Heater and fan
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2154
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 3:41pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Heater and fan
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Subject: Heater and fan
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 4:35pm
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When we used the heater in our 2011 177 the roof fan ran constantly, and the fan on the heater ran when the heater ran. Reading some posts here it sounds like fans cycled with the heater running. How do I get it to do that? I can't find anything in any of the literature that came with the pod explaining that. Thanks Keith ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2011 at 9:03pm
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The fan in the A/C should not run when the heater fan runs, something is not wired correctly. The heater fan will only run when the heater is running. The A/C fan is controlled by a switch to either run all the time or only cycle when the A/C compressor is running.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: CubFanMan1
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2011 at 1:01am
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The new digital thermostats from Dometic allow you to run the A/C fan and the heater at the same time. While in the fan mode (little green light illuminated next to fan) you can press either the + or - button and will toggle through three modes. AU is auto and the fan will only run when the A/C is running. Hi is high fan and will run on high during fan, A/C, or heat mode. Lo is low fan and will run on low during fan, A/C, or heat mode. Hope this helps. |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2011 at 3:37am
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Thanks. I will give that a try in spring when I get the pod out of storage. That is why the universal owners manual is not enough. I need to know less about 5th wheel landing gear and more about the specific gear in my pod. Thanks again! ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2011 at 8:06am
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Interesting, I learned something new today. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2011 at 12:22pm
| Yes doug we have the older style that forest river used in 09 and early part of 10. |
Posted By: Hodge-PODge
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2011 at 11:44am
Another thing we need to add to our forum-published owners' manual? ------------- 2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it." |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2011 at 12:46pm
| One more question: can you have the fan off during heat? I bet it uses far less battery. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2011 at 6:37pm
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Hodge, sounds like a good idea. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Tidalwave4455
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2011 at 7:21pm
| The heater strip would get quite hot if its fan was not running. The heater is on the ceiling where buoyant hot air would just collect. I think you would run the risk of a fire without the fan. If the heater strip is so weak that just convection air would circulate past it...the heater would be nearly useless. |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2011 at 10:07pm
| As far as I know I don't have the heat strip in the air conditioner. My heater is a gas fired unit with its own blower. I wondered if I could run that with its own fan and leave the big fan off. |
Posted By: tdrace
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2011 at 12:08am
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I always do. If I have electricity I use an electic heater, stays very warm. ------------- tdrace's 2018 180 2010 FORD F150 V-8 equalizer e-2 hitch Sisters on the Fly #1569 |
Posted By: tpierce220
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2011 at 11:41am
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You don't need to have the fan running with the heat going. Ours never goes off...just the blower from the furnace. The nice thing about the furnace is that it does heat up the Pod quickly. I'm getting my list of things to do with ¡Podtástic! this winter, and I saw at Camping World http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/lite-cylinders-propane-cylinders/10526 . Anyone had any experience with this type of Propane Cylinders? I was thinking of taking the 20# tank and replacing with with a 25# one. The tank weighs 18# versus 17# for a 20# tank and would allow me to have 25% more LP. Plus I like how you can visually see the amount of gas in the tank. ------------- Adventures with ¡Podtástic!--Life in a Forest River RPod 182G with Tim and Louis and our two cats, Desi and Lucy. Check our website at http://podtastic.info for information on our journeys. |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2011 at 12:45pm
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I need to say this differently. I have a 2011 with the Dometic digital thermostat. Am I able with that thermostat to prevent the Dometic fan from running when I am using the LP gas furnace? We are planning to use the Pod next season in sites without hookups, and I want to stretch the battery as long as I can. A portable electric heater is only useful if I have electric hookups. We camped 20 nights in the Pod this season. We ran the refrigerator on LP overnight to cool it down prior to leaving, used the gas cooktop at least twice every day, and the last eight days were in the Rockies where it was in the 30s each night, so we ran the furnace. The 20# tank is still more than half full. I am not thinking I need a bigger tank. I am concerned about needing more battery. |
Posted By: Hodge-PODge
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2011 at 2:01pm
------------- 2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it." |
Posted By: psaman
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2011 at 3:33pm
I just ordered the 25lb. one thru that link. It is $89.99 ($32.23 off) plus free shipping. Couldn't resist !!  ------------- 2011 R-177 "Sponge-Pod" 2011 F-150 XLT "Texas Edition" |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2011 at 8:09pm
| I just re-read Hodge-Podge's earlier post. In AU it doesn't run in Heat, and turns off and on with the Air. Thanks. |
Posted By: Hodge-PODge
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2011 at 7:54am
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Ok. Got it! Glad you cleared up the confusion. ------------- 2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it." |
Posted By: sfish
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2011 at 8:48am
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I bought one last year. It eliminates the quess work about how much propane is left. ------------- sjf |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2011 at 12:34pm
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Hodge, don't forget the hot water method. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2011 at 6:31pm
Which is? |
Posted By: Hodge-PODge
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2011 at 9:01pm
Tech posted this on Sept. 17 under the forum topic Propane Tank Gauge. Here's what he described as the hot water method: "The "hot water method". Take a cup of hot water, pour it slowly down the side of the tank from the top shoulder. Keep the water in one line, don't pour it all over the tank. Wait a few seconds, then run your finger down the side of the tank where the water was. The top of the tank will still be hot. It will abruptly turn cold where the liquid begins because it can absorb the heat. The line where it changes is where your fuel level is. Note that if you do this to a fully-filled tank the line won't be at the very top. LPG tanks leave the top 20% empty for the gas and to allow for thermal expansion. This is the easiest and cheapest method and is the one I use." ------------- 2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it." |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2011 at 9:06pm
| Good info. Thanks! |