Furnace and AC
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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=3282
Printed Date: 03 May 2024 at 7:58am
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Topic: Furnace and AC
Posted By: Rugby8
Subject: Furnace and AC
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2013 at 11:13am
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Question from a newbie, is the furnace and ac run off electricity or propane? This is a great forum I have been able to get lots of great information ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |
Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2013 at 12:27pm
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The furnace runs on propane, but does require the 12 volt system for control and ignition. The 12 volts comes from the battery if you are not plugged in. The AC only runs on 120 volt electricity from an external source such as campground power or a generator. The same is true of the microwave oven. Happy Podding ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2013 at 8:10pm
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... also true of the electric element in the water heater. The propane side of the water heater needs a 12 volt source for ignition. Also keep in mind that the furnace sucks down propane and amps from the battery if you are off grid. The fridge will run from 12 volts, propane or AC. Only use the 12 volts while towing IF you are sure you have a large charge line coming from your TV - if you stop for lunch longer than an hour you'll want to turn it off or switch to propane because it will kill a battery quickly otherwise. The propane mode still requires 12 volts for the circuit board but it sips propane. You can go a month on one full tank (if you don't use propane for the stove or furnace). Personally I've always taken advantage of the 12 volt option on my campers while towing, but with the electronic ignition on the pod's fridge I'm starting to get a little lazy and only use the propane on the road. No worrying about long stops, etc. ------------- 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: dsmiths
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2013 at 8:53pm
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Techntrek is right on. the furnace is propane but needs 12 volts for ignition and blower operation. I use propane for the fridge while enroute. I have been told its dangerous to have the fridge on propane instead of 12 volts when towing due to the possibilty of being in an accident and having a gas leak. My tank and i assume others has a limiting valve to protect in case of a severed line etc. there is very low gas flow in case of an open valve or severed gas line. P.S. at least if it catches on fire it is behind me. If it does catch on fire and burn up (no one hurt please) I will be getting a new RP-177, I like the slide, the queen in the rear and the dinette in front. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Rugby8
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2013 at 9:42pm
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Thanks very much for the info ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2013 at 11:10pm
Although it is true that 12v is safer than propane in event of an accident, there is very low risk of any propane explosion during an accident and it is perfectly legal to travel with the fridge on propane (with some exceptions for tunnels, ferries and some bridges). Always turn off all propane appliances while filling your vehicle's gas tank. Of note: many larger RVs with larger fridges do not have a 12v option and must operate on propane while travelling. As always, check your local laws and use your best judgement at all times. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: gappman
Date Posted: 11 May 2013 at 1:11am
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FYI...I tested the fridge using 12 volt only and it ran for 8 hours on a single battery before depleting. ------------- Gary Piazza www.garypiazza.com |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 12 May 2013 at 11:12pm
Was the fridge pre cooled, or did you start from a warm box, and was it full or empty? A full precooled fridge will only cycle so often, rather than running full time when trying to cool a bunch of warm stuff.. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 8:51am
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A suggestion for battery longevity, don't run a lead-acid battery to 0% state-of-charge. Most of the time you want to stay above 50% SOC, occasionally you can go down to 30%, but 0% will kill it after a dozen times. Use the 50% point most of the time and it will last you for 5-7 years if you also keep it charged. General rule of thumb, make sure it is completely disconnected from the pod between trips, but reconnect it and plug the pod it to charge it overnight at least once a month over the summer. If it gets cold where you live you can go with once every 2-3 months in the winter. All you ever wanted to know about lead acid batteries: http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Deep_Cycle.htm - http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Deep_Cycle.htm ------------- 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: gappman
Date Posted: 13 May 2013 at 1:25pm
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The fridge was all ready cooled when I started. ------------- Gary Piazza www.garypiazza.com |
Posted By: yellowstonestu
Date Posted: 15 May 2013 at 9:21pm
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I just returned from a fishing trip on the Upper Arkansas river in Colorado. I could not get my furnace to work on 110 volt shore power. When I returned home, I checked it on battery only out of curousity and it worked. Should the furnace also work on 110? ------------- Yellowstonestu & Bela the Vizsla 2008 Toyota FJ 2015 RPod 179 (Pod #2) |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 15 May 2013 at 10:49pm
