heater question
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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=8079
Printed Date: 24 Jun 2025 at 5:01pm
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Topic: heater question
Posted By: RpodTed
Subject: heater question
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 12:08am
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Hello. This a a great site, have been reading posts for quite a while. We ran into an issue with our 2015 rpod 179 that I'm hoping someone can offer suggestions. We found that the heater seems to run fine, heats up nicely. However, it does not continue to run after the set temp is reached. In other words, it turns off after reaching the set temp and that's it... I found that I can get it work properly if I lower the set temp while running and then after it shuts off, set a higher temp and it kicks back on again.  It seems that the temp controller is working fine. Having the heater warm up (get hot) seems to be causing the issue. I'm guessing that it has a overtemp sensor that is kicking in when hitting the set temp and then needs to be reset by the power off/on cycle. Auto/Hi/Lo setting has no effect. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance. |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 6:51am
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Welcome to the group!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 8:23am
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It doesn't run all the time, only when the thermostat is calling for heat. once it reaches say, 74F, it turns off, and once the camper cools to say, 70F, it comes on again to warm it back up. It only has two modes, on and off. If it just stayed on, it would be 120F in the pod in an hour. ------------- |
Posted By: WillThrill
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 2:49pm
It seems that you are asking how to have the furnace's fan going all the time, even when it's not heating. The furnace is not designed to do this (it only runs when it's heating), and it would require significant electrical modification by an expert to do what you want it to. If you just want a fan, then either run your Fantastic Fan (though this will pull your warmed air out of the Pod) or install a 12 volt socket and run a 12 volt fan from it. There are lots of threads here discussing how to install a 12 volt socket; it's pretty easy. ------------- "Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien 2014 Hood River 177 2005 GMC Envoy XL |
Posted By: Rodpod
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 3:53pm
I could be wrong but I think the OP is suggesting his doesn't cycle on again once the temp drops below the set point, say 70F. I think he's saying that once it shuts off it stays off regardless of what temp it drops to, and will only come on again once he manually turns it off then on again. Right OP?
------------- 2016 R-Pod 179 |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 4:02pm
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I agree with you rodpod, I to believe that is what op is asking. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2023 F150 2017 HD Streetglide CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: RpodTed
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 9:00pm
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Yes, the heater runs to the set temp and turns off. When the room temp cools down again the heater never kicks on. If I turn off the heater and then back on, it runs again back up to the set temp (btw, presumably the set temp... I didn't measure it) Thank you all for your responses and ideas. |
Posted By: johnmaci
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 9:45pm
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See if anything in this posting may be applicable. Mine is in a storage lot, so I cannot check it:
http://www.rverscorner.com/furnace1.html
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Posted By: RpodTed
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2016 at 10:23pm
| Will do, thanks John |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2016 at 4:25pm
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Welcome. Sounds like an issue with the thermostat and not the furnace, so an easy fix if you decide to replace it. ------------- 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: RpodTed
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2016 at 9:48am
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I've read thru the link that John sent and will test a couple of the tips in there: - test the LP pressure (we were at 9,800 feet and low temp was ~30F when it decided to act up) - check wire connections on the limit switch (it sounds like it should re-set itself so not sure I can test it) - run it tonight to see how hot it is getting in the compartment where it sits (not sure how) - verify that it is really hitting the set temp when it turns off If none of this tells me anything, I'll start replacing parts, starting with the thermostat. I'll post what what I find out. |
Posted By: Appocalexx
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2016 at 6:51pm
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Good thread, I would also start at the thermostat and wonder if the thermostat would be covered under warranty. If its like a standard housing thermostat then it should be fairly easy to get changed out. I would not think they are too expensive either. I would also check the manual for the thermostat there may be something in there for a reset or setting that may need to be changed and possibly more trouble shooting to do. ------------- |
Posted By: RpodTed
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2016 at 10:50pm
