Community Forums

FlyingDiver · 12-25-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firedoc

Alright, my 'block heater' switch (labeled) is on the pedestal of the bed. The switch lights when turned on. Can I assume that it turns on the block heater or could it just be energizing an outlet where the block heater is supposed to be plugged In ?

Look in the engine compartment and see if there's an outlet there with a plug in it. This thread is in the Newmar forum, and not sure how many people who are familiar with Bounders will see your question.

Gene Fortune · 12-25-2012, 12:00 PM

Morning, I have a Motor home exactly like yours, the power switch is over head on your monitor panel and reads BLOCK HEATER It Is a flat black switch and when pushed on the green lite cimes on showing it has power to it, Gene

Mrchips · 12-25-2012, 01:42 PM

Firedoc, yours is just like the Fleetwood Expedition I traded in. When yo turn your switch on, located on the bed pedestal next to the breaker panel it energizes the block heater. There is nothing to plug in. Watch your intellitec board and see how much amps that thing draws when you turn it on...lol

Gene, yes I found it. I knew it was there but thought it was tied to the hydrahot system. That is good knowing it controls that outlet, now all I have to do to use the outlet is turn the switch on.

palehorse89 · 12-27-2012, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firedoc

Alright, my 'block heater' switch (labeled) is on the pedestal of the bed. The switch lights when turned on. Can I assume that it turns on the block heater or could it just be energizing an outlet where the block heater is supposed to be plugged In ?

You will have to make sure your block heater is working or not, the light on the switch is just a indicator light for you to see and does not mean the heater is working. Turn it on for about 6 hrs. and you will be able to feel the engine and tell.

HHIDan · 12-27-2012, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

When using the Engine Preheat, it will turn on a separate pump to circulate the engine coolant through the Aqua-Hot heater tank. That will warm the engine in very cold weather to facilitate starting the engine easier.

That same switch is used while driving to heat up the Aqua-Hot coolant tank providing hot water and heat while driving on down the road.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

I don't have the separate pump for engine pre-heat, nor the switch. I might be tempted to install one.
When travelling down the road and in need of heat I turn on the Aqua Hot by turning on the 110 switch and it's the engine that circulates the hot coolant (not the pre-heat pump). And I don't run the gen so I don't have 110v so the electric element in the Aqua Hot is not heating. The light in the 110v switch comes on to indicate that all the controls are turned on on the Aqua Hot controller. (all 12 volts) Of course you still need to set the thermostat for heat.

Dr4Film · 12-28-2012, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBeauchamp

I don't have the separate pump for engine pre-heat, nor the switch. I might be tempted to install one.

I guess the Aqua-Hot either comes with one or it doesn't. Some people call it "Motoraide". I call it engine Pre-Heat.

I can also leave the Aqua-Hot heat switch to ON and the 120 VAC assist switch to on but neither will work especially the 120 VAC unless there is 120 VAC present using the generator or shore power. The Webasto burner will not come on while the diesel engine is keeping the coolant hot when driving.

My engine Pre-Heat is plumbed with the circulation pump to warm up the engine quickly. An electric Block Heater will take much longer.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

HHIDan · 12-28-2012, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

I guess the Aqua-Hot either comes with one or it doesn't. Some people call it "Motoraide". I call it engine Pre-Heat.

I can also leave the Aqua-Hot heat switch to ON and the 120 VAC assist switch to on but neither will work especially the 120 VAC unless there is 120 VAC present using the generator or shore power. The Webasto burner will not come on while the diesel engine is keeping the coolant hot when driving.

My engine Pre-Heat is plumbed with the circulation pump to warm up the engine quickly. An electric Block Heater will take much longer.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

The engine coolant hose loop between engine and Aqua Hot really serves two purposes. When the engine runs the heat is transferred from the engine thru the AquaHot to the zones in the coach (MotorAid). When the engine is not running and in very cold weather heat can be transferred from the AquaHot to the engine by running the "engine preheat" pump (if purchased as an option). (PreHeat).

In MotorAid mode the engine water pump is used to move the coolant, the preheat pump is not required.
In PreHeat mode the Aqua Hot needs to circulate the coolant which is done by that so called pre-heat pump.

On trips in cool weather, I like to turn on my AquaHot to take advantage of that "free heat" from the engine. I set my thermostat to furnace at the appropriate temp and I flip the 120v switch on the AquaHot system. That switch does two things: it turns on the AquaHot controller board (which operates on 12v dc) and it enables the 120v element built in the AquaHot. Because 120v is not present (no shore power or gen) then the 120v element is not energized and thus the heat only comes from the engine...

chuckinthebus · 01-02-2013, 09:08 PM

I use ours for the rope lights we put around the coach with a dusk to dawn short extension. works great.

Mr_D · 01-02-2013, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

I guess the Aqua-Hot either comes with one or it doesn't. Some people call it "Motoraide". I call it engine Pre-Heat.

We don't have the Aqua-Hot as Newmar refused to install it in our DSDP in 2002. We do have the water heater plumbed into the engine coolant system. They called it a motoraid too.

HHIDan · 01-03-2013, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

We don't have the Aqua-Hot as Newmar refused to install it in our DSDP in 2002. We do have the water heater plumbed into the engine coolant system. They called it a motoraid too.

And I suppose if you installed a circulation pump in that same loop you could "pre heat" the engine using your water heater and thus you would then be able to run both modes, "motoraid" and "pre-heat".
You just would have to be doing a lot of cold starts to justify the cost of the pump.