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The furnace should work on both 12 volts and 110. the pods internal battery charger keeps the battery charged when plugged into 110. there is nothing to switch or change. I can't understand why it would not work while you were plugged into an outside 110 volt source. did the interior lights work ? did other electrical items work ? there is a possibility the breaker on the 110 source was tripped and the battery voltage was too low to function the furnance igniter. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: yellowstonestu
Date Posted: 15 May 2013 at 11:00pm
Everything 110 related worked fine - that is the microwave, tv, radio. I did check the fuse for the furnace and it was fine as well. Thanks for the tip. Guess I will take it to my rpod dealer ------------- Yellowstonestu & Bela the Vizsla 2008 Toyota FJ 2015 RPod 179 (Pod #2) |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 15 May 2013 at 11:36pm
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I don't know that this is the case, but the furnace fan may work only on 12v power. You didn't disconnect your battery while you were on 120 shore power did you? My theory is that shore power would keep your battery charged and therefore the furnace blower would keep going but the actual juice for the fan might be pure 12v. If that's the case, the fan wouldn't work and the furnace wouldn't ignite if you disconnected the battery for some reason. I don't know why anyone would do that though. Maybe they'd figure they had shore power, didn't need the battery, so they took the battery out to use on the boat.... WAG. TT |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 16 May 2013 at 12:00am
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Yes the furnace only workes on 12 volts. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 May 2013 at 8:33am
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While the furnace only works on 12v, it has 12v ANYTIME the trailer has 110v, unless there is a problem with both the converter/charger and the battery. The question is, did all the other 12v stuff work? Lights, water pump, Fantastic Fan, Fridge on 12v? ------------- |
Posted By: yellowstonestu
Date Posted: 16 May 2013 at 2:39pm
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All good points! No, I didn't disconnect the battery. Yes, the lights, fantastic fan and fridge all worked on 12 volts. Just the furnace fan didn't work and the furnace didn't ignite. Ketelsen campers in Wheatridge, CO suggested that the converter fuse may be blown, but I didn't discover that either. Guess I will take it into Ketelsen and see if they can figure anything out! Thanks for all the great input! This site rocks!! ------------- Yellowstonestu & Bela the Vizsla 2008 Toyota FJ 2015 RPod 179 (Pod #2) |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 May 2013 at 2:55pm
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OK.. gas was turned on...? Bottles not empty?? Did you use the cook top or water heater on gas? If it has been a while since any gas appliance has been used, then the lines may need to purge.. the heater is usually the farthest away from the supply, and takes the longest. Also, unlike the cook top, if it doesn't ignite in a set period, it stops trying.. whereas you can stand there with the cook top knob on and let the line purge until it ignites.. or you burn your fingers holding a match.. (I use one of those long bic lighter thingies) The gas water heater will also error out and stop trying if no flame is detected in a certain amount of time.. (so what I am saying is.. go out to the camper and light the burners.. then try to light off the furnace...) (BTW, almost no one uses the propane heat if they have hookups.. we use a small ceramic heater, quieter, and cheaper) ------------- |
Posted By: yellowstonestu
Date Posted: 16 May 2013 at 7:43pm
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Totally agree with elec htr if one needs it for an extended period of time. I usually sleep cool, then like to heat for a short period in the a.m. just to knock the chill down. Yes, I had cooked on the stove, H2O htr was on elec this time, as was the fridge. I believe the lines had been fairly well purged of any air. Also, the blower should turn on immediately (it does on batt power), but no fan, no click-click-click of igniter trying to ignite. Still a mystery to me. Thanks for your ideas, though!! ------------- Yellowstonestu & Bela the Vizsla 2008 Toyota FJ 2015 RPod 179 (Pod #2) |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 16 May 2013 at 9:50pm
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Yes, very odd. Even with no propane you are right the fan should immediately turn on - on 120 or 12 volts.
------------- 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: yellowstonestu
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 11:21pm
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Found the problem! It was a faulty thermostat - new thermostat and the furnace works like a charm!! Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, advice and support. ------------- Yellowstonestu & Bela the Vizsla 2008 Toyota FJ 2015 RPod 179 (Pod #2) |
Posted By: gappman
Date Posted: 22 May 2013 at 12:24am
That's awesome! Congrats!  One question about your furnace. Is it loud when it cycles on and off? The blower fan, is it noisy like a hair dryer? Gary ------------- Gary Piazza www.garypiazza.com |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 22 May 2013 at 6:22am
One word yes. Doesn't bother me but some people don't like it. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 22 May 2013 at 6:45pm
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Congrats on the repair. gappman, the furnace and the A/C are both very loud IMO. Most people use an electric heater when they have hookups so they don't have to listen to the furnace. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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