Help RV Inverter and Furnace Questions

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(I'm not off-line yet -- it took forever to get a bunch of stuff posted on Craigslist -- but will be calling the company in a few minutes to disconnect!)

The 5th wheel we are moving into is set up where it can be plugged in to electricity, and has a fairly new furnace, so I thought we were all set. But, the inverter hums, which my step-father says is a sign it's going to go out. If it goes out, what happens? Will it just quit working, or will it blow up like a transformer? Would it be safe to continue using it until I can replace it? We don't HAVE to have electricity -- I have battery-operated lights, and certainly can get by without the refrigerator at this time of year!

But, my step-father also said that without being plugged in, we wouldn't be able to use the furnace, as it needs power to run the blower. We DO need heat at this time of year! I am planning to put a wood stove in the trailer, but I'm still busy with moving stuff and won't have time to tinker with the stove until we are actually moved up there, and we need heat in the meantime. Will the furnace function without the blower? How do they work when someone is camped out where there's no power to plug into? Off a battery?

My step-father said that we (Mom and I) could take the inverter out of the smaller travel trailer that most of my stuff is being stored in, and put that in the 5th wheel. I've found the inverter in the 5th wheel, still looking for the one in the smaller trailer. It looks like a tricky job to take one out and reconnect the thing correctly. Anyone have any tips, besides hiring someone to do it (no money for that right now)?

Thank you! I'll be able to check back here from the office this afternoon.

Kathleen

 

[Hfcomms]

Most of the time when not hooked up to shore power the deep cycle battery provides the power to run the blower motor. That will work for awhile but not a long time. A humming inverter doesn't necessarily mean that it's on it's last legs. I had one in the back of my service truck for years that always made a racket and worked just fine. If it goes out it will either just stop working or it will start blowing fuses. You can use it as it is and see how it's going and if it seems like it's not putting out power very good or the noise is driving you nuts a new one can be purchased. If your step father is handy he can install it himself or have a RV service tech do it.

 

[parsonswife]

Havent seen you around. Praying all is ok

 

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Well, so far everything is working, although the furnace did quit one day. A friend came over and looked at it, found a re-set button, and fixed the problem. So far so good on the inverter and the electricity! I'm still working on the trailer as I have time and the weather allows (kind of hard to use an electric saw outside when it's raining or snowing!). I can only check in here once in a great while, when I have a few minutes at the office (which I'm only visiting once or twice a week now). It's been a pretty mild winter so far, for which I'm very thankful.

I do have a little tent stove that I've started installing (and will finish soon), but my step-father doesn't want me to use it while we are on his property. Sigh. Pray we'll soon be able to move to our own land (and pray for the funds for the land!).

Thanks!

Kathleen