R-pod 172 T Thermostat question
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3930
Printed Date: 06 Jun 2025 at 10:55am
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Topic: R-pod 172 T Thermostat question
Posted By: madisonprep01
Subject: R-pod 172 T Thermostat question
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 2:58pm
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Hi all, Another question for an R-Pod newbie. I went to test the heating unit this weekend. To give you some background, our R-pod has a cieling mounted Air Conditioning unit and a wall mounted heater thermostat. I am assuming the two are not tied together via electrical. I turned on the LP gas tank (which I just recently filled) and then pushed the thermostat up from off (all the way to the left) to about 90 degrees (all the way to the right) to see if I could generate heat. After about 10 minutes, nothing happened. The heater vent was cool as a cucumber. Is it possible that the analog thermostat on the wall is just broken? If so, can it be replaced with a basic analog unit from Home depot? Thanks in advance! ------------- Brannon 08-Kia Sedona |
Replies:
Posted By: wherestheyeast
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 3:13pm
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Hmm. What year is your pod? I have a 2014 172T and it has a digital thermostat that controls both the roof-top a/c unit and the furnace.. Did you buy from a dealer or private party? I guess I wasn't much help -- I just wanted to jump in on a 172T question! |
Posted By: madisonprep01
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 3:27pm
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2010 R-pod 172 T. We bought it from a dealer, but honestly this was the first Rpod they had ever had! So they weren't super helpful, at least on the Q&A side. As far as service and sales goes, Leo's Vacation Center (Gambrills, MD) was amazing! I'll post pictures later today, but our overhead A/C unit has a knob selection that says "OPT HEAT" and then there is an analog thermostat on the wall. I am making a large assumption that the Heating and Air are separate units in our version. ------------- Brannon 08-Kia Sedona |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 4:21pm
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I have a 2010 173 with a Coleman A/C. The "Opt Heat" on the A/C control knob is for an optional heat strip that can be mounted within the ceiling unit. It is unlikely that you have the heat strip. That knob is only for fan and A/C speed as well as on/off unless you do have the heat strip. The wall thermostat is for the furnace only. If the furnace fan won't even go on, check the 12 volt fuse for it. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: madisonprep01
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 4:26pm
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Bob, Thanks for the response! I didn't see any Fuse lights tripped in the fuse box (below the fridge), But I will check that out this weekend. Nothing turns on when I move the analog thermostat on the wall. Luckily for now, we are in North Carolina, so the heat isn't really an issue yet:) But it will be soon enough! ------------- Brannon 08-Kia Sedona |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 4:59pm
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The heat and air are two different units. None of the AC's have the heat strip installed to function as a secondary heater, thus why we have the propane furnaces in our Pods! ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 5:30pm
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Mine has a heat strip installed. I don't know if FR has them as a factory-installed option or not. Cost is minimal, if not, and a DIY-install. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 6:03pm
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Travis, I better clarify my last post. My pod came with a Coleman A/C, and I bought it slightly used. The heat strip was already in place, although I have installed them in other used units we have owned. Coleman sells their units both with and without the heat strips, and I don't know if FR offered the buyers their choice back then. I know virtually nothing about the Dometic units. We have spent well over 200 nights camping since we moved to Florida, and always with at least partial hookups. Rather than start the noisy propane furnace, which is over-kill for our climate, we have always used either a heat strip and/or a small electric heater. Even when we lived in the Midwest (IL, IN and MI) I can't remember ever using our propane furnace. After all, if you have an electric hookup, why waste propane and listen to the noise? But, that is just the logic of an old Scotchman. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 6:25pm
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If the furnace fan came on but no heat came out, you might try lighting the stove burners. Really. Since you say you just installed the tank the gas line might just need to be purged. The easiest way to do this is to get the stove burners lit. Once they light you can turn them off again. Your gas lines are purged. I have to do this almost every time I switch the fridge to gas. If nothing whatsoever happened, then it's likely an electrical issue. ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 6:31pm
That is very good advice and might be part of the problem. However, apparently nothing happens (the fan does not turn on) when the thermostat temperature is turned up. And that brings up another possibility. If the ambient temperature inside the pod is too high, the furnace will not turn on. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 9:45pm
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Also make sure you turn on the valve on the propane tank VERY slowly. Not kidding, it should take you over 30 seconds to open it all the way. The newer tanks have high-flow cutoff valves internally and opening the main valve too quickly can trigger it. They are both controlled from the thermostat, and yes some of the A/Cs came with the heat strips as I recently discovered on mine. I took mine out though since it wasn't enabled and I use a small ceramic heater when we have hookups. ------------- 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: kymooses
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2013 at 8:47am
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Neat, I didn't know anyone had the heat strips. Thanks for the info folks!! ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: madisonprep01
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2013 at 9:31am
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Well, that is another possibility. We live in NC and it's safe to say that I've attempted to test the heat during the day when it's 80+ outside. So maybe I'll give the test at night. I really appreciate all the input I've received. You all are wonderful! Just to prod further. If this works out to be an electrical issue, have any of you replaced the old analog thermostat on the wall? If so, do you have to use the "domestic" brand or can I pick up one at Home Depot? ------------- Brannon 08-Kia Sedona |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2013 at 12:09pm
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Check the voltage first. You need one that operates on 6 VDC. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2013 at 6:35pm
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I just realized I made an obvious mistake in the post above. I don't know why 6 VDC came to mind. The correct voltage is 12 VDC. Sorry for the error. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |