energy by always turning off your heat when you are not inside or when the temperature is comfortable enough not to have the heat on.
Manually Turn Your Thermostat on and Off as Needed
There may be times when you feel comfortable inside your RV, but your thermostat thinks otherwise. You can preserve your battery power by manually turning the heat on and off as needed.
It will prevent your heater from unnecessarily heating your space.
Ensure Your Ductwork is Securely Connected
If you haven’t checked your heating ducts in a while, it’s a good idea to double-check and make sure they are connected correctly before you head out on the road. If you have recently purchased a new or used RV, you may find out that your heating ducts are not even hooked up at all.
If that is the case, it will cause heat to circulate in areas where it isn’t needed, such as behind the cabinets.
Wear Extra Layers
If you are travelling during the colder months of the year, you will want to wear multiple layers to shed off as the temperature rises. This will cut down on the amount of time you spend running your heater and help you conserve your battery life while you keep yourself comfortable at the same time.
Position Your RV to Access Direct Sunlight
If you position your RV in direct sunlight while camping, you can take advantage of the natural heat and light during the day. This can be especially useful during the fall and winter months, especially if you are lucky enough to be camping on a day with minimal clouds.
It is best to avoid the sunlight during the summer and find a shady area to park to keep your RV as cool as possible.
Keep Areas of Your RV Insulated
While the factory originally insulated your RV, they may have skimped in areas such as the floor or underneath the folding bed.
If you have concerns about your RV not being fully insulated, you can purchase additional insulation material and install it to ensure all the heat remains inside. You can also insulate your vent covers for an added layer of protection.
Invest in a Good Generator to Keep Your Batteries Charged
Many RVers will use a generator to keep their batteries fully charged while enjoying all the benefits of boondocking. In most cases, the generator must run for one to two hours using an onboard charger.
That’s enough time to fill fully charge your batteries, and then you can stop using the generator until the next day. If you camp in a popular campsite with many other campers around you, a generator may be too noisy to use for several hours at a time.
For that reason, many people choose to use solar panels instead of a generator.
Install Solar Panels
You can install solar panels to help preserve your battery life. Keeping your batteries charged up and switching out with rooftop solar panels can help make spending time off-grid much more enjoyable.
If you have around 200 watts of solar power, you can recharge your batteries at 2 to 3 ap hours during the day and switch out as needed for the maximum amount of energy. In most cases, you may need around 4 hours of sunlight to recharge your batteries fully.
What is a Battery Disconnect Switch?
Many RVs are equipped with a battery disconnect switch. If you are unsure about how to use it, here are a few basic details.
There are two types of battery disconnect switches found inside RVs, one that you can manually throw and another that is an automatic push-button type.
They both perform the same task, which is breaking the connection between the battery and the fuses that provide power to your RV’s furnace, lights, and appliances, among other devices.
Whenever the switch is thrown, the only way these devices powered by your 12-volt battery will continue to work is if the RV is connected to the shoreline.
Once connected to electricity, either the power converter or the inverter/charger provides electricity, even when the battery disconnect switch is thrown.
What is the Battery Disconnect Used For?
You should turn off the battery disconnect switch anytime you have your RV in storage.
Doing so helps guarantee that the batteries will discharge slowly. However, keep in mind that no matter what, your batteries will discharge over a few weeks when the RV is not in use. But switching the battery disconnect to the “off” position will guarantee that they drain slower.
By using your disconnect switch, you are guaranteeing your batteries will last much longer.
While it’s a good idea to turn your battery disconnect switch off when you plan on not using your RV for an extended period, you shouldn’t turn it off every time you leave your RV while you are camping or plugged into the shoreline.
Doing this will disconnect your battery from the charging circuit, which means even if your RV is plugged into an electrical outlet, your batteries are not charging. Therefore, it’s best to turn your battery disconnect off if you plan to park your RV for a while or place it in storage. But otherwise, you should leave the switch in the “On” position.
What To Do If You Don’t Have a Battery Disconnect Switch
If you are placing your RV in storage and you do not have a battery disconnect switch, you can either remove the negative lead from your battery or install a manual battery disconnect switch. These devices are affordable and typically very easy to install.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using Your RV Battery for Your Furnace
Do RV Furnaces Use Gas or Electricity?
RV furnaces use gas which is powered by electricity. The energy allows the fan to operate and circulate the hot air around.
The only electric heat that you would get inside an RV would be from a heat pump, an electric heater, or a heat strip in your air conditioning unit.
If you have recently purchased a new RV, it will likely come with a ducted furnace that uses propane gas and electricity.
The propane heats the furnace while the electricity turns on the fan and circulates the warm air throughout the space. These furnaces work similar to residential air conditioners, and they feature a control panel with controls for air and heat.
What is the Ideal Electric Heater for an RV?
It is a good idea to bring along an electric heater to use while you are at a location that has electric hookups.
We recommend purchasing a heater that uses a fan to circulate the air throughout the space. You may also want to find a heater that has a thermostat with more settings aside from the usual high, medium, and low.
If you have a heater that is not self-controlling, you could wake up to frigid temperatures or an RV that is too warm.
A heater with an auto-off timer or one that automatically uses a high setting to warm up a cold room and then switches to a lower setting to maintain a comfortable temperature, such as the Lasko 5538 Ceramic Tower Heater, is the ideal choice.
Is a single 12 Volt Battery Enough to Power an RV’s Furnace?
Yes, one single 12 Volt battery is enough to power a furnace for an RV, but it would be best to have two as well as a backup source of power to ensure you won’t be left in the cold.
Does an RV Furnace Run on AC or DC Power?
RV propane furnaces are powered by 12 Volt batteries and are not powered by 110 Volt AC electricity. The furnace uses the battery’s power to ignite the propane that helps propel the fan and circulate heat throughout your camper.
Do RV Furnaces Have Filters?
Because RV furnaces operate on propane and some with a combination of propane and electricity, there is no filter. This is to help prevent fire hazards. Therefore, it’s important to keep all ductwork clean and allow air to flow through the system properly to prevent overheating.
To ensure the ducts remain clean, make sure no items cover the floor or ceiling vents. Even a trash can sitting in front of a wall vent or the furnace return could cause issues. Check the outside vents as well to ensure nothing is blocking them and clean them often. Bugs, spiders, or various types of debris will often end up inside these vents.
Final Thoughts
Using your RV’s battery to operate your furnace is a good and viable option, but you shouldn’t simply rely on the battery to keep your RV warm. You can use several other options for back-ups, such as solar panels or a generator, to help you keep your camper at the optimal temperature.
Using extra blankets, lowering the thermostat at night, and making good use of natural sunlight can also help you preserve your battery’s energy so that you aren’t left out in the cold while enjoying the great outdoors.