Arctic Pac operating ?

[trdutch]

Chillin this morning on our last trip of 2015 near the Smokies of Tenn.
It's below 30 out their so I switch on the Arctic PAC switch last night.
My understanding is I need liquid in tanks and we do.Also it has to get to a specific temp (not sure) and with switch on it will heat tanks as necessary
My question is will the little red light come on when it kicks on?
Basically how do I know it's working other than climbing under and feeling whether a pad is hot
Right now it's below 0 but the light is not on
Thanks

[nomad297]

With my Windjammer, there is an illuminated switch that lights when you turn the tank heaters on. Do you have this same switch? The switch lights up whether or not the tank heaters are on. They turn themselves on at 40 degrees and off at 60 degrees.

Bruce

[youroo]

Our V-Lite also has a Blue lighted switch when the Tank Pads are ON. No way to know if all Tank Pads are working,enclosed belly and 4 Tanks! unless you Rewire the whole Artic Pac system to isolate each Tank! Also our Front Kitchen tank NOT always has Fluid in it,therefore the word to (Always have fluid in tank before engaging Heaters)cant happen! Youroo!!

[bubbles]

It's unfortunate but I believe the light in the switch is only an indication of switch position. This creates a false sense of security. The system could be completely inop and one would not know it until freezing occurs. Couldn't find anything to contradict this belief. JMO

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by bubbles

It's unfortunate but I believe the light in the switch is only an indication of switch position. This creates a false sense of security. The system could be completely inop and one would not know it until freezing occurs. Couldn't find anything to contradict this belief. JMO

X2

Bruce

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by bubbles

It's unfortunate but I believe the light in the switch is only an indication of switch position. This creates a false sense of security. The system could be completely inop and one would not know it until freezing occurs. Couldn't find anything to contradict this belief. JMO

X3

[DXSMac]

X4

[TARVIDSON]

Furthermore, the pads don't get very hot so you almost have to feel them cold, turn on the system(as long as it is cold enough to let them come on) and then feel them again to see if they are warmer. At least on mine there is not a lot of heat there.

[Handydc]

You just have to have faith......

[A32Deuce]

X2

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by trdutch

Chillin this morning on our last trip of 2015 near the Smokies of Tenn.
It's below 30 out their so I switch on the Arctic PAC switch last night.
My understanding is I need liquid in tanks and we do.Also it has to get to a specific temp (not sure) and with switch on it will heat tanks as necessary
My question is will the little red light come on when it kicks on?
Basically how do I know it's working other than climbing under and feeling whether a pad is hot
Right now it's below 0 but the light is not on
Thanks

We do not have tank heaters. Because we want a four season system we are looking at all information about them. It sounds, based upon what other people are saying this though you can only have one of two conditions. Either the little red light on your switch is burned out or you're not getting any power to the pads. I would start by looking for the fuse then pull in the switch out and check in to see if I have voltage going through the switch and then you will know. The good news is, if it is 0 degrees and nothing is failing are breaking in your system, very possibly they are working. Good luck and please let us know the outcome

[raytwntrvlr]

Just a newbie here, but it seems to me a frozen/breaking water line is a bigger threat than a holding tank freezing. If it actually got cold enough to freeze a holding tank, I'm sure you would have bigger troubles with water lines. Is there any protection for them with these "arctic pac" systems?

[TARVIDSON]

Depending on how your RV is built, on my Prism Motorhome the black and gray tanks are not warmed by the furnace air. All the other parts of the system stay warm and cozy as long as the furnace is operating. The valve to dump the tanks can also freeze up and there are heating pads available for the valve itself.

[trdutch]

Water lines don't have an issue if you are heating the unit (heat pump or furnace)
The arctic pac is to prevent freezing of the outside exposed tanks
Also your pump is protected cause some heat from the furnace is ducted to the pump area
I ended up not figuring out if the pads ever went on,cause we had to pack up and hit the road.
I'll research further but when I dumped there was no ice (hot shower water) but the black had no ice either
Light on toggle switch never came on and it ended up hitting 25* last night.

[RvBill3]

The primary way to keep tanks and lines warm on a Sunseeker is the furnace. Some of the heated air is ducted into the enclosed underside where the tanks are. Also, there are air ducts blowing hot air on the water pump and filter, and the dump valves. Running the furnace is the best way to protect the water and waste systems. The Arctic pak heated pads on the black and gray tank bottoms are an additional measure to keep things from freezing. The switch is lighted when system is on. It does not "cycle" on and off, even though the heated pads do. If your switch is not lit when turned on, you have something wrong.


2012 Forest River Sunseeker 2300 Chevy

[trdutch]

Thanks that's what I was afraid of