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09-27-2016, 08:08 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 199
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Turn on furnace with no shore power
How do i turn on the furnace without shore power? T21dmhw flagstaff.
Manual says turn it on to heater but says nothing if your not on shore power.
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09-27-2016, 08:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 151
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You should be able to use the propane furnace on DC power. I just used my Rockwood A213HW this past weekend and had no shore power. I was able to use the furnace by using the DC power. Keep in mind, but if you use DC power, it will burn through the battery reserve very quickly if you try to maintain a higher temperature.
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09-27-2016, 08:57 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 199
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Thats what im trying to figure out. Is there an additional button or switch?
I set to furnace at 80 degrees and wouldnt kick on.
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16' T21DMHW - Gone solar - 3/4ton truck to pull it with
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09-27-2016, 09:02 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Englewood FL
Posts: 2,797
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The furnace is entirely DC operated.
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2015 335DS
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09-27-2016, 09:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glarior
Thats what im trying to figure out. Is there an additional button or switch?
I set to furnace at 80 degrees and wouldnt kick on.
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If your Batt in On and Fully charged,you should be Ready to Go! With a Full propane supply! Youroo!! No "shore Power needed!
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09-27-2016, 11:18 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,551
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glarior
How do i turn on the furnace without shore power? T21dmhw flagstaff.
Manual says turn it on to heater but says nothing if your not on shore power.
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RV furnaces are 12v DC powered, using propane for heat.
Don't know what kind of thermostat you have but if it's analog, it may have an on/off switch underneath the stat.
Furnace fan is the biggest battery power drain in your trailer.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
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09-28-2016, 01:10 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 641
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If battery power falls below 9.5 volts the furnace control board will not have enough volts to operate. Your 12 volt lighting may still work but furnace will not with this low battery voltage. Dose the furnace operate with the unit plugged into 120 volt house power?
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09-28-2016, 06:45 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Stevens Point, WI
Posts: 323
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Turn on furnace with no shore power
Glarior, check whether the thermostat is set to Auto, or Hi or Lo fan speed. I seem to recall that it makes a difference.
kdot
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2019 Flagstaff E-Pro 19FBS
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09-28-2016, 09:30 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 85
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Just an idea, but have you checked your fuses?
2017 A212HW
2016 Ford Explorer TV
The Villages, Florida
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2019 Puma 255RKS 5th Wheel
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09-28-2016, 09:35 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 627
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You may have a battery disconnect switch that "disconnects" the battery when you're in storage. These are sometimes labeled USE and STORE
make sure that switch is in USE or whatever position allows battery.
The furnace uses 12 volts for its controller and also the blower. I have a single type 24 battery. I usually don't get more than 12-14 hours of furnace operation, depending how cold it is outside.
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09-28-2016, 09:57 AM
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#11
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
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To answer the question... NO there is no 'additional' switch that needs to be thrown/turned on for the furnace to work when not connected to shore power.
As mentioned, you DO need 12v power for it to work so you have to have a charged battery and it must be connected to the system so be sure the battery disconnect switch is in the proper position (if equipped)
Someone asked earlier... does it work when plugged in?
The answer will help us narrow down what could (if anything) might be wrong.
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09-28-2016, 10:39 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,243
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You don't say if this a a new trailer and the first time you used the furnace. if that is the case, there may be air in the lines. If the furnace does not light in a few tries, it locks itself out as a safety feature. Pull the fuse for the furnace and wait a few minutes. Reinsert the fuse and try again. Set thermostat to auto. Things you should hear when thermostat calls for heat.
First thing is furnace blower fan should come on This triggers a sail switch.
about 30-60 seconds later you should hear clicks ( the ignition spark)
The furnace should start.
It may try this a few times before it locks out again and you have to do procedure again.
If no Fan at start, battery is too low or thermostat not calling for heat or fan issues.
If you have not run the furnace before, I suggest you run it during the day ( when not really needed) with all the windows open. The furnace will smell ( possible some smoke) until you burn off the oils left over from the manufacturing process. Not a bad idea to do this every year just prior to needing heat as dust and critters can build up on heat transfer surfaces.
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09-28-2016, 10:43 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 85
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Another hint if you haven't used it before, turn the stove on and get one of the burners to light. This will usually push enough air out ot the propane line to allow the furnace to get some and light. Kind of like priming a pump.
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2019 Puma 255RKS 5th Wheel
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09-28-2016, 12:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 825
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Be careful not to drain your battery down too low while using your furnace on cold nights. I learned it the hard way. My carbon monoxide detector woke me up in the middle of the night going off. The first time this happened I didn't know if there was really a gas leak. I had just taken delivery, knew nothing and it was cold and snowing outside. This never happened while hooked up to power and I finally learned that if the batteries go below 1/4 it will set off the detector.
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09-28-2016, 02:22 PM
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#15
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7 Year Class A RV'er
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Winter Park, FL
Posts: 1,068
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Just as several others pointed out, the furnace runs strictly on 12V. When you have shore power, the converter (not inverter) puts out the 12V power for your furnace, lights, fridge, etc. So long as the battery disconnect switch is not off, you should be able to simply set it to heat and forget about it.
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09-28-2016, 02:36 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: South East
Posts: 996
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I don't know which furnace you have but mine has a reset switch inside. You might want to see if you have one and check that It is in the on position. This is what mine looks like.
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09-29-2016, 10:22 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 199
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Wow! I logged back in an there are a lot of helpful messages!
I have not checked anything except the battery was at 12.0v. This weekend I am installing solar panel, inverter and multiple batteries. However, before I start that install I will for sure make sure the furnace is working. Below are my answers to various questions asked
1.) There is no battery cut off switch. Planning to install one.
2.) Thermostat fan set to auto. I just learned about that the other day!
3.) Checked fuses, all good.
4.) The furnace was tested once to show me how it operates when I bought the unit back in June. It was plugged into shore power. I have not tested it plugged in yet. This weekend I will. I know the A/C works when plugged into shore power.
5.) I never heard the unit try to ignite and the fan never came on.
6.) Yikes on the smells that the furnace may produce. Glad you told me that and I will do that.
7.) Ha, that loud beep from the carbon monoxide will wake anyone up! I had that happen with the battery dropping to low before because the batter connectors were loose. The camper has way to small of a battery.
8.) Reset switch... yes, now that you mention it I do have one. I will post pic this weekend. I now remember the dealer saying something about resetting the switch if nothing happens. I will try that first.
Hope this answers y'alls questions. I will work more on it this weekend and post back. I am kind of excited to work on the camper this weekend lol.
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09-29-2016, 10:37 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,640
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Just a note. The fan speed setting is only for the fan itself and the A/C. You cannot control the fan speed for the furnace (whether analog or digital thermostat). The furnace is a self contained unit and operates on 12 volts DC only. You do not need to be connected to shore power to operate the furnace unless your trailer battery is not charged. Shore power connection will provide 12 volts DC via the converter in your unit which will allow furnace operation if the battery is not charged. If you have the digital thermostat setting fan speed to something other than AU will also turn on the A/C fan when furnace is running. At least this is typical for systems that use Dometic digital thermostats.
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09-29-2016, 10:52 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 703
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Stupid question
Is there any propane in your tanks and is the supply turned on?
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09-29-2016, 11:11 AM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Grayson County, Texas
Posts: 21,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidceder
Is there any propane in your tanks and is the supply turned on?
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See OP's item 5 above. If the fan won't come on, the furnace won't even try to light. There is a problem before checking for propane, IMHO.
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