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I知 cold!

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Janey

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I知 cold!
« on: January 11, 2019, 10:25:28 am »
My furnace blower stays on, but the flame turns on an off intermittently.  Is it safe to use?   Yes - I have propane - just had it filled.  Feels like it has something stuck or maybe the thermostat has a problem. 

I知 using the heat tape.  Appears almost enough.  Quite noisy.  Do I dare turn on my little electric heater at the same time?  My little Moho doesn稚 like too many electrical things turned on at once. 

Do 50 amp people have this problem?    (Full of questions today)

Janey (freezing in the Florida panhandle)
Suzanna Jane (aka Janey) and Sid Shazly

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bftownes

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2019, 10:47:03 am »
Janey,

Here is an age-old remedy that just may work for you.  Light your propane stove top and let it burn for a few minutes (and enjoy a bit of warmth).  Then try the furnace again.

Cheers and good luck,

Barry T

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CalCruiser

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2019, 11:04:46 am »
I would retract  the slide-out so there is less space to heat and use the portable electric heater until the furnace can be professionally repaired. Don稚 risk asphyxiation!
Goin' where the wind goes...

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fandj

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2019, 11:16:29 am »
We have had a similar issue when using electric heaters.  In Florida we have found one 1500 watt heater is sometimes not enough to comfortably heat our 2552 with 30 amp power.    To allow us to use 2 heaters as well as other electrical items without tripping the breaker I added a second connection to the 15 amp outlet on the shore power pedestal.  This is described in this thread in case you are interested .https://forum.phoenixusarv.com/index.php?topic=2993.0

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hutch42

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2019, 12:55:21 pm »
Installed one of these Envi heaters in basement playroom last fall.  I was amazed at the amount of heat it produced for a 120V, 450 watt, 3.5 amp AC heater.  Told a friend about and he put one in his Jayco Seneca.  He says thats all he uses now.  Course you got to have the wall space and plug close by to mount it.  Amazing little unit.  Comes with a thermo and auto shut off.  Can put you hand on when its running at high.

https://www.eheat.com/envi-high-efficiency-whole-room-120v-hardwired-electric-panel-wall-heater-2nd-generation-hw3012t/


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ron-n-toni

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2019, 09:35:14 am »
Probably the "sail switch". Very common problem and easy to replace. It is just a small flapper that senses airflow before the flame can ignite.

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keelhauler

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2019, 10:56:13 am »
Quote
My furnace blower stays on, but the flame turns on an off intermittently.  Is it safe to use?   Yes - I have propane - just had it filled.  Feels like it has something stuck or maybe the thermostat has a problem. 

Are you sure you have your thermostat set to Auto?

You can use 1500 watt electric heaters on a 30 amp RV without a problem. My small heater has a 500 W setting which I use if I plan to use the microwave.
A big user of power is your electric water heater. You could turn that off and use propane if you want to run 2 electric heaters without a problem.



John

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2 Frazzled

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2019, 12:25:16 pm »
We can have two energy hogs on at a time on our 30 amp circuit. We've been running the heat strip and a 1500 watt electric heater pretty continuously with no problem. We turn one off when we want to use ONE other hog like the microwave or hot water heater. If it's too cold to give up a heart source, we switch the hot water to propane. We have a computer plugged in and random electronics charging and the fridge is on electric. No problem.

On cold nights we close the bedroom and bathroom doors and the electric heater keeps us comfy in the bedroom. The heat strip is off at that point. We DO heat the whole unit if it's cold enough that our interior water pipes might freeze but we try to avoid that level of cold. 

We successfully ran two small electric heaters when our furnace died and duty kept us in the frigid north.

So kick them both on and thaw out!

As for the furnace, our problem was the igniter. Furnace fan would come on, we heard a few sets of clicking sounds, then the fan shut off. This means heat sensor detected no flame and shut it all down. If your fan keeps running after 3-5 minutes but no heat - shut it down manually. You aren't igniting and might be pumping flammable propane into the air. Go outside and see if you smell propane at the furnace vent. How cold is it where you are?
John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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Cropduster

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2019, 05:28:04 pm »
I found a small 350w heater at a garage sale.  Which has enough output to keep the rig's small bathroom at a comfortable temp during cold weather.
To block the cab area we hang a moving blanket, the kind which are perpetually on sale at a nearby Harbor Freight.  The use of which makes the interior
noticeably more comfortable when RVing in colder temps. 
As others have noted, small electric heaters are enough to keep the interior at a comfortable temperature. 
« Last Edit: January 16, 2019, 12:56:38 pm by Cropduster »

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donc13

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2019, 06:37:20 pm »
My furnace blower stays on, but the flame turns on an off intermittently.  Is it safe to use?   Yes - I have propane - just had it filled.  Feels like it has something stuck or maybe the thermostat has a problem. 

