HVAC Thermostat

[repeach]

I just saw Rustynuts thermostat upgrade over in the modifications thread. I would also like to replace my thermostat, but his has way too many features for me. What I am looking for is the ability to turn the fan on and let it run 24/7 and then also set it to turn on gas heat, or electric heat or AC when needed. Just like a home thermostat.
Reason:
When the temp outside drops below 40 the heat pumps are useless. I run a space heater under the AC unit and heat rises and with the fan on it distributes the heat through out the coach. But if the inside temp still drops I want it to turn on the gas heat.
I called Coleman and he said they don't sell anything that could do that.
Has anyone replace replaced their thermostat with something that can do that. BTW, I don't need bluetooth, wifi, etc.

Thanks in advance.

[RPR]

Have you looked into adding a heat strip to your unit?

[repeach]

Originally Posted by RPR

Have you looked into adding a heat strip to your unit?

Thank you for the suggestion. I checked the Coleman website. I don't think I can add heat strips to my Mack 15, that is why I was looking for a new thermostat to do what I want.

[GABob]

I purchased a Honeywell thermostat from Home Depot (a residential one), checked out a video on Youtube on how to swap it out and have been a happy camper ever since. Swapping out the old slid Coleman Mach, the only thing I gave up was the option for two fan speeds.

[repeach]

Originally Posted by GABob

I purchased a Honeywell thermostat from Home Depot (a residential one), checked out a video on Youtube on how to swap it out and have been a happy camper ever since. Swapping out the old slid Coleman Mach, the only thing I gave up was the option for two fan speeds.

do you by chance have the Honeywell model number. My concern is the two different heat settings, one for electric which goes to the roof Coleman and Heat Gas which goes to the furnace under the frige.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by rpietsch

Thank you for the suggestion. I checked the Coleman website. I don't think I can add heat strips to my Mack 15, that is why I was looking for a new thermostat to do what I want.

Yes you can. If you have a heat-pump the control box is probably already equipped with the plug & play connection. The heat strip will come on when the compressor shuts off. Had heat strips in our 08 SENECA.

[GABob]

Originally Posted by rpietsch

do you by chance have the Honeywell model number. My concern is the two different heat settings, one for electric which goes to the roof Coleman and Heat Gas which goes to the furnace under the frige.

Sorry, but I just have the furnace under the fridge. In any case, this is the one I used. It works with the heat and AC from the roof mounted unit.



https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywel...5160/303334358


Might just want to get your part number of the current unit and search on equivalents.

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by rpietsch

Thank you for the suggestion. I checked the Coleman website. I don't think I can add heat strips to my Mack 15, that is why I was looking for a new thermostat to do what I want.

They do make a heat strip for the Mach 15, I have one coming for mine. I check pics of when I did my AC airflow mods and the plug for the heat strip is on the control box. It uses the one for low and medium profile units. I am just adding it to the rear unit for now and found it cheapest on Amazon.

[repeach]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

They do make a heat strip for the Mach 15, I have one coming for mine. I check pics of when I did my AC airflow mods and the plug for the heat strip is on the control box. It uses the one for low and medium profile units. I am just adding it to the rear unit for now and found it cheapest on Amazon.

OK Brian, you got excited on this one. I called Coleman back and the guy was not very helpful, but said the heat strip won't work below 60 F. I don't believe him based on the reviews I have read. I see where it plugs in and it looks like an easy install. only $65 on amazon.

Please report back when you get it installed. I am really curious if the heat pump (compressor) still runs when the strip kicks in and at what temp does the strip kick in?

[craigav]

Originally Posted by rpietsch

OK Brian, you got excited on this one. I called Coleman back and the guy was not very helpful, but said the heat strip won't work below 60 F. I don't believe him based on the reviews I have read. I see where it plugs in and it looks like an easy install. only $65 on amazon.

Please report back when you get it installed. I am really curious if the heat pump (compressor) still runs when the strip kicks in and at what temp does the strip kick in?

I can't answer for the Coleman guy, however what he may have meant, (or for thought even if he didn't) is that the heat strip will only output ~5000 btu which is good, but that is not enough when it gets very cold outside as an RV propane furnace often outputs ~30,000 btu (some more or less). So there is a temperature where the heat strip will not be enough to keep the RV warm, but it will still work in regards to the 1500w and ~5000 btu's it is rated for.

