Forced air wheel house heaters?

[MuleShack]

for those of you that have one...

How long will one of these run off of a deep cycle battery? and also how long do you get from a 30lb tank?

I know there are variables with lights on in teh house and how cold it is outside and how warm you have it inside, but just a general "avgerage" would be fine.

I just got a house and have not had time to do the physical tests yet, but just wondered how some others do.

Thanks

[Phred52]

Muleshack, I just spent 29 hours on the lake in a 6 1/2' X 16' house. It has an Atwood furnace, Inside temp was at 68*. My battery was at 92% charge (summer deep cycle/boat battery) when I left home. Furnace and 1 light on same battery. When I left the lake, the blower was starting to run noticably slower and the light was lots dimmer. I run off of a 40# propane tank that was nearly full, and now there's about 1/3 left. Hopes this helps you. Phred52

[MuleShack]

gives me a good idea of what i need.

I'm heading to URL in 2 weeks, so didn't want to be short up there.

Thanks

[walleyeaddict]

Holy !@#$ phred! What kind of battery are u using???

[Phred52]

That would be an almost 6 year old Trojan Battery. It's a model SCS225, just slightly larger than a Group 27 battery. I run this one alongside another in my boat during the summer so I do keep them cycling all year long. IMO, Keeping them 'active' helps their lifespan.

[federline]

Not an answer you are looking for, but... I'd consider installing an Empire that takes no juice to run, with some computer fans strategically located. Then you can stay put all weekend as long as you have propane, food, drink, and bait. We run 5 computer fans, 3 multi-LED lights, and cell phone and spotlight chargers Fri-Sun on a single group 27.

Just don't give in an' run a generator unless its a honda and your in deep water! Seriously, we had guys come out to our locale this winter and run noisy generators for their forced air units all night, in 12 feet of water! Just opening a shack door sends walleyes scattering in this location, fishing was bad when these guys were nearby.

Good luck!

[L_Cappo]

yes those fans help out tons.i have 2 fans i bought at walmart for camping.as for the empire heater they are the best around for fish houses.but they are very spendy.

[MuleShack]

 Originally Posted By: federline

Not an answer you are looking for, but... I'd consider installing an Empire that takes no juice to run, with some computer fans strategically located. Then you can stay put all weekend as long as you have propane, food, drink, and bait. We run 5 computer fans, 3 multi-LED lights, and cell phone and spotlight chargers Fri-Sun on a single group 27.

Just don't give in an' run a generator unless its a honda and your in deep water! Seriously, we had guys come out to our locale this winter and run noisy generators for their forced air units all night, in 12 feet of water! Just opening a shack door sends walleyes scattering in this location, fishing was bad when these guys were nearby.

Good luck!

Too late to change heaters...this one came with the lodge.

I wired all 3 of my boat batteries in series or parallel, which ever one is red to red and black to black as this is suppose to increase the lenght of overall draw time. I'm going to run it and see how long they last.

3 days at a crack for me would be the limit i could stay out as far as my available time (or kitchen pass). Worst case would be to buy a 4th battery...a lot cheaper than a generator.

I do like these air heaters though, they keep the entire house evenly warm with only 2 floor registers.

[fisherdog19]

You could always start your truck and connect it to the batteries that are in series and let them charge via the cars alternator; just make sure to keep the truck running. A good hour will give you quite a bit of charge as your cars amp output is pretty large. I was in a house last night with an Atwood and he said he gets 36 hours on a battery. In my opinion there is no comparison with the forced air unit; the vertical heat distribution is amazing compared to any other unit (no cold floor and xxxxxxtra hot cieling). I have 3 computer fans and they don't help that much.

[cold one sd]

 Originally Posted By: federline

Not an answer you are looking for, but... I'd consider installing an Empire that takes no juice to run, with some computer fans strategically located. Then you can stay put all weekend as long as you have propane, food, drink, and bait. We run 5 computer fans, 3 multi-LED lights, and cell phone and spotlight chargers Fri-Sun on a single group 27.

Just don't give in an' run a generator unless its a honda and your in deep water! Seriously, we had guys come out to our locale this winter and run noisy generators for their forced air units all night, in 12 feet of water! Just opening a shack door sends walleyes scattering in this location, fishing was bad when these guys were nearby.

Good luck!

Friday morning I was fishing in 34' of water and it was dead. I started the generator and set it on the ice to charge batteries and make a bit of coffee. The perch and crappies started to bite about the same time. I don't know if they liked the noise or it was just feeding time.

[MuleShack]

For those interested, I got 66 hours off of one 30lb tank with house between 62 and 70. (keep in mind the mild temps during the day since Thursday night) And with my 3 batteries in series i was running forced air heater with one top light and 4 hole lights (during evening)from Thursday night thru Sunday night with no charge up. When i checked batteries tonight they were showing about 75% yet. I believe that grouping them together really improves performance.

FYI

[Phred52]

Muleshack, I'd agree that grouping them will help. It just depends on how much weight in batteries you want to haul around. I TRY to keep the weight to a mininum as much as possible. How was the fishing otherwise?? Phred52

[MuleShack]

Ended up on Minnetonka, moving around mainly searching in 28 to 40' with little success. Went to 16-20 for panfish later on and got a few average sized fish, but nothing to brag about. Need more time on Tonka to get to know her a little better. This was only the 2nd time on the ice there.

[Phred52]

MuleShack, So otherwise, it was a successful shake-down trip, right? Got to know the house a little bit? Her requirements? Phred52

[MuleShack]

thats for sure.

atleast now i know we'll have enough juice to last us thru sunday night at URL this weekend.

I must have moved this thing (20'er) 8 times looking for fish, it was good practice. I think at URL i might have to bank the house though...didn't do it this last weekend at all.

Now i wish i would have gottin it back in december but hoping to still hit the FM event on Mille Lacs in 2 weeks to get some more use out of it this year.

[Phred52]

Yea, like my pappy always usta say, "Too soon old, Too late smart" Dangit, I hate it when he's always right!!!!!