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Old 11-16-2009, 05:43 PM   #1
chockwald
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Default Winter travel

As many of you know we're heading up to Spokane, WA for Thanksgiving at my sister's home. I haven't traveled in sub freezing temperatures for days on end before in the Newell. Once we get north of Salt Lake City, UT we'll be seeing overnight temps in the teens and 20's. Should I leave the block warmer on all night (assuming I'm plugged in somewhere, which I do plan to be)? I'll, obviously, have the water bay heater on at night, and during the day when needed. We'll be traveling I-15 up to I-90 and then west on I-90 to Spokane. The temps will get cold in Idaho, and north. We'll probably be overnighting near Idaho Falls one night, and then Missoula, MT (hoping to stop and meet Jennifer and her coach), and then for 4-5 days in Spokane at my sister's home. we'll have at least 50amp available in Idaho Falls (will stay at an RV park), and then 15amp in Missoula (if we plug in at Jennifer's home as she has offered) and Spokane. Is 15 amp enough to run the electric heaters I have, or will I need to run the gas furnaces to keep power draw down? I would think the block heater and other electric heaters would draw a lot of amps.
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Old 11-16-2009, 09:18 PM   #2
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We live in cold country, unfortunately I do not have enough experience with our Newell to be much help to you. I can tell you a competent local bus mechanic has told me a good running 8V92 should start without the block heater down to 10°F. I have not verified this advice.
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Old 11-16-2009, 10:08 PM   #3
Wally Arntzen
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I have traveled in cold weather often. At night I still stay at wallmarts and run the generator all night long and turn the engine heater on when we go to sleep. The same if plugged in to a power source. 15 amps will not be enough to run your engine heater or any of the electric heaters in the coach. I don't know what capacity you have with generator so I'm not sure what you can run with it on. I can run everything with mine and I always have my hot water heater on, the engine heater on, and all of the electric heaters on. Depending on the temperatures. I slept in the coach at 20 below and had all of the electric heaters and all of the LP heaters on and slept in my underwear very comfortbably.
We took showers with no freezing up of anything. I have a temp sensor in my water bay so I know how much heat I have to put in the compartment to keep it warm.
When traveling in the cold weather make sure you check or replace the fuel filter on your generator because that is the main potential problem that could shut e'r down and leave you in the cold.
I'm assuming that you know that the engine will not start at temperatures below 40 degrees, but I can assure you that it starts right away with the engine heater on. My generator has a preheat switch on it which heats the fuel before it enters the engine and mine has started with no problem in the 20 below temps I mentioned above. It also makes a difference with the multi weight oil we can use in the generators.
Happy travels and stay warm
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Old 11-16-2009, 11:31 PM   #4
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Hey Wally, I knew you would have good info for me. I have a propane generator that puts out 7500kw, so I'm sure I can run everything with it on. Would there be a fuel filter on a propane genset? I've been in temps under 40 degrees a couple of mornings and it would not start, but after about an hour of the block heater being on it started easily. I'll have to be sure to stay where I can get at least 30 amps so I can leave the block heater, water bay heater, and will definitely leave the propane water heater on. I, also, have a temp sensor in the water bay, so can monitor that to be sure we're keeping enough heat in there. I've got all three heaters down there (engine, electric, and propane).

How many amps do you think the block heater will draw? I can run the gas furnaces for the interior, and the water bay, which will reduce the amps.
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Old 11-17-2009, 12:37 AM   #5
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My block heater draws 17 amps according to the ammeter above the dash.

While the 8V92 may start at lower temperatures without a block heater or Primus system turned on, the wear on the engine would be greatly increased as the oil does not circulate well at low temperatures.
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Old 11-17-2009, 01:25 AM   #6
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Clarke, I don't know anything about LP run engines so I sure do not know if they have in line filters or not. I doubt that there is any debris in gas that would plug up a line but I suspect someone of our outstanding members will have an answer for you. Enyoy your trip and it sure is nice to travel in a Newell in any kind of weather because that is why they build them so versitile. Lots of furnaces, lots of air conditioners and lots of everything that we would need to make ourselves comfortable. That is why I make sure everything on or in my coach works all of the time.
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Old 11-17-2009, 02:08 AM   #7
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Just happened to read this one and although my technical knowledge wouldn't fill a thimble, I do carry different splitters (?) that allow me to plug into 2 different 15 amp or 30 amp circuits to gain the power needed for our coach.
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Old 11-17-2009, 04:18 AM   #8
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Hi Larry, I have the same set up that came with my coach. It sounded like Clarke only had 15 amp availble so I did not mention it. The work well and get the job done.
One of the big problems up north in the winter is that there are not a lot of parks open to any power at all. In Minnesota most of the parks close on October 15th and don't open until April 15th with the exception of a couple of casino's that will give electric only and would work for someone in Clarkes situation.
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Old 11-17-2009, 04:44 AM   #9
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Clarke,
I do not believe that the LPG System has an In-line Filter at least not one like a Diesel or Gasoline Engine does. I agree with Michael, use the Block Heater when you can.
My suggestion is simple, 70 Degrees! We are off to the Sea of Cortez for Thanksgiving and having Shrimp instead of Turkey.
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Old 11-17-2009, 01:11 PM   #10
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Rub it in Cap'n Steve.......will be thinking of you enjoying those 70 days on the Sea of Cortez while I'm freezing my a$$ off in Montana this time next week.....LOL!

