Holding tank heaters.

[heavyodie]

I have a 2019 31ik Silverback with the InCommand system. Should I set the switch for the tank heaters to momentary or lever? Seems like a simple on off would have worked.

[Pete usn ret]

Hi, we contacted Cedar Creek, Forest River Factory last week regarding our 2019 CC Hathaway 34IK holding tank heaters due to not finding a place to turn them on/off. A 3 way call was set up with an InCommand technician and the CC customer representative.

Our InCommand touch screen had not been setup (programmed) to control the holding tank heaters. We set up the panel to ‘latch’ to keep power going to the heaters once the tank heater ‘button’ was turned on. When on the holding tank heaters (pads) will cycle on/off based on tank temperature (similar to the way a heat tape works). We leave our tank heaters OFF until outside temperature is below freezing.

Hope this answered your question.

[heavyodie]

Originally Posted by Pete usn ret

Hi, we contacted Cedar Creek, Forest River Factory last week regarding our 2019 CC Hathaway 34IK holding tank heaters due to not finding a place to turn them on/off. A 3 way call was set up with an InCommand technician and the CC customer representative.

Our InCommand touch screen had not been setup (programmed) to control the holding tank heaters. We set up the panel to ‘latch’ to keep power going to the heaters once the tank heater ‘button’ was turned on. When on the holding tank heaters (pads) will cycle on/off based on tank temperature (similar to the way a heat tape works). We leave our tank heaters OFF until outside temperature is below freezing.

Hope this answered your question.

Thanks. I have a button to turn them off and on but then it had the two options of momentary and latch not lever as I put in my original post. How are you supposed to know if they are even working I wonder? It seems to me like they should be on separate Switches anyway as you're not supposed to have them on if there isn't anything in the tank. We are getting ready to use the trailer so I filled the fresh water tank but there isn't anything in the holding tanks.

[Pete usn ret]

Before we edited the button name for the tank heater, it was Aux trigger #1, which controls 12VDC power to terminal #31 on the circuit board in the basement storage area, which is (in our case) where the factory connected the heaters. It can be selected to either momentary or latch. When latch is selected it provides continuous 12V power to whatever it is connected to. Since the heaters are not accessible there is no way to actually verify power at the tank heater pad. As with all campers we have owned the tank heaters are all connected together (saves cost). Agree it would be better design to have individual switches. I was able to verify voltage (on-off) at terminal #31 with a multimeter when the button for the heaters was turned on and off. When momentary is selected instead of latch voltage is only available when button is pressed..... similar to the way your awning operates, if you lift your finger from the button motion stops.

[heavyodie]

Originally Posted by Pete usn ret

Before we edited the button name for the tank heater, it was Aux trigger #1, which controls 12VDC power to terminal #31 on the circuit board in the basement storage area, which is (in our case) where the factory connected the heaters. It can be selected to either momentary or latch. When latch is selected it provides continuous 12V power to whatever it is connected to. Since the heaters are not accessible there is no way to actually verify power at the tank heater pad. As with all campers we have owned the tank heaters are all connected together (saves cost). Agree it would be better design to have individual switches. I was able to verify voltage (on-off) at terminal #31 with a multimeter when the button for the heaters was turned on and off. When momentary is selected instead of latch voltage is only available when button is pressed..... similar to the way your awning operates, if you lift your finger from the button motion stops.

Thank you very much for the explanation. I now understand how they work and the nomenclature.