Heat strip coming on inappropriately

Hi All,

Long time since I've posted but looking for any help. I've got a 2013 2551. As has been my experience, around eight years old is when a lot of things start breaking down on RVs and that is happening to my current unit. But my subject of interest here is that when I'm plugged in, and turn my heat on, the heat strip comes on instead of the furnace. As most of you know those things are loud and don't really produce much heat. If I unplug so the heat strip can't activate, the furnace comes on like it's supposed to. So I have a work around but I wish the temp regulator would work properly. Naturally, I've checked to make sure it's on the proper setting.

Any suggestions? I'm not ready to take it in and spend $1,000 or whatever to get it looked at. I thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks for any help.

I have a a similar setup but on a 2015 model that uses an LCD thermostat and it has a separate on position for either the furnace or the heat strip.   I presume your thermostat has something similar.   A switch on the thermostat for heatstrip or furnace.   Presuming that is so, my first thought would be that switch in the thermostat.   Maybe a loose screw or shorted switch.    Worst case, call the factory and have them send you a new thermostat.

OR

In your power panel, flip the circuit breaker for the air conditioner off. 

It sounds like there is a problem with your temperature control unit.  Here is our 2007 unit.  If yours is like this, just replace it.  We like our basic unit that requires no thought to use.  Located by our bed, I sometimes change the settings in the dark without taking the covers off, just a reach away.

Here is Phoenix video about the newer thermostat like you have in 2013 model.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbiUMa0cIJo

I have a a similar setup but on a 2015 model that uses an LCD thermostat and it has a separate on position for either the furnace or the heat strip.   I presume your thermostat has something similar.   A switch on the thermostat for heatstrip or furnace.   Presuming that is so, my first thought would be that switch in the thermostat.   Maybe a loose screw or shorted switch.    Worst case, call the factory and have them send you a new thermostat.

OR

In your power panel, flip the circuit breaker for the air conditioner off.

Yes, this is exactly the set up I have. So when I set the LCD thermostat to furnace the heat strip comes on unless it's unplugged and then the furnace comes on like it should. I'll try your suggestions. Thank you!

It sounds like there is a problem with your temperature control unit.  Here is our 2007 unit.  If yours is like this, just replace it.  We like our basic unit that requires no thought to use.  Located by our bed, I sometimes change the settings in the dark without taking the covers off, just a reach away.

Thanks, Ron. My temperature control unit does not look like the one in your picture but I think after I fiddle with a few things and it still won't work, I may just replace it as you suggest.

Ron, I had a thermostat like yours in a previous rig.  Simple, works great and no hassle.   I often wonder if older isn't better?   Those old simple thermostats in our houses decades ago worked and now you can hardly find a thermostat for your home that it doesn't take a degree in computer science to set.   What is wrong with On and Off, Temp up and down, heat or cool ????   

My thermostat in the 2013 PC is like the one in the video clip and the one the OP has and it is getting cranky from time to time.   These things are mounted in a truck and take a lot of shock going down the road.   Ron's can take it for decades and function perfectly.

Paul

Try a reset of the LCD termostat



System Initialization
A system initialization will need to be performed by the installer after
the system is installed.
    •    Make sure the Single Zone LCD thermostat is in the Off condi-
tion. See page 4, “Quick Reference To Control Buttons”.
    •    Press the “+” button and, while holding it, also press and hold
the On/Off Mode button for three seconds. LCD will show
 ― ― . Press the On/Off Mode button again to turn system off.
This completes the initialization.
The furnace On/Off temperature differential should be set at this time.
See “Mode Description - Furnace” on page 8 for further information
on furnace mode differential setting.

Doneworking Paul, we think alike.

For our house, our home, we thought it smart to change out the original round Honeywell thermostat.  After years of fussing with the digital one that always had a mind of it's own, we are back to "Old Trusty".  That old saying of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) applies for us in this situation.

You guys ROCK! It hasn't gotten cold enough for me to need the furnace until tonight. I went out one other time to try this and the thermostat didn't appear to be working on any settings. I do have a very good space heater I could use instead of the furnace so this afternoon I moved the MH up to where I could plug in. I thought I'd troubleshoot a little first. I did this reset of the thermostat quoted below and that did the trick.

Thanks so much! Now for the other problems it's accumulating 

Try a reset of the LCD termostat



System Initialization
A system initialization will need to be performed by the installer after
the system is installed.
    •    Make sure the Single Zone LCD thermostat is in the Off condi-
tion. See page 4, “Quick Reference To Control Buttons”.
    •    Press the “+” button and, while holding it, also press and hold
the On/Off Mode button for three seconds. LCD will show
 ― ― . Press the On/Off Mode button again to turn system off.
This completes the initialization.
The furnace On/Off temperature differential should be set at this time.
See “Mode Description - Furnace” on page 8 for further information
on furnace mode differential setting.