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10-30-2019, 11:25 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 273
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ThermaHeat heating pads questions
My GT 5 has the OneTouch computer control touch pad for slides, pumps etc. One of the touches is for Tank heater pads -- off/on. The ThermaHeat owners manual is a little booklet (6in X 8in ) that only list sizes and states that heaters are thermostatically controlled and if on they start heating at 45deg. with off at 67deg. Only one size heater pad uses 120volt everything else they make uses 13.5volt. I can see an elbow heater on the black tank drain.
How can I tell if they are working ? I would like to for it not to be below freezing and find out they don't work. It is going to be below 45deg. here tonight, so turn them on, feel of the elbow I can touch, and if it is warm assume all others work ?
Any advise--Thanks
Btm
__________________
Ben Moore
Temple,TX
2019 GT5 31L5F, 2014 Wrangler Unlimited
CHF rear, CHF front, Sumo springs front
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10-30-2019, 01:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,330
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If they are anything like mine you will only know if a) it's cold enough for them to turn themselves on; b) you have a battery monitor that's capable of measuring current flow from the batteries. When cold (below 40 on mine) make sure converter is off, turn on heater pads at control, then record current draw shown on Battery Monitor. Turn pads off and record second current reading. The difference will be that of the current drawn by the pads.
Mine are somewhat "progressive". Around 40 degrees they draw only 2-3 amps and when it gets into the 20's they draw more like 7-8 amps.
Unfortunately they don't have a manual override switch that allows you to turn them on for testing at higher temps. One has to just rely on "faith".
As for "feeling" if they are working, they're a lot like trying to feel warmth from an outdoor Christmas light on a freezing day. They really don't put out all that much heat, just enough to keep a filled tank above 32 degrees F. Output is 3.4 BTU/Watt. Holding tank pads are ~75 watts while the "elbow pads" can run as little as 7 watts. As you see there is little heat available and as the pads are stuck to the tank surface, any heat developed is dissipated into the tank. Not much left to feel on the outside.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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10-30-2019, 05:26 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Family room couch
Posts: 4,558
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Btm
My GT 5 has the OneTouch computer control touch pad for slides, pumps etc.
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Interesting. The 2019 GT5 31 series uses the Lippert computer while the 2019.5 and 2020 GT5 34H5 and 36B5 use the Precision Plex system. I wonder why they switched.
As an aside, I wrote a long post on how the Precision Plex system doesn't play well with the Progressive Dynamics Converter for the tank heaters.
The Converter we have drops the house battery voltage to 13.2 VDC after 30 hours of no draw, like when you're plugged into shore power.
But the Precision Plex system will not turn the tank heaters on unless the house batteries are at 13.3 VDC or higher.
So in cold weather I have to shut all power off for a minute to remove power from the Converter so it restarts its 30-hour clock and then I can turn the tank heaters on without seeing the warning that they will not turn on until the house battery voltage increases.. (sigh)
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...em-195905.html
Ray
__________________
2020 Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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10-30-2019, 05:40 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 11
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tank heating pads
Ben, I agree with you. It is very hard to determine if the tank heaters are working. I also have a switch for the tank heaters on the control panel with the water heater, water pump, slide, etc. When I turn the tank heater switch on, it does not light up "red" like the other switches do. I want to know if it should?
I have a 2018 Sunseeker MBS 2401R.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Kim
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10-31-2019, 01:15 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 746
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Could a little water from fresh water tank via the drain be tested to see what temp is. Worst case sone liquid from grey tank at dump valve. Caution make sure you have grey and not black using second method. If this works, please post, drained WH and low point drains, only down to 30 tonight. Will be on 20’s soon.
__________________
2020 Georgetown 31L, Safe T steering, Sumo springs, Onan Geny
2015 GMC Canyon 4X4 TOAD w/Blue Ox tow plates, InvisiBrake
Pepper 🌶 PomChi rescue 545 nights as our camping buddy
Days camped in FR 2011-12 = 77, 13-14 = 98, 15-16 = 129
17 = 81, 18 = 44, 19 = 83, 20= 45, 21 = 76, 22 = 57, 23 = 42
Retired :
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11-07-2019, 12:42 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 273
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Therma Heat and One Control panel
Learned a few things. I think my One Control panel was made for a TT. It doesn't do much for a M H. It only does
Tank monitors
Fresh water, 2 Holding and Propane
On and off for Pump,WH, and Tank heaters. On is Green/off is Grayed out
Lighting-- only awning
Awning--In and out
Slides--Bed and Main
My R V--only shows a video of how to level a TT. My levelers are at the left arm rest.
