Coleman-Mach 15K AC Elect-A-Heat Add-On

kalik282 · 09-05-2011, 03:59 PM

I am considering purchasing the Elect-A-Heat add-on for my Coleman-Mach 15K AC unit.

Has anyone else done this? Thoughts? Worth it? Easy to install? Capable of cutting down/eliminating the need to run the propane heat?

We usually take along electric heaters for the early spring/late fall trips, and this could cut down on extra stuff to pack. (We don't do winter camping.)

I've included the installation instruction sheet w/part #...

Thank you in advance,

John

cfsoistman · 09-05-2011, 05:08 PM

Mine isn't a Coleman but I can say the add-on strip heater is nice. In my case they maintain the temperature down to around 40 degrees outside. The only thing is most portable heaters are quieter than the AC unit fan. But when you use a portable heater you are using up one of your 15 amp breakers and limit the use of other receptacles on that circuit. When you have the strip heater in the AC unit you're just using the same breaker that the AC unit uses and all of your receptacles are available for other appliances or whatever.

jimh · 09-05-2011, 05:25 PM

my 84 fleetwing had a coleman ac w/heat strip. i camped in the dead of winter with it where the outside temp dropped as low as 45 deg F, and it kept the trailer warm (i like the trailer abt 65 to 68 in winter).
the air doesn't seem warm but it keeps the trailer warm. i may have actually been able to stay warm w/ outside temp in the 30's, but never tried.
i have a carrier heat pump in the fdw hole on my present trailer. it has a heat strip for when the temp gets too cold for the heat pump or the heat pump goes into defrost cycle. air coming out is slightly warm but keeps the bedroom and bathroom warm. the lower part, of the trailer, doesn't get enough circulation to really tell. now i have had it on when the temp got down into the mid 20's and we were warm. heat pump stopped somewhere around freezing (should have stopped at 40 deg). knew the heater strip had come on because of the "first use" smell.

i didn't read thru the instructions but on the dometic and the carrier ducted version, it wasn't recommended. if ur unit is ducted, u may want to look for that and see if it can be used.

as far as installation? easy, just mount with a screw and plug in. if u have to replace the thermostat, that is a couple screws as well. if u have ducts, may want to make sure u have clearance around it (plastic parts and sides). i really don't know why they aren't recommended for the ducted versions. there is someone on here that has done it though.
worth it? u can get more out of a portable heater but the one in the overhead unit is more convenient. one draw back is that it blows all the time (the newer ones may be different). that isn't very comfortable if ur lightly dressed and in direct path of the air.
would i buy one knowing it cost more than a portable electric heater and blows all the time? yes. at least u still have the option of running it and u may find urself out and a cold front comes thru and u forgot ur heater.

kalik282 · 09-05-2011, 06:03 PM

Charlie,
Thanks for the info. The ease of use and lack of tying up outlets are two of my reasons for wanting to do this.

Jim,
Again, thanks for the info. I had not heard of the fan having to run all the time. Will call Coleman-Mach on that one. I have read that their unit is OK for use with ducted AC units, unlike the Dometic.

Both,
Good to know that these units are capable of taking the chill off past 40º!

Thanks again,

John

**Herk7769** · 09-05-2011, 07:11 PM

Did you see this note?

NOTE

The optional heating assembly is intended to take the chill out of the indoor air when the air is a few degrees too cool for comfort. The heater is an effective “chill chaser”. It is not a substitute for a furnace.

kalik282 · 09-06-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

Did you see this note?

NOTE

The optional heating assembly is intended to take the chill out of the indoor air when the air is a few degrees too cool for comfort. The heater is an effective “chill chaser”. It is not a substitute for a furnace.

Lou,
I was wondering if anyone would actually read the attachment!

Yes, I saw it, hence the nature of my original question. The add on heat units are pricey, and if all they do is "take the chill off", I think I will stick with the portable space heaters. However, if they are as others have said, and good to about 40º, then I should be OK. We use the furnace now, when the heaters can't keep up, or we need the AC outlet/amps. This should work the same way, I would think.