I do have one more question about my evaporative Dometic refer.......how well do they work in these low temps I'm driving into? Anything thing simple I can do to improve the performance? My understanding (partially from personal experience) is that they do not perform well in extremely cold, or extremely hot temps.....I know about the hot temps from experience, and I have a chimney fan that helps move the hot air up the chimney in the summer, but what do I do in the winter....block off the lower vent to keep cool air from coming in? Your suggestions are quite welcome!
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Old 11-17-2009, 01:24 PM   #11
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Clarke, mine does not work any differently in the cold weather.
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Old 11-17-2009, 02:13 PM   #12
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OK...that's good to know! Thanks again, Wally!
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Old 11-17-2009, 02:50 PM   #13
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I have an LP powered forklift that I use out doors. There are no fuel filters. The cause of cold weather start problems is the LP carburetor. There is a small nozzle in it that the gas passes through under pressure. As the pressure is released through the nozzle it becomes very cold (like an A/C nozzle) In cold temps the nozzle will "ice up". You will probably see a couple coolant lines running to the carb. These circulate coolant to the carb to warm it up. Of course they are of no avail when the coolant is cold. That is why some automobile LP systems start and run on gasoline before switching to LP. I put an electric heater in the lower radiator hose to help starting.
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Old 11-17-2009, 02:53 PM   #14
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Clarke,
I found these that may help with your Thanksgiving Visit;
http://www.thunderboltsocks.com/heat..._sportsman.htm

I just ordered a replacement part for our;
http://www.tailgatorzone.com/features.html
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Old 11-17-2009, 05:53 PM   #15
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Clarke I sent you a private message....Jennifer
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Old 11-18-2009, 02:23 PM   #16
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OK...brought the Newell home yesterday in preparation for our Friday depature.

I turned on the block heater and it only draws 10 amps. The same for each of the electric heaters, so I will need more than 15 amps if I want to use all electric heating. Now if I turn on all three gas furnaces at the same time the amp draw is around 2, so conceivably I could run the water bay gas heater, and the block heater off a 15 amp circuit with a few amps to spare. I'm feeling better about our cold weather heating options.
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2002 Thunderbird Retro
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Cannondale Bad Boy
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Old 11-20-2009, 03:21 AM   #17
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Chockwald
You will be fine in the Montana weather. IT is unseasonably warm up here--50's daytime high teens at night. No below zero yet! But we live in Northeastern Mt and it does get cold in January, February. From my research, Newell can handle the cold!

Soon to be Newell Owners,
Mike & Rene
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Old 11-20-2009, 01:00 PM   #18
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LOL, IT is unseasonably warm up here--50's daytime high teens at night Yeh well, we are having unseasonably cool weather here in Tejas, 40's at night and 60 during the day. Yeh, I know, you can brag next summer when we are dying.

And of course Tom is even warmer right now.

We packed up the coach last night and will head out to Tyler State Park for 5 days. Tyler is the scene of the crime where Rhonda broke her ankle in April. Her position is you gotta get back on the horse that threw you.

I'm sure she'll have a full report when we get back, that won't have any Richard zings at all.

Have a great Thanksgiving to everyone.
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Old 01-11-2010, 01:45 AM   #19
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Anybody know what kind of temps a 60 series can be in and start without a block heater on? just curious.
- Andrew
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Old 01-11-2010, 02:10 AM   #20
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I don't know for sure, my guess is that it will start without any heat down to about 32 ambient. Seems like the best thing to do is just put the heater on about an hour or so before you crank it. It sure makes it easier on your batteries if the engine is warm. Maybe DD could tell you at what temp the engine heat is needed.
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