[repeach]

Originally Posted by craigav

So there is a temperature where the heat strip will not be enough to keep the RV warm, but it will still work in regards to the 1500w and ~5000 btu's it is rated for.

That is what I am figuring, about the same as a space heater. But anything will help minimize propane use.
What I really wonder is if the computer will shut off the compressor when it turns on the heat strip. If not, that sure is a lot of amps.

[craigav]

Originally Posted by rpietsch

That is what I am figuring, about the same as a space heater. But anything will help minimize propane use.
What I really wonder is if the computer will shut off the compressor when it turns on the heat strip. If not, that sure is a lot of amps.

I suspect it is the thermostat that controls this, in any case if the heat strip and compressor was on at the same time then the amperage would exceed the A/C's circuit breaker rating and would trip. So, yes the compressor and heat strip will not be running at the same time. ~CA

[Rustynuts]

It is said that the heat strip is to "take the chill off in the morning" which is what I am looking for. We usually dont run any heat at night unless in really cold temps. I am installing this in the rear AC unit which is in our bedroom so we can close the pocket doo to the from and use this to warm the rear area to take the chill off. We had the heat strip in our last motorhome and it was nice to have. Best thing is with the new MicroAir Thermostat, I can turn it on from bed

[GABob]

I keep a small electric ceramic heater in the RV that I use when I run the generator monthly to help put it under load. If its cool an I have the furnace on, I leave it running in the main area to take the chill out and help to provide some white noise as there is a bear in the RV when I sleep (me). I never boondock so the power isn’t an issue.

[SloPoke]

Living in Utah, and spending a few months in Minnesota each year - we get to do a lot of cold weather in our Seneca using only Propane for our water heating.

We use a portable electric heater in the rear bedroom, the electric fireplace in the center of the coach and another portable electric heater in the front (right behind the drivers seat). All three heaters are on different circuit breakers and we don't ever trip the breakers. The three heaters will cycle on/off with their thermostats and are enough to keep our Seneca warm and comfortable on those 10F to 15F nights.

Note that we also have three of these same portable heaters in the lower bays, keeping the plumbing warm. These are only set at 600W and cycle on/off on their thermostats. We try to keep these bays about 50F inside, it also helps with keeping the floor from being real cold inside. This works well when hooked to 50A in a park, or even running on the Genny in a casino parking lot overnight.

[thenne1713]

Just a separate Tstat for furnace will do it, set to 50, and other set to 56-60

[repeach]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

They do make a heat strip for the Mach 15, I have one coming for mine. I check pics of when I did my AC airflow mods and the plug for the heat strip is on the control box. It uses the one for low and medium profile units. I am just adding it to the rear unit for now and found it cheapest on Amazon.

Rustynuts, did you get the heat strip installed? Does it turn on at a certain temperature or is it on at the same time the compressors on? My guess is at a certain outside temperature the compressor shuts off and the heat strip turns on. But I would like to hear from someone with first-hand experience.

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by rpietsch

Rustynuts, did you get the heat strip installed? Does it turn on at a certain temperature or is it on at the same time the compressors on? My guess is at a certain outside temperature the compressor shuts off and the heat strip turns on. But I would like to hear from someone with first-hand experience.

Sorry, this project went on way to long waiting for answers. I had emailed Airxcel about it as the heat strip was not working after the install. They would never get back to me and I sat on hold for about an hour one day and gave up. About a week later they replied and with the Mach 15 unit with the heat pump, you can’t use the heat strip, it’s one or the other according to them. I found the same info on IRV2 as I found a thread where somebody was trying to do the same thing. Being the new MicroAir thermostats show a heat strip option, I emailed them asking if it was possible with their thermostat and they also confirmed that it’s either the heat pump or the heat strip, not both. I though about trying the heat strip as it’s swapping one wire to disable the heat pump and activate the heat strip but just decided to send the heat strip back.

[16WhiteColly]

Why would you install a heat strip in a unit that has a heat pump?

[repeach]

Thank you for the update.