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Old 11-23-2016, 06:01 PM   #1
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dometic heat pump

We have a Rockwood 192HW and it has a Dometic heat pump (model 441003.701) and wonder if anyone else has experienced the heat pump not being able to heat the camper when the weather is 40 degrees outside. Ours will maintian heat but would not heat above 64 degrees when thermostadt was set to 72 degrees. Just wondering if this is normal or if maybe the heat pump is not functioning correctly. I know it will not heat below 30 degrees.
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Old 11-23-2016, 06:15 PM   #2
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My understanding is the heat pump will only create heat down to about 40, and the lower the temp the less heat it will make. I have never used mine on heat only A/C so far.
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Old 11-23-2016, 06:44 PM   #3
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Sounds about right... When it gets below about 45° we switch to the LP furnace.

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Old 11-23-2016, 07:39 PM   #4
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i have 2 heat pumps on my house - the main furnace one only makes heat to about 37f outside and anything below that it runs and runs to no result.

the second one is an LG minisplit and it can make heat below zero. It has no heat element - it's just that effcient. Many of the minisplits are like this.

I've no idea what the technology difference is.

Are you sure it's really a heat pump?

on this page got this info about a/c units with heat...
RV Rooftop Air Conditioning - Dometic Corp

Quote:
Question: My unit has the Electric Heater Option, but when it gets colder outside it doesn’t seem to maintain the temperature. What should I do?
Answer: The heat mode of operation will NOT replace a furnace for heating the RV in cold weather. The intent is to remove the chill on cool days or mornings. For best results when using your Electric Heater Option:
  1. Turn the selector switch to "OPT HEAT".
  2. The heat strip will come on and begin heating.
  3. When desired temperature level in RV is reached, move the selector switch to "OFF" position or "FAN" position. Thermostat does NOT control the fan/heater ON/OFF cycle.
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Old 11-23-2016, 08:08 PM   #5
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Mine worked well down to the mid- to high 30s at night a couple of weeks ago, but I wouldn't have been surprised if it hadn't. I, too, have heard that 40 or so is the lower limit. The Cool Cat is a great thing to have - heat without propane - the main reason I went out of my way this fall to get electric hookup sites.
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Old 11-24-2016, 08:56 AM   #6
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I carry a small ceramic space heater in the winter. Not the cheapest one, but rather one with a good thermostat. It keeps the inside as warm as it needs to be while making almost no noise. Making it preferable to the Coolcat for me, particularly when the temps are expected to go low.

The heater stows under the lift up bed, where there is plenty of space for stuff that I unpack once for a trip then put away at the end. It usually sits on top of the stove for operation.
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Old 12-02-2016, 09:21 PM   #7
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I found out the hard way a couple weeks ago, the weekend started out warm for November and the coolcat heat pump worked great the first night, the weather got colder as the weekend went on and so did the heat output, by the 3rd night the temp dropped to the upper 30's, around midnight I noticed only cold air blowing out of the heatpump, I attempted to shut it off and restart it, while googling heat pump troubleshooting I then realized I was not going to get any heat out of it. I switched over to propane and managed to keep warm the last night of camping . The following weekend I brought along a small ceramic space heater which worked quite well at keeping the camper warm. I'll continue using the space heater and save the propane for when I don't have power to hook up to.
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Old 12-02-2016, 11:08 PM   #8
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From the owners manual, page 2:

"Note: Heat pump mode will not operate when the outside temperature
is 30" F. and below. lf heating is required switch over to
furnace mode if applicable."

http://trekin.digital-digs.net/Share...%20-%20New.pdf

I was a bit surprised it says 30 degrees. Rule of thumb for lower limit for heat pumps is 40 degrees (or it used to be 35 yrs ago when I was studying them in college). So newer ones working down to 30 degrees is believable, but your 40 degrees did NOT surprise me.
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Old 12-03-2016, 06:30 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo View Post
From the owners manual, page 2:

"Note: Heat pump mode will not operate when the outside temperature
is 30" F. and below. lf heating is required switch over to
furnace mode if applicable."

http://trekin.digital-digs.net/Share...%20-%20New.pdf

I was a bit surprised it says 30 degrees. Rule of thumb for lower limit for heat pumps is 40 degrees (or it used to be 35 yrs ago when I was studying them in college). So newer ones working down to 30 degrees is believable, but your 40 degrees did NOT surprise me.
Some of the new high pressure systems can produce heat down into the single digit Fahrenheit range. I have a Gree split system in my shop that can produce 74° out put temps well in to the 20's with no problems.

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Old 12-03-2016, 11:38 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Some of the new high pressure systems can produce heat down into the single digit Fahrenheit range. I have a Gree split system in my shop that can produce 74° out put temps well in to the 20's with no problems.

Aaron
Yeah, I figured they've gotten a lot better in 35 yrs. HOWEVER, I doubt the ones they put in RV's are that good. The one in your shop probably cost a LOT more than the ones in RV's.
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Old 12-04-2016, 10:58 AM   #11
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My rule of thumb is.

Heat pump stops being effective at around 40 degrees.

The heat pump best output is around 90 degrees and works when AC power is available.

The Furnace put outs around 135 degrees and uses propane and battery for fan. (and to me louder in my trailer)

I live in California where weather is milder and most of the time I sleep in a warm bed and when I get up I make a pot of coffee that warms the whole place up nicely.
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Old 12-05-2016, 07:26 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abdiver View Post
I live in California where weather is milder and most of the time I sleep in a warm bed and when I get up I make a pot of coffee that warms the whole place up nicely.
That's a nice way to camp.

I use the heated mattress too, under very warm covers, and often let the inside get quite cold. Even if i leave a heater on, it's thermostat is often set on the lowest setting.

While lighting the stove in the morning, I often crank up the furnace to warm the place up before I crawl back under the covers to let the water boil. This strategy works best if I fill the kettle and put fresh coffee into the french press before going to bed.

Camping is so tough sometimes.
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