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Old 11-29-2015, 12:14 AM   #1
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Counter-intuitive improved heater performance

About an hour and a half into our first long winter RV trip, I was thinking about the poor dash heat situation. It suddenly hit me that "Max A/C" would recirculate air through the system instead of bringing in frigid outside air, and that the heater might perform quite a lot better trying to heat 60f air instead of 20f.

Bingo! We now have excellent heater performance, and it still is governed by the temp control. I don't know if the a/c compressor automatically runs or if the compressor clutch is switched on and off by the temp control, but to be honest, I'm so happy about having warm feet that I don't care!

We will be in reliably warm weather soon and away from my workshop for quite awhile, but I'm thinking about what it would take to add a recirculate control. IIRC, the air control shutters are air powered (vacuum?). It should be possible to control recirc with a solenoid valve similar to the half-dozen under the hood of our cars. That would allow all of the vent positions, including defrost, to actually deliver reasonably hot air.
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Old 11-29-2015, 01:07 AM   #2
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I run on "Max A/C" with the temperature set to high in the winter because it does turn on the air conditioning which removes the moisture from the air inside the coach and keeps my windshield from fogging up.
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Old 11-29-2015, 10:41 AM   #3
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I have a recirculate button on my controls and it works great when you need more heat or AC.
Bill
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Old 11-29-2015, 03:19 PM   #4
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We use a clear plastic shower curtain my DW got at bed bath and beyond. I strung a strong wire near the ceiling and then screwed a small clip on the wire in the middle to the ceiling to minimize the gap. We Then used paper clips as hangers on the curtain to slide on the wire. One end is also secured to the side wall permanently. when pulled away from the wall the two sides stay together in the middle with magnetic strips.

we stow the curtain next to the wall behind the forward seats when not used. I made some custom holders to keep the curtain contained next to the walls when not use. Use some heavy gauge aluminum wire as clips. When we do use them is for cold or hot conditions when we really want comfort in the cockpit.

Also use them at night when it is really cold out to minimize the loss of the furnace air against all the front window glass. These curtain are available in various length and we use two of them to cover the front cockpit area.
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Old 12-01-2015, 06:47 AM   #5
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I just turn the furnance on set to 60 deg and the dashboard heater works fine.
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Old 12-01-2015, 08:23 AM   #6
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The heat/AC controls in my coach are right out of the 60s, twist knobs and all. So I have to think about my old Malibu when operating them.
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Old 01-09-2016, 08:30 AM   #7
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Thanks for this tip. Recently helped when out in the southwest where it's suppose to be warm but below freezing much.
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Old 01-09-2016, 08:49 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat320 View Post
The heat/AC controls in my coach are right out of the 60s, twist knobs and all. So I have to think about my old Malibu when operating them.
Same here. Two buttons ( A/C & Recirculate).
I always recirculate when heating, but still not enough heat.
Engine runs around 190 on the flat, but I think the 40ft hose run gives it time to cool down
before getying into the heater core.

AND I AM IN SO. CALIF

Dan
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