How to operate electric heat? - Page 2

**bclemens** · 08-27-2018, 03:12 PM

this is the manual for the Airxcell. (Atwood is a different manual of course)

**bclemens** · 08-27-2018, 03:20 PM

I just got this back from my supplier.

If electric heat is on for 20 minutes and system cannot reach set point, then 2nd stage heat ( Furnace) will be energized.

BLT4SPD · 08-27-2018, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

I just got this back from my supplier.

If electric heat is on for 20 minutes and system cannot reach set point, then 2nd stage heat ( Furnace) will be energized.

That's great info! Thanks for reaching out and getting an answer back here on the forum that quickly!

caseymyers · 08-27-2018, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

Thanks so much for your photo, I just checked and confirmed I have what you have! So I have that coil in both units. Now to figure out how to set the thermostat in the morning so that I get the electric heat but not the gas furnace turning on?

I just went out on the line and the thermostat mode cycles from Fan hi-low, Cool hi-low to heat. The Heat cycles from Heat-Elec to Heat-Gas.

Are you saying on Heat-Elec the furnace still runs? Are they both on Heat-elec? cause if not, one could be triggering the furnace.[/QUOTE]

BC, yes, what BLT4SPD said. Wether you like it or not when both or either unit is set on Heat-elec, the gas furnace comes on. Not cool enough to test where I'm camping now but I'm going to play with it when it cools off. I'd guess that the electric heat comes on when you select it (I can feel warm air coming from the ceiling ducts) but that there is a temp deferential in there to turn on the furnace to bring the coach up to nn temp before the thermostat will allow for electric heat only.

**bclemens** · 08-27-2018, 03:39 PM

So its going to be a bit of a crap shoot...only set the t-stat a few points above current. If it warms up in 20 minutes, you can likely take that higher then. If the gap is too large, 20 minutes may not be enough. So if its 51, I would take that no higher than 60 to start...see if that works.

On the bright side...unlike a heat pump, if the air temp is 40, you can still use the heat strip, just not more than 50 to start.

caseymyers · 08-27-2018, 04:04 PM

Agree BC, now that I know for sure I have the heat strips I'm going to play with it on a cool morning so I can learn at what point it calls for the gas heat. Set it for a few points above ambient and see how it does, then crank it up.

dlfishing · 08-27-2018, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

Yeah, double check that. eek.

We changed suppliers a while back from Atwood to Suburban and I know there was a little confusion for a bit, because we were under the impression the heat strips were going to be installed when we got them in. The install took us a while to get down. You are able to add it, if its not there.

You’ll stopped using Atwoods already? Just a couple year models. Coleman to Atwood to Suburban?

**bclemens** · 08-27-2018, 10:46 PM

Not really suburban, I lump them all together. It’s actually Atwood to Coleman Mach
Atwood was bought by Donetuc, but they don’t own the engineering, so that will eveteully go away.

caseymyers · 08-28-2018, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlfishing

You’ll stopped using Atwoods already? Just a couple year models. Coleman to Atwood to Suburban?

Mine are Coleman with AIRXCEL controls. They work very well.

**bclemens** · 08-28-2018, 08:56 AM

Airxcel makes the Coleman-Mach, they also make Suburban and the MaxxAir vent fans. And they recently bought Dicor, which is over United shade and some other things, they they went and bought MCD Shades. That's why I refer to them as Coleman or Suburban. Its a convoluted mess.

dlfishing · 08-28-2018, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseymyers

Mine are Coleman with AIRXCEL controls. They work very well.

You have received your new I5?
I’m just wondering why Dmax went from Dometic Atwood back to Coleman. I originally had Coleman in my ‘14 DX3. One went out so i switched both to Atwood. They must have really improved the Coleman, mine were so loud we couldn’t hear the TV.

**bclemens** · 08-28-2018, 09:34 AM

well, that's a long story.

Atwood is really Atwood. Dometic just bought them, but they do not own the engineering behind the Atwood AC, so there is very little they can do to change it or update it.