John

**Herk7769** · 09-06-2011, 07:57 PM

I installed one of these in the Bedroom, The Furnace keeps the LR/Kitchen area warm just fine. Due to "no registers" in the 5th wheel's BR it gets cold with the doors closed (guests).

Only 400 watts (120VAC) and works great.

Envi High-Efficiency Whole Room Electric Panel Heater - White (Model # HH1000) - eheat.com

kalik282 · 09-07-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

I installed one of these in the Bedroom, The Furnace keeps the LR/Kitchen area warm just fine. Due to "no registers" in the 5th wheel's BR it gets cold with the doors closed (guests).

Only 400 watts (120VAC) and works great.

Envi High-Efficiency Whole Room Electric Panel Heater - White (Model # HH1000) - eheat.com

Lou,
That could be the "Hot" ticket!

Seriously, at only 450 watts, (according to their website,) so easy to wall mount, and only $120, might be the way to go.

John

**Herk7769** · 09-07-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalik282

Lou,
That could be the "Hot" ticket!

Seriously, at only 450 watts, (according to their website,) so easy to wall mount, and only $120, might be the way to go.

John

My mistake! Let me be the first to tell you that it works GREAT for such a small low draw heater. In the winter I can run the fireplace and the Envi at the same time on a 20 amp circuit when I work on the camper.

mstell2 · 01-18-2012, 08:33 PM

Well what did you decide to do?

kalik282 · 01-29-2012, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstell2

Well what did you decide to do?

I ended up adding the Coleman-Mach Elect-A-Heat add-on. So far, I've been very happy with the results. As stated previously, we don't do winter camping. Fall camping, 2011, was VERY comfortable. The unit worked as expected. Took the chill off, but, would never be considered a replacement for the furnace.

I used the Coleman-Mach "kit" designed for my AC unit, as recommended by the Tech Rep at Coleman-Mach. I also had to change the thermostat to one that had the option for Elec. Heat. (I decided to go with the digital unit, since I was upgrading.) In order to install the whole system, I had to run an extra wire from the thermostat to the AC unit. That part took FAR longer than adding the heat kit or installing the new thermostat.

John

Murphie · 02-28-2012, 02:22 AM

John, I also have the 15k Coleman Mach AC . Is your AC ducted? I didn't think that was an option. I thought it was to be only used on the non ducted units similar to the one shown in your attachment. Does the fan come on and push the heat thru the ducting? How much was it?

Thanks Richard

kalik282 · 02-28-2012, 09:38 AM

Richard,
Yes, my AC unit is ducted. The tech at Coleman-Mach informed me that they do not have add-on heat restrictions for ducted units. He provided me all the correct part numbers to purchase. The heat "kit" and thermostat both came with installation instructions and a wiring diagram. The new t-stat has a setting for "electric heat" that energizes the heat coil, and turns on the blower motor of the ac unit. This sends heat everywhere your ac sends cool. However, in electric heat mode, the furnace will not come on. You have to switch over to Heat if the electric isn't keeping up with the demand.

I purchased the kit and thermostat separately, for a total of $200.00. ($120 for the kit, and $80 for the t-stat.) (The kit has both the heater coil and the control unit. Each are available separately if a failure should occur.)

The kit I purchased was labeled "non-ducted" on the sellers website, but was the correct part number according to Coleman-Mach. Therefore, I recommend contacting Coleman-Mach, with your serial #s ready, to obtain all the correct part numbers you need to do this conversion.

Hope this helps.

John

Murphie · 02-29-2012, 01:06 AM

John, thanks very much for the quick reply. It's nice that the you went to the Manufacturer to get the right info. We camp at sites where the electricity is provided so this is a plus in my mind. The stat with a separate setting for electric heat which activates the blower is well thought out. This new stat, would it be digital by chance? We just bought a 30ft travel trailer and I was surprised how much gas the furnace used compared to our previous 19ft. trailer. Thanks again

Richard

kalik282 · 03-05-2012, 08:45 PM

Richard,
See post #11 for your answer.

John

Murphie · 03-05-2012, 11:24 PM

Oops, now I feel silly. Missed that obviously. Thanks again John

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