I知 using the heat tape.  Appears almost enough.  Quite noisy.  Do I dare turn on my little electric heater at the same time?  My little Moho doesn稚 like too many electrical things turned on at once. 

Do 50 amp people have this problem?    (Full of questions today)

Janey (freezing in the Florida panhandle)

That sounds like the thermostat is set to keep the fan on all the time.  You have a choice between LOW HIGH AUTO and for the furnace you should normally set it to auto.

Yes, you can run a/c heat strip (1500 watts) and an electric heater at the same time, but not much else.  Definately not the microwave or any other high draw electrical device like the tank heaters.  TV and interior lighting should be fine.
---
Don and Patti

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Cropduster

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2019, 08:15:11 pm »
We have two 800/1500w electric heaters, but now often use only one when using the 350w small heater in the bathroom.  We have used both heaters on the low (800w) setting, and on the same 20a circuit.  Which, if I recall correctly, requires ~14 total amps (for operating both heaters).  This arrangement has not -- at least so far -- snapped the breaker. YMMV.

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2019, 07:53:41 am »
To Cropduster and all other 2100 owners,

Wondering about your cold bathroom condition....Is your furnace non-ducted?  Does hot air blow out directly from the furnace into the main cabin from one really big heat register?

BTW Cropduster, That is quite the cold blocker from the front cab area.  Our cold blocker only covers up to the top of the front seat head-rests and is fairly effective.  We have rarely experienced over-night frost, the typical summer-time high altitude subfreezing condition.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2019, 08:09:06 am by Ron Dittmer »
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Cropduster

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2019, 05:48:38 pm »
Herr Dittmer, (et al.),
The RV furnace in our 2100 has three ducts.  None of which are in the bathroom.   One duct, located near the rear door, can be directed to push some warm air towards the bathroom.  However, use of the "Handy Heater" in the bathroom had made this unnecessary. 
An open shelf on both sides of the cap storage areas makes it easy to arrange a blanket/temperature barrier; held in place with several medium-duty spring clips. In extreme cold the furnace will quickly create a livable temperature in the interior.  After which a single electric heater (assuming that we have an electrical connection) operating at ~800w is often all that is needed.  Disclosure: In winter we do sleep in our down bags, ones which my wife made ~40 years ago. (Anyone remember Frostline kits).

-CD

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2019, 08:32:07 pm »
I would imagine the furnace works more efficiently in a 2100 than it does in larger PCs.

I wonder if Phoenix uses furnaces with different BTU ratings pending the square footage of the model, maybe even with consideration to slide outs and thermal windows.  The same furnace used in a 2100 no-slide versus a 2910 with triple-slide is a lot of variation.
Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

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bftownes

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Re: I知 cold!
« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2019, 09:27:27 am »
I would imagine the furnace works more efficiently in a 2100 than it does in larger PCs.

I wonder if Phoenix uses furnaces with different BTU ratings pending the square footage of the model, maybe even with consideration to slide outs and thermal windows.  The same furnace used in a 2100 no-slide versus a 2910 with triple-slide is a lot of variation.

I am pleased with the furnace in our 3100.  There are three vents... at the kitchen sink, at the passenger side bed and the bathroom (all at floor level of course).  But, we are in south, coastal Texas where the temps rarely go below low 40's at night.  On occasion, we have had to run the furnace to knock off the chill and the temperature in the bedroom would reach low 80's.  I'm convinced that the furnace would do a good job in colder areas.  Unfortunately, we are having to leave Texas early and head back to Tennessee later this month.  The furnace will be put to test. 

We do have a small electric heater in the bathroom for taking showers and a larger one in the main living area.  They both do a great job.

Oh, I failed to mention that most chilly mornings, the heat pump does a great job in knocking off the chill and then use the portable heater until it warms up outside.

Oh, again...Ron, I have no idea what size furnace our 3100 has.  I could look at the manual, but that would cause me to rouse my wife from the driver side bed which would not be pleasant! pyho  I'm thinking that even in temps in the low 30's, it would "run you out".  Again, I will soon find out.

Cheers...

Barry T