Aqua Hot and Furnace!

[KCIDoner]

Hi all,

I have a 2003 Dynasty Dutchess with the Aqua Hot Option. We've owned for about a year but have only got to use it so far for about 8 weeks.

Last night was the first time we really needed the heater, and MAN did it get cold in here.

After fiddling around with it for a few minutes (Hours?!?) I have a few questions:

1. Since we have the Aqua Hot Option, does that mean we no longer have the Propane Furnace?

2. Do we need to run the Aqua Hot in order for the Furnace to work?

Thanks,

Al

[KCIDoner]

Hi all,

I have a 2003 Dynasty Dutchess with the Aqua Hot Option. We've owned for about a year but have only got to use it so far for about 8 weeks.

Last night was the first time we really needed the heater, and MAN did it get cold in here.

After fiddling around with it for a few minutes (Hours?!?) I have a few questions:

1. Since we have the Aqua Hot Option, does that mean we no longer have the Propane Furnace?

2. Do we need to run the Aqua Hot in order for the Furnace to work?

Thanks,

Al

[Kyp J]

Since my Beaver has the "Hurricane" version of "hydronic" heat I will tell you about mine since I have been having a similar problem. I never actually needed it but found it didn't get hot when I finally tried it out.

Complicating the issue was bad information in both the manuals and information from Monaco customer service techs as posted in another thread about other "answers" from them.

The only heat (built in) for mine is the hydronic heat. It has a summer/winter valve, well hidden and kept secret (in that the manual says it or they, are located by the heating unit) The techs told my if the valve isn't there, they quit putting them in to prevent owners from calling in whining about no heat.

The valve (only one instead of the 2 described in the manual) was located under the engine cover under the bed. It was impossible to see from the engine access at the back or looking up from under the engine. I only found it by questioning other Beaver owners until I found one that had similar heat. (I was going to look there eventually however and would have found it.)

To prevent heating the coach driving down the road in the summer, it needs to be diverted so only the hot water system is active. I assume all hydronic heat systems would be similar.

[SacsTC]

KCIDoner,
Welcome to IRV2 and especially the Monaco Forum!!
I must answer that while we do not have an Aqua-Hot system, your question made me curious. After looking at AquaHot web site in search of answers, I finally went to MCC archives for your coach and found the following concerning your floorplan.:::

OPTIONS
Aqua-Hot® Heating System
(ILO Furnace and Water Heater) ILO = In Lieu Of
This says that Aqua-Hot takes the place of the Furnace and the Water heater..

[KCIDoner]

Thanks, that answers a few problems I was having in understanding this complicated MH.

[glennb100]

I have a 2006 Camelot with Aqua Hot.

The way this system operates is, when the room thermostat(s) call for heat, the appropriate blowers behind the heat exchangers come on and the pump(s) that circulate the water to the heat exchangers come on. If the fluid in the Aqua Hot system is cooler than the boiler low set point, the burner comes on IF the burner switch for the Aqua Hot is turned on. This switch is not activated by the room thermostat and MUST be turned on manually(our coach has a panel with three rocker switches to control the Aqua Hot). If the burner switch is not turned on, the blowers blow cold air - a generally unpleasent situation!

[MonacoMama]

glennb100...
Welcome to the Monaco forum and to iRV2!
your first post is exactly what I feel this forum brings to it's members...people helping others... Great information for the OP.

I would like to add some Monaco Karma to your name on the left...but only if you say it is okay! (Besides...it is free! )

Again... welcome to iRV2 and to hopefully to the Monaco Forum!


MM

[MonacoMama]

KCIDoner...
Welcome to iRV2 and hoipefully the Monaco Owners Forum!
You also are eligble to join this great group of Monaco RV owners.
The folks here will always try to help however they can...I am sure you will have other questions pop up..and now you know you can come here for help!
I hope you will also say... karma please...and let me sprinkle some of that magic "Pixie Dust" over your name!

Again..welcome to iRV2 and maybe the Monaco Forum!!