So at some point, it will just go away. I still think the Atwood is the quietest, but Coleman has come out with several different new models. Coleman Mach, Mach 10 and Mach 8 ...all based on height. But they are quieter and the one we run uses two fans like the Atwood instead of one really big loud fan like the Dometic. They also communicate with multiplex. And, the Atwood had some condensation issues that, while the seem to have resolved, I'm not 100% sure they are fully resolved.

dlfishing · 08-28-2018, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

well, that's a long story.

Atwood is really Atwood. Dometic just bought them, but they do not own the engineering behind the Atwood AC, so there is very little they can do to change it or update it.

So at some point, it will just go away. I still think the Atwood is the quietest, but Coleman has come out with several different new models. Coleman Mach, Mach 10 and Mach 8 ...all based on height. But they are quieter and the one we run uses two fans like the Atwood instead of one really big loud fan like the Dometic. They also communicate with multiplex. And, the Atwood had some condensation issues that, while the seem to have resolved, I'm not 100% sure they are fully resolved.

My only complaint about my Atwood, which you’ve heard before, is in the heat mode they blow cold air before they decide to blow warm air. I guess that’s one of the engineering changes that Dometic can’t make and the owners of the engineering don’t care.
All Dometic did was eliminate a competor. If nothing else, it made Coleman improve their product.
I can see why you went back to a company that’s more dependable

caseymyers · 08-28-2018, 10:35 AM

That clears it up and now it makes sense, different products, but really all the same company now.

**bclemens** · 08-28-2018, 10:39 AM

The other issue is when on heat pump the air sensor is in there return side. So others were have often complain that on heat or heat pump, it cycles on every 2 minutes at night to test the air to see if it needs to run. So yet again, another complaint I am trying to overcome

FOURWHL · 08-28-2018, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

The other issue is when on heat pump the air sensor is in there return side. So others were have often complain that on heat or heat pump, it cycles on every 2 minutes at night to test the air to see if it needs to run. So yet again, another complaint I am trying to overcome

That’s a biggie too. I think if it just ran constantly it’d be better (since that’s what it does in AC mode) but man couple times we’ve used the heat pump it hasn’t lasted long for that reason

dlfishing · 08-30-2018, 09:41 PM

Except when we’re sleeping, I use a couple small ceramic heaters. No cold air blowing on us every two minutes. Don’t care when we’re under the blankets.

vrunner · 08-31-2018, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

well, that's a long story.

Atwood is really Atwood. Dometic just bought them, but they do not own the engineering behind the Atwood AC, so there is very little they can do to change it or update it.

So at some point, it will just go away. I still think the Atwood is the quietest, but Coleman has come out with several different new models. Coleman Mach, Mach 10 and Mach 8 ...all based on height. But they are quieter and the one we run uses two fans like the Atwood instead of one really big loud fan like the Dometic. They also communicate with multiplex. And, the Atwood had some condensation issues that, while the seem to have resolved, I'm not 100% sure they are fully resolved.

So if my Atwood's continue to leak water/ condensation what is the next step? Dealer has tried fixing them 5 times but they still leak. They said drain lines are clear, I see the water coming off the roof which some runs into the gutter and some leaks down the outside wall between the awning rail (another issue). And the heat pump is worthless, it cycles on and off but generates little heat if any at all.

LTZ470 · 08-31-2018, 02:24 AM

I had the Mach 8 15k's installed during build (8" height) and also installing KVH A9 Low Profile Dome Satellite (5" height) on the XL...this keeps me 5" lower than standard XL with Atwood AC that is 13" in height....

So I am about 12' 7" height at present...

**bclemens** · 08-31-2018, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrunner

So if my Atwood's continue to leak water/ condensation what is the next step? Dealer has tried fixing them 5 times but they still leak. They said drain lines are clear, I see the water coming off the roof which some runs into the gutter and some leaks down the outside wall between the awning rail (another issue). And the heat pump is worthless, it cycles on and off but generates little heat if any at all.

I'll get with Dan and see if Atwood has any other plans. If they can't fix it, we'll bill them and swap them out with the Mach. The only issue is the signal wire...I think those are different. But I'll find out what it would take. (I do hear that they have a new update in the works)

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