Gotta dumb furnace question...

[JVJ]

Looking at taking off again next week for a little trip. Destination, cooler climate. Have been checking 10 day weather forecast on different points to visit, some of which are showing highs in the 70 to 80s with lows in the mid to lower 40s. So I began to think furnace operations and staying warm if needed. I know there is a furnace thermostat in the bedroom mounted on the wall. I know it works because we used it on our trip home from PA in Dec when we purchased the Pacifica and drove it home.
So I started to wonder if the Coleman basement A/C unit was equipped with heat strips for electrical heating to offer heat assistance in cooler, but not cold weather.
I went out to take a look at the thermostat and noticed that it offers different settings..Cool (A/C)...Off....Electric Heat (assume to brush off a chill)....and Gas Heat. So here is my question, I looked up the Spec sheet on the Pacifica, it does say that it has two 2 (2) 20,000 BTU furnaces. As I said earlier, I used the thermostat in the bedroom on the way home (didn't know there were two furnaces). The thermostat in the bedroom does blow warm air through out the coach via the lower mounted air vents. If I use the Gas or Electric heat via the Coleman A/C theermostat, does it deliver heat through the same lower vents or does it deliver its heat through the ceiling vents that the a/c uses.
This is on a 2008 Pacifica 40B, built on a 2007 Freightliner chassis, powered by a 2006 non-emissioned CAT 350Hp
Kind of reminds me of the old Johnny Cash song "I built her one piece at a time"... Somewhat a long the line of a Heinz 57 dog, except is is a CAT!!

[buck62]

On my RV I have heat pump A/C and the warm air comes through the A/C ducts when the heat pump is running. If I turn on the furnace the warm air comes through the lower registers.

[Fred and Bonnie]

Basement A/C units also have a heat pump. The unit is controlled by the “RV Comfort.PHP” unit that controls the A/C. The “Thermostat” portion of the unit has positions for Cool, Off, Gas Heat, and Elec. Heat. When “Elec Heat” is selected the heat pump will kick on, if the desired temp is within 4 degrees of the actual room temperature. If the range exceeds the 4 degree range the gas furnace will kick in.

You mentioned a thermostat in the bedroom, I believe you unit has two gas furnaces? The “RV Comfort.PHP” unit will control the front furnace, with the bedroom thermostat controlling the rear furnace.


We have operated our heat pump when the outside temps are in the low 40's however most of time we use the gas units to bring the room temp up to around 70 degrees first.

While this link only has basic of instructions, it’s possibly more info than you have.
http://www.rvcomfort.com/rvp/tech_info/operation.php


Fred

[JVJ]

Thanks all, I do appreciate the help and the link. Looks like staying warm will not be a problem.

[Good man]

JVJ,
No such thing as a dumb question when your safety is at issue...

You will probably get a good bit of feedback from persons who have your same setup, but IF you do not get firm resolution to your question before time to leave...

Given the moderately cool temperatures you anticipate, you could simply use a ceramic electric heater (assuming you are going to be at a campground with electric service). This would very quickly remove the chill, especially when combined with making breakfast and coffee in the AM. As always, the placement of the heater must be well thought out to avoid a fire hazard.

You will certainly need to determine how the "big guns" work so that you will be comfortable when the temperatures are colder, but the ceramic heater will do nicely at anything above freezing in a well insulated coach in the meantime.

I would hesitate to use a gas system until it has been inspected and I have been thoroughly educated on its operation and safety features.

Please ensure that smoke alarms, Carbon Monoxide and Propane leak monitors are working properly.
Travel safely,
Jim