After an E-mail to FR--They called and said my M H has 3 tank heaters and one elbow heater, but did not know how to tell if they were on--suggested I call ThermaHeat. ThermaHeat said I could touch them and feel the warmth. I think the only way to tell if they are working is to use a current flow meter like Titon Mike suggested, because there is no way to feel a heater that is underneath the center of a tank. I will find out if they work this weekend because the temps will be in the 20's. Maybe I can feel if the tanks are warm.
According to E-Trailer FAQ's an ThermaHeat you don't turn on the heaters, you only supply them voltage. ( 11 to 13.5 ) Their internal thermostat will come on at 45deg. and go off at 65deg. Because they go off at 65deg. it will not harm an empty tank, but suggest to turn them off to stop cycling and shorten their life span.
Btm
__________________
Ben Moore
Temple,TX
2019 GT5 31L5F, 2014 Wrangler Unlimited
CHF rear, CHF front, Sumo springs front
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11-07-2019, 12:58 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Family room couch
Posts: 4,558
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Btm
Learned a few things. I think my One Control panel was made for a TT. It doesn't do much for a M H. It only does
Tank monitors
Fresh water, 2 Holding and Propane
On and off for Pump,WH, and Tank heaters. On is Green/off is Grayed out
Lighting-- only awning
Awning--In and out
Slides--Bed and Main
My R V--only shows a video of how to level a TT. My levelers are at the left arm rest.
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Do you have a 2019 or a 2019.5 model? The 2019.5 model uses the touchscreen and app from Precision Circuits known as "Precision Plex" (along with, I think, the 10.1" Jensen XRV10 front radio/camera model).
The reason I'm asking is that my Precision Plex screen has precisely the same functions (plus generator) you noted. It seems odd that the entire control system would be replaced with another manufacturer and retain the same very limited control set. But maybe it was easier that way for FR.
Ray
__________________
2020 Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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11-07-2019, 06:12 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 273
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NXR
Do you have a 2019 or a 2019.5 model? The 2019.5 model uses the touchscreen and app from Precision Circuits known as "Precision Plex" (along with, I think, the 10.1" Jensen XRV10 front radio/camera model).
Ray
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I would think my M H is a 2019, because I saw where the chassis was ordered 04-2018 and delivered 08-2018. The touchscreen I have is One Control from Lippert. I don't have the Jensen, only the small screen Pioneer.
Btm
__________________
Ben Moore
Temple,TX
2019 GT5 31L5F, 2014 Wrangler Unlimited
CHF rear, CHF front, Sumo springs front
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11-22-2019, 10:13 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 273
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Therma Heat answers
Here are some of the answers from Therma Heat, E-Trailer videos and my own observations.
I can feel some warmth on one of the elbow heaters. Nothing on the other one--I don't think it works.
Most of the tank heaters are 12" X 18" and under the center of the tanks. Can't feel it to see if it works.
They operate with voltage from 11.0 to 13.5.
There is no requirement to be off or on when plugging into or off of shore power or generator. Also nothing required when emptying tanks.
They Have an internal thermostat that comes on at 45deg. and turns off at 67deg.
It is RECOMMENDED to turn off the heater if empty, but no damage will occur if they are left on because they go off at 67deg. Turning them off will stop them from cycling and extend their life.
Btm
__________________
Ben Moore
Temple,TX
2019 GT5 31L5F, 2014 Wrangler Unlimited
CHF rear, CHF front, Sumo springs front
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01-24-2020, 07:15 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 9
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Tank heaters
I have a 2011 FR flagstaff and was wondering if the panel switch for the tank heaters is supposed to show a light(blue) when it is on and working.OTE=TitanMike;2212612]If they are anything like mine you will only know if a) it's cold enough for them to turn themselves on; b) you have a battery monitor that's capable of measuring current flow from the batteries. When cold (below 40 on mine) make sure converter is off, turn on heater pads at control, then record current draw shown on Battery Monitor. Turn pads off and record second current reading. The difference will be that of the current drawn by the pads.
Mine are somewhat "progressive". Around 40 degrees they draw only 2-3 amps and when it gets into the 20's they draw more like 7-8 amps.
Unfortunately they don't have a manual override switch that allows you to turn them on for testing at higher temps. One has to just rely on "faith".
As for "feeling" if they are working, they're a lot like trying to feel warmth from an outdoor Christmas light on a freezing day. They really don't put out all that much heat, just enough to keep a filled tank above 32 degrees F. Output is 3.4 BTU/Watt. Holding tank pads are ~75 watts while the "elbow pads" can run as little as 7 watts. As you see there is little heat available and as the pads are stuck to the tank surface, any heat developed is dissipated into the tank. Not much left to feel on the outside.[/QUOTE]
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01-24-2020, 07:18 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 9
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Tank heaters
I have a 2011 FR flagstaff and was wondering if the panel switch for the tank heater is supposed to have a light(blue) on when it’s on and working.
Thanks
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