MM

[glennb100]

Moma,

Karma me!

[MonacoMama]

That crazy Karma dance that spreads the "Pixie Dust" has been done and now look at you!! (Of course the folks driving by and seeing that crazy woman through the front windshield are wondering what is wrong with me!)
Welcome aboard!!

MM

[Pusherpilot]

We have Aqua-Hot in our 04 Imperial (Holiday Rambler) The system is easy once you get used to it.
The system control unit (thermostat) must have all zones set to to Cooling (a/c) for the a/c (roof units) to work. The furnace function (mode) will come on even if the AquaHot isn't up to temp. I leave ours on electric which keeps the tank hot while just setting or showers or cloths washing etc. When the temp goes down at nite the heat comes on (depending on the thermostat setting for each zone). The electric can't keep up with the temp drop in the tank so by morning it will usually be blowing cold or just warm. At that point I turn on the diesel burner and warm up the place! Works well, her wifelyness has hot water (unlimited) for her shower and the coach is toasty inside! No, there is no propane furnace. Once you get the hang of managing the AquaHot you will never want to go back to propane. Another nifty function of the system is it will preheat the engine to about 120 degrees prior to starting in about 30 min all while heating the coach and providing hot water for the shower. As you travel down the road you should turn off the burners as the engine heat will keep the AquaHot tank hot.
If you havn't had the coach long ask whoever you bought it from when the last time the AquaHot was serviced. It should be serviced about once a year if you're using it regularly. Don't let a tech who is not factory trained touch the thing!
If your coach is like mine the only thing you use propane for is the refer when not plugged in and the stove top burners. I wen 3 yrs before I had to fill the propane tank, pure bliss!
Try here if you need more help.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/HydronicRVHeating/

Ron

[glennb100]

One more Aqua Hot comment

There is a mixing valve (ours is on the drivers side of the unit, almost at the bottom) that is supposed to temper the hot water coming from the unit to the domestic hot water. It's there because the Aqua Hot is capable of heating the domestic hot water to dangerous temperatures. Ours recently failed. The symptom was a nice comfortable shower suddenly becoming cold and then warming up again (the diesel burner was on). A call to Monaco tech support suggested the valve and sent a replacement via overnight shipping. It took me about one hour to replace the old valve. After it was replaced we were back to nice comfortable showers

[chuck4788]

I also have an AH system and can add some more info than the previous posts.

As explained in the prvious post the AH system is several systems in one and replaces a propane furnace and hot water heater.

The system has a diesel fired boiler to heat glycol (water & antifreeze) to about 180F, the boiler is controled by a switch inside the MH. The glycol can also be heated by one or two electric heating elements controlled by breaker(s) in the 120VAC panel. And lastly the glycol can be heated by the engine coolant via a heat exchanger when driving.

Built into the system is a water tank to heat domestic water and a tempering valve to protect users from scalding water. I had to turn the temp down on my tempering valve to make showering less exciting when the toilet was flushed.

Heat for the interior and storage bay is provided by circulating glycol to "heater cores" with 12volt fans, the circulation pump and fans for each zone are controlled by wall stats. Each fan also has a high/off/low switch. My MH has three units in the front zone and one unit for the bath, BR, and storage bay.

So as previous posters said if the glycol ain't hot you have no heat or domestic hot water, and the fans just blow cold air. My system has only one electric heating element and it will not keep the coach warm below 50F, for colder temps (down to 40F) I use a plug in electric heater. When running on diesel the AH can kept our coach comfortable down to the low teens and provide unlimited hot water, others have reported comfort down to -10F.

So if it is going to be cold outside I turn on the boiler (with the AH control panel, and set each stat to furnace mode and set the temp. Works great. When traveling engine coolant will help keep the glycol hot for coach heating but in freezing temperatures more heat is needed and I turn on the boiler.

I doubt if I would have another MH without AH.

[MonacoMama]

This is some great information on the Aqua Hot system. I have learned so much more than I thought I could from this thread when it started. Thanks for sharing!

MM