Fireplace

[sanford1945]

Has anyone replaced their electric fireplace with a somesort of gas? We are looking for a cheaper way to heat our Montana 3400. Thanks

[stiles watson]

Depends on who pays your electricity, you or the campground. If it is the campground, then the electric heat is your cheapest way. Even if you pay the electric bill, I am not sure bottled gas is cheaper than electricity when you are on the road. A 30# bottle of propane costs me $22.00 to $30.00 here in Durham, NC.

We are using it at the rate of a bottle every week to 10 days and it hasn't really gotten cold yet. We are looking for ways to add electric heat. Ozz has a great modification. He added a low profile, fan driven wall heater. If I were a better electrician, I would do that mod.

[Sinterior]

There's a formula for comparing electricity to propane cost.

Multiply the kilowatt rate being charged by 20, and compare that to the cost of a gallon of propane.

[dieselguy]

Also consider you probably should vent it somehow and/or have a means to draw in fresh air from the outside ... otherwise you're asking for trouble.

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by Sinterior

There's a formula for comparing electricity to propane cost.

Multiply the kilowatt rate being charged by 20, and compare that to the cost of a gallon of propane.

Good formula, but remember that our Propane heaters are only 40% efficient, 60% of the propane is wasted, go out and feel how hot the exhaust is; wasted heat. Also calculate the 6 amps (D.C.) or so that the Propane heater fan uses, pre-ignition, and post ignition. These are all factors in doing a comparison. My 120 volt wall heater's fan is a very quiet axial fan, about 8" long, moves a lot of air, quietly, and consumes about 2 A.C. amps. (ballpark, don't quote me on the amps on the last.)

sanford1945, I looked at some Propane filrepaces to replace the one we have, but they were pretty expensive, and I don't want to give up my electric fireplace, it's cute

Here is an idea for additional Propane heat:
https://picasaweb.google.com/Jimsue1...eat=directlink

Here is the electric heater Stiles mentioned:
http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n...%20built%20in/