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12-06-2021, 11:05 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 18
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Heater Use While Plugged Into 110V
Hello,
Sort of new RV owner, as we purchased this past summer. We have a 2005 Sunseeker. When we are plugged into our house, regular 110V plug, the heater will not work on electricity. Fan comes on, but no heat. Does the heater only run on propane? All good if yes, but obviously it would be ideal to run off electricity while in the driveway.
Thanks for the support! James
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12-06-2021, 11:08 AM
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#2
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Retired Army MSG!
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sharon, SC
Posts: 588
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If you are referring to your RV furnace, you must have your propane on for it to produce heat.
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12-06-2021, 11:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: CA Central Valley
Posts: 154
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It requires both. Electricity to run the blower and propane for the heat.
__________________
2021 MiniLite 2513s SOLD
2-190w solar
2020 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7 Hemi e-Torque 3.92
1940 Chevy Special Deluxe
1946 Aeronca 7AC Champion
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12-06-2021, 11:12 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 4,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jclark50
Hello,
Sort of new RV owner, as we purchased this past summer. We have a 2005 Sunseeker. When we are plugged into our house, regular 110V plug, the heater will not work on electricity. Fan comes on, but no heat. Does the heater only run on propane? All good if yes, but obviously it would be ideal to run off electricity while in the driveway.
Thanks for the support! James
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The furnace that comes standard in the Sunseeker uses propane for heat, and 12 volt DC electricity for it's blower and controls. It has no 120 volt AC input. It is strictly a 12 volt DC and propane appliance.
If you want 120 volt generated heat in the Sunseeker, you will need to either have a resistive heater strip or the heat pump option built into the air conditioner, or use portable space heaters. (You could also install an electric fireplace if you had a place for it). We use portable space heaters very often when camping, or when I am working on the motorhome at home in colder weather.
__________________
2020 Sunseeker 2440DS on 2019 Ford E-450, Trekker cap, Topaz paint
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12-06-2021, 11:31 AM
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#5
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,129
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BehindBars
The furnace that comes standard in the Sunseeker uses propane for heat, and 12 volt DC electricity for it's blower and controls. It has no 120 volt AC input. It is strictly a 12 volt DC and propane appliance.
If you want 120 volt generated heat in the Sunseeker, you will need to either have the heat pump option built into the air conditioner, or use portable space heaters. (You could also install an electric fireplace if you had a place for it). We use portable space heaters very often when camping, or when I am working on the motorhome at home in colder weather.
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Don’t argue with some from “BehindBars” 😁
He covered this discussion completely.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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12-06-2021, 11:34 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 18
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Thank you everyone for the response. The answers are what I figured, but just wanted to check.
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2005 Sunseeker 2450 26'
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12-06-2021, 11:56 AM
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#7
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Just make sure you understand the difference between 'heat' and 'furnace' as was explained. Many control panels have both. If you select 'heat' the heat strip in the A/C will attempt to come on or if equipped, the heat pump of the A/C. (depending on if/how equipped) Both of these are 120v AC. (electric)
If you select 'furnace' then the LP furnace will attempt to run on propane and 12v DC. (battery)
If you are plugged into shore power, the onboard CONverter supplements the 12v DC battery and keeps it charged. If you are not plugged into shore power, furnaces can deplete your battery in a night depending on how many Ah the battery is, how cold and how often the furnace runs.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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12-06-2021, 06:00 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lodi CA
Posts: 1,211
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They do make a kit for the suburban furnance to add a resistive heating element to it so you can run without propane. I don't remember who sells it but you can search for it.
__________________
2001 Ford F-350 DRW 7.3
2011 25 RL Wildcat
former fiver 1976 Fourwinds had for 35 years
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12-06-2021, 06:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,441
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As a sidebar...
RV appliances, such as the hot water heater, may heat with propane and/or electricity. Resistive electric heat for hot water may overload your conventional 120 volt 15 amp or 20 amp circuit.
The same is true for the heater in your AC unit...if you have this. A rig that's designed to be connected to a 30 amp or 50 amp shore power circuit might have an AC heating element that's too much for your conventional 15 or 20 amp circuit...especially when combined with other loads.
A 20 amp 120 volt circuit is seldom enough to run the onboard AC without a "soft start" option. Resistive heating elements may run but place more demand on the home's circuit (often shared with other home devices such as outdoor lighting and so on) than the home's circuit breaker will tolerate...especially if it's a 15 amp circuit like the one in my former home was.
For "quick and dirty" auxiliary heating, to keep the chill off, a portable electric space heater can likely be handled by your home's outdoor circuit assuming you don't have much else loading the circuit. I have a nice little ceramic space heater that allows me to select between 750 watts and 1500 watts. I'd select the 750 watt setting to ensure there is adequate headroom in the circuit for other loads. This won't keep it warm...but it will keep it above freezing.
