After a long journey, we finally arrived at the campsite at the foot of the mountain. The body is a little tired, but the escape from the hustle and bustle of the city brings more mental excitement. Unload the luggage in the RV, light the bonfire in front of the RV, put the active puppy on the grass, and start preparing dinner and hot water for bathing. At this time, those curious babies who are camping for the first time often ask what kind of energy is more suitable for RVs when camping?
As a platform for outdoor and camp life, the RV is naturally very important for energy. Since the RV itself is extremely mobile, it is very necessary to carry and store and generate energy by itself when it is inconvenient to connect to an external energy network (electricity, gas, etc.). In terms of electricity, it is generally generated by a mixture of automobile generators (12V), solar energy (12V) and household generators (220V, generally 1000w ~ 4000w), and stored in deep cycle batteries. Automobile generators and household generators are not suitable for long-term use due to their high dependence on gasoline or diesel, and the disadvantages of high energy consumption, noise, and exhaust gas. Solar energy is too much affected by the external environment and is not suitable as the main energy source. As for the weight, volume and storage capacity of the storage battery, it is a problem. Then the use of more efficient and clean gas for energy-intensive equipment such as heating, stoves, and water heaters has become an inevitable choice for RV travel.
Gas equipment on the RV
The stove, oven, heater, water heater, refrigerator and even generator on the RV can use gas as energy.
1. Stove, the stove on the RV is generally a gas stove, and many RVs in China are equipped with an induction cooker. Compared with gas stoves, induction cookers are smoke-free and easy to carry. However, the power of induction cookers is generally 1800W ~ 2100W, which consumes too much power, and long-term use is also a test for the wiring harness on the RV. In summary, it is recommended to use a gas stove for RVs.
2. Heating air. Common heating systems for RVs include fuel heaters, car air conditioners (12V), RV air conditioners (220V), electric heaters (12V), gas heaters, etc. Various heating methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. The main reason for choosing gas heating is because of its high heating rate and the ability to share an energy source with other equipment in the RV.
3. Water heaters. Many gas water heaters on RVs share a combustion chamber with the gas heater. Of course, there are also methods such as electric water heaters, engine heat recovery, and fuel heaters. In terms of selection, it is basically selected according to the design ideas of the RV manufacturer.
4. Refrigerators, unlike refrigerators used in homes, refrigerators on RVs need to have good anti-bump, silent and energy-saving characteristics. Generally, the refrigerators at home are not allowed to be used within 12 hours after moving, so the refrigerators on RVs are mostly absorption refrigerators dedicated to RVs. Absorption refrigerators can be driven by various energy sources such as 12V, 220V and gas, but the cooling effect is: gas > 220V > 12V.
5. Ovens and generators, some imported high-end RVs have gas ovens, and gas generators are rare in China, so I won’t describe them here.
What kind of gas does the RV use?
What kind of gas does the RV use? This question seems simple, but when we asked everyone, we got various answers. Some said coal gas, some said it was liquefied petroleum gas, some said it was natural gas, and so on. The answer is: RVs usually use liquefied petroleum gas.
Coal gas is a gas containing combustible components processed from coal. Because of its easy poisoning and low calorific value, it is basically invisible now. The gas that many people refer to actually refers to the current liquefied petroleum gas. The reason why it is called so is because we used to use gas for a period of time in the 1970s and 1980s and it was also filled with steel tanks. The main component of natural gas is methane, which is mainly transported by pipeline. The gas that is piped into our home and calculated by cubic meter is natural gas. One thing to note is that because the heat generated after combustion is different, liquefied petroleum gas stoves and natural gas stoves are not universal.
Liquefied petroleum gas is also tricky
The main components of liquefied petroleum gas are propane, butane and other gases. The English name is Liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG for short. Among them, the boiling point of propane is -42.06°C, and the boiling point of butane is -0.5°C, so the content of propane in liquefied petroleum gas in northern my country is much higher than that in southern liquefied petroleum gas. This is the reason why many car owners in the south find that gas equipment is not as easy to use as they used to be in the south when they came to the north.
When burning, the flame of liquefied petroleum will appear blue. The more stable the flame is, the bluer the flame color, the higher the heat. Some unscrupulous merchants will add dimethyl ether to the liquefied petroleum gas as a shoddy product. The flame of the gas added with dimethyl ether will appear red and yellow, and it will burst when burning. Some small-scale gas filling outlets and mobile gas filling points often cannot guarantee the quality of gas, so it is recommended to buy gas at regular gas filling stations.
Gas Safety Tips
The space of the RV is more compact than that of the family, and the gas equipment and electrical equipment are relatively concentrated, so in terms of safety, special attention should be paid to the following three points.
1. Installation, RV gas tanks are generally installed on the outside of the vehicle (common in American trailers) and in independent storage spaces with vents (common in European trailers and domestic RVs), and the pipelines are made of corrosion-resistant pipelines tubing. In terms of pipelines, follow the principles of not passing through bedrooms, bathrooms and minimizing the length of pipelines. As a user, you only need to understand it simply.
2. Use, during the use of gas equipment, attention should be paid to the function of the ventilation and alarm equipment in good condition. Ventilation includes ensuring the smooth flow of air during combustion and the smooth flow of exhaust gases. Carbon monoxide alarms, gas alarms, and smoke alarms inside the RV should be checked at regular intervals to see if they are working properly. In addition, special attention should be paid not to use gas equipment during driving.
3. Detection. It is difficult for users to detect by themselves when there is no leakage, because the safety of the gas system requires professional technology and equipment. Since you can’t test it yourself, you should make a test plan and leave the professional work to professional people. The pipeline in the car can be inspected by the 4S shop, while the gas tank needs a special inspection agency to complete it. The steel cylinders containing liquefied petroleum gas are generally inspected every 3-5 years. Don’t forget.
summary
The advantages and disadvantages of gas and other energy sources in use depend on the specific usage conditions. If you are only on a short-term vacation, electric energy is definitely more suitable, while people who travel for a long time will prefer gas. While learning about RV-related content satisfies curiosity, don’t forget that whether you choose gas or electricity, safety is always the first. A final word of caution, if you are not a professional, please do not attempt to modify gas and electrical systems.