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Was able to test the thermostat, it is working fine. Also was able to check the temp in the heater compartment while it was running. 97 degrees with room temp at 72. Did a little more research and found out that the heater is going into "lockout". Possible issues: - regulator - contaminants in the fuel - leaking vent pipe - bad micro switch LP Fuel and regulator seem like good places to start so will borrow a tank next weekend to check the fuel. Will get some high temp silicon on the vent pipe to be safe (not sure how to test this). Will check the micro switch and all connections when it is opened up to get at the vent pipe. Stay tuned... |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2016 at 1:13pm
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If the initial problem occurred when the temperature was -30 F, it could be that the tank temperature with use cooled below the -44 F which is the boiling point for liquified propane. The lowered pressure might have initially caused a problem that then persisted.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: RpodTed
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2016 at 9:40pm
Oh, I should have typed +30 not ~30 (tilde). ~30 and -30 do look alike.  Temps actually got down to about 33... which is too cold for my taste. I think I would have headed home if it was -30. I don't like cold temps, the Pod did keep us warm ... I just had to get up 2 or 3 times to reset things. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2016 at 10:49pm
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Oops! My eyes saw - instead of ~. On our trip out west last winter, we had temperatures in the low 20's a couple of nights. Our heater behaved marvelously. One thing we did do was get a fan and set it at the opening under the bed to move heat from under the bed out into the pod. I think this is possibly one of the worst places this type of ductless heater can be placed. It blows out into that small space and much of the hot air gets pulled right back into the heater. One thing I did was to not put anything under the bed in that space. It is needed for air circulation. The fan helped greatly also. It was one that we picked up at a truck stop (Flying J, I think). It has 8 D cells in the base so it can run on battery power. It also has a 12V cord which, when plugged in, disconnects the batteries so that it runs on 12V power. I put a 12V outlet in next to the AC outlet to power it and other 12V items. Is it possible that the space under the bed trapped enough heat that the heater's limit switch detected an overheating condition? If so, then improving the air circulation may help. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: johnmaci
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2016 at 9:33pm
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I have the same battery fan:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B16VT6/ref=pd_luc_rh_sim_01_04_t_img_lh?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Cheap, works great, and two speed
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Posted By: RpodTed
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2016 at 1:27am
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Steven, yes I was suspecting that the limit switch was an issue but the cabinet temp seems reasonable at 97 when I was testing the thermostat. I checked the tolerances for the heater/cabinet and there is plenty of room in there. The limit switch was doing it's job when testing but I didn't run it as long so I still need keep it on the list. I'm thinking that you are right though and I'm planning on adding a vent to the cabinet to let some of that hot air out. I also like the fan idea for moving the hot air out from under the bed... I'll be adding this fan. It looks cool, thanks for the link John. Still want to test the lp fuel... fridge was having a bit of a time starting as well but others I've owned all seemed to act the same way. I did have a lot of oil in my lines for a spare tank that I use for the bbq camping so I want to check that first. Keep the ideas coming. Thanks! |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2016 at 9:06am
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This one I purchased is a http://www.amazon.com/RoadPro-RP8000-Indoor-Outdoor-Power/dp/B00KJGRLJI - Road Pro model. I looked and it is available on Amazon also. When I have it running, it is usually on the low setting. That is adequate to circulate the air. You might also want to check and see how the furnace was mounted. I saw that whoever installed the furnace in my R-Pod did not use the furnace's mounting holes, but instead punched new ones that meant that the furnace was not quite in the location for which it was designed. It also was not quite square with the face. I moved it and used the correct mounting holes while squaring it with the face. It meant that the cover plate also fit better. I don't think you need to make holes in the cabinet. There is an air return, and the gaps around the sides of the faceplate are also cold air returns. It is designed so that cold air is pulled in around the perimeter of the housing to the back of the unit where the fan then blows it through the center heat exchanger part to be pushed out through the grill. The separate square grill face is also a return. It is easy to see if you take the faceplate off. I'll try to get a couple of pictures in the next day or so to illustrate what I have described. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: RpodTed
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2016 at 1:11am
Well, I didn't get to test anything. Was busy getting mom out after a fire was headed her direction. All is well, fire is out. It didn't make it to her property. Not sure when I'll get back to the heater problem |
Posted By: RpodTed
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2016 at 12:22am
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Still have not tested anything. Spent a few days in Cimerron but it was too hot to run the heater. The fridge performed flawlessly. I still plan to post the issue/answer once I find it. It may be a while with no plans to run the heater for a while. |