Escapees July-August 2023

mark, my words

Your RV Questions By MARK NEMETH #45776, Escapees Technical Advisor Send your questions via e-mail to techquestions@escapees.com

AC Use While Traveling Q. My husband and I enjoy your column and always learn something new. Thanks very much. My question has to do with hot weather travel. Speci fi cally, which ismoree ffi cient: running the generator and coach AC while underway or using the engine AC? We have a Winnebago Voyage (32 ft.) with a Ford Vortec V-10 engine. I look forward to your advice. Liz A. Since modern automotive air conditioning compressors are very ef fi cient, I think there’s no doubt that running the dash air will consume less fuel than running the generator and a roof air. However, it becomes a matter of comfort and necessity when the temperatures get really high. On a warm day, the dash air will probably keep you comfortable, but on a hot day it will not be able to keep the coach cool. At that point, most folks light off the generator and turn on the roof air to keep the inside of the coach tolerable. You can expect a gasoline generator operating a single 13.5 KBTU roof air to consume ½ to 1 gallon per hour, on average. Be aware that this will decrease your driving range slightly. Also be aware that most generators that draw fuel from the motor home’s fuel tank are set up with a higher fuel pickup height than the engine fuel pump. Most generators will starve for fuel and shut down when the main fuel tank drops below about ¼ full. This is done on purpose so that running your generator for an extended period in a campground will not leave you with a totally empty fuel tank on the motorhome. Be sure to check the generator oil daily, or after every eight hours of operation when you are using it on the road.

Propane Detector False Alarm

Q. The propane detector in the kitchen has gone o ff twice in the past week. We aren’t using propane, and the tanks are shuto ff . Do you have any idea what would cause this issue? Je ff A. Those alarms can be set off by anything in a spray can that uses propane or butane as a propellant. That covers the majority of aerosol sprays, which are a common source of false alarms. If your alarm is more than fi ve years old, it may be in need of replacement. Those alarms have a service lifespan and many times will begin to act erratically when they get senile. I suspect from the symptoms you describe that you probably don’t have a propane leak. Watch to see if your false alarms are associated with using aerosol products. If not, then it may be time for a new alarm. It’s probably a good idea to replace your smoke alarm, too, if it’s getting on in years.

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ESCAPEES Magazine July/August 2023