As others have said, if you want real heat, you must run the furnace on propane in your situation.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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12-06-2021, 06:56 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 200
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One other point related to having the propane turned on. The valve at the tank must be opened very slowly or it will lock up, thinking it's a leak in the propane lines. If this happens, close the valve and turn on one of the stove valves to relieve pressure in the line, then slowly reopen the propane valve.
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12-06-2021, 06:58 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
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Older than you think
Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
Just make sure you understand the difference between 'heat' and 'furnace' as was explained. Many control panels have both. If you select 'heat' the heat strip in the A/C will attempt to come on or if equipped, the heat pump of the A/C. (depending on if/how equipped) Both of these are 120v AC. (electric)
If you select 'furnace' then the LP furnace will attempt to run on propane and 12v DC. (battery)
If you are plugged into shore power, the onboard CONverter supplements the 12v DC battery and keeps it charged. If you are not plugged into shore power, furnaces can deplete your battery in a night depending on how many Ah the battery is, how cold and how often the furnace runs.
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5Picker, the OP's unit is a 2005 Sunseeker. They weren't putting heat pumps or heat strips in them 16 years ago, were they?
__________________
Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
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12-06-2021, 07:52 PM
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#12
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Certified Curmudgeon
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Here
Posts: 3,999
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry-NC
… the OP's unit is a 2005 Sunseeker. They weren't putting heat pumps or heat strips in them 16 years ago, were they?
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No they were not. Came standard with a 15k A/C.
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Mike Dropped
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12-06-2021, 07:54 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 4,330
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Quote:
Originally Posted by medalguy
One other point related to having the propane turned on. The valve at the tank must be opened very slowly or it will lock up, thinking it's a leak in the propane lines. If this happens, close the valve and turn on one of the stove valves to relieve pressure in the line, then slowly reopen the propane valve.
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I have never had this lock up issue in over 20 years of use on ASME propane tanks used on motorhomes. I close the valve after each outing, and when I open it at the next trip, I spin it open as fast as I want. Have you seen this lock up problem with an ASME permanently mounted motorhome propane tank?
I don’t remember seeing this issue ever mentioned in the Sunseeker and Forester motorhome forum.
__________________
2020 Sunseeker 2440DS on 2019 Ford E-450, Trekker cap, Topaz paint
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12-06-2021, 08:00 PM
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#14
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Certified Curmudgeon
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Here
Posts: 3,999
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BehindBars
I have never had this lock up issue in over 20 years of use on ASME propane tanks used on motorhomes. I close the valve after each outing, and when I open it at the next trip, I spin it open as fast as I want. Have you seen this lock up problem with an ASME permanently mounted motorhome tank?
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Only 18 years for me. Never heard of it.
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Mike Dropped
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12-06-2021, 08:18 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 860
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I’ve had two regulators stick in Lo-flow mode but I think it was probably from freezing up not opening the tank too fast.
I can tell pretty quickly when it’s stuck now, the furnace won’t light and I can only get 1 and 1/2 of the stove burners to light.
The first time I replaced the regulator, the second time I used hot water on it and it reset.
__________________
Brian
2015 Forester 2801QS GTS
TOAD-Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 kayak and Yamaha Zuma 50cc scooter on a custom trailer.
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12-06-2021, 08:38 PM
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#16
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Certified Curmudgeon
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Here
Posts: 3,999
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Brrrrr
Freeze, whats that?
__________________
Mike Dropped
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12-06-2021, 08:42 PM
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#17
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry-NC
5Picker, the OP's unit is a 2005 Sunseeker. They weren't putting heat pumps or heat strips in them 16 years ago, were they?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Duckogram
No they were not. Came standard with a 15k A/C.
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I had a 1997 and a 2004 where both had heat strips in the Coleman A/C units so, yes.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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12-06-2021, 08:58 PM
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#18
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Certified Curmudgeon
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Here
Posts: 3,999
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
I had a 1997 and a 2004 where both had heat strips in the Coleman A/C units so, yes.
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You had a ‘97 and ‘04 FR Sunseeker?
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Mike Dropped
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12-06-2021, 09:10 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Duckogram
Freeze, whats that?
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Not bad today a balmy 14F lol
__________________
Brian
2015 Forester 2801QS GTS
TOAD-Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 kayak and Yamaha Zuma 50cc scooter on a custom trailer.
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12-06-2021, 09:11 PM
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#20
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Duckogram
You had a ‘97 and ‘04 FR Sunseeker?
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No, but I had 1997 and 2004 R/Vs that used the same A/C units they put on 90% of all makes/models at the time. They had heat strips so it wasn't a giant leap to believe the OP's model year could have had one as well.
Did Sunseekers have proprietary A/C units only used by them exclusively with no option for a heat strip?
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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