Heated tanks not working?

[Timmy007]

I recently purchased a 2019 outdoors RV model 20 SK. I upgraded the batteries to a smart lithium iron phosphate battery which allows me to monitor the charge and discharge rate of the battery. When I turn on the tank heater, I do not see any amp draw from the battery. I’m wondering if there’s a thermostat built into the heating pad so that it doesn’t turn on if the temperature is above a certain level. Or is my tank heater not working?

[Timmy007]

By the way, I’m referring to the holding tank heater. Not the hot water tank heater.

[Timmy007]

Per the OD RV manual, the heating pad runs on 12V.

[Old-Biscuit]

Tank heater pads have a built in thermostat on pad that monitors tank temp
With the DC ON, thermostat closes when tank temp drops to 40*F and opens at 65*F

*You can test by holding ice cubes against bulge on tank pad

[Dave Pelletier]

OB has you covered. As a clarification, I believe only the FW tank has the heated pad on ORV's so equipped, not the waste tanks.

Personally, I think they are fairly useless as they can only be run when you're plugged in or driving and since it only heats the FW tank, you still need to run the furnace to heat the basement in sub-zero temps to avoid freezing the plumbing lines (which will freeze long before the FW tank will). I have the heating pad on mine but have never turned it on.

2 cents,
Dave

[Mordecai]

I read a few years back that the FW tank heater is meant to be used when traveling in below freezing temps and the furnace used while parked to keep the tanks warm. I guess they figure that if your rolling down the road for an extended period of time you'll have emptied your black and gray but will want your FW ice free when you get to your destination. If that's not the case, you can glug glug some anti-freeze into your black and gray to keep them from freezing solid, at least.

FWIW, I have the same brand heating pad wrapped around my tongue mounted lithium battery and it activates at 36F and shuts off at 48F or so. I have the battery wrapped pretty well, so there have been nights in the 20s where the pad never activates because the thermostat never senses cold enough temps. I wish it activated at a higher temp because I don't like to hit the battery with a high amp charge if the cell temps aren't at least in the 50s.

[BoomtownDave]

Personally, I think they are fairly useless as they can only be run when you're plugged in or driving and since it only heats the FW tank, you still need to run the furnace to heat the basement in sub-zero temps to avoid freezing the plumbing lines (which will freeze long before the FW tank will). I have the heating pad on mine but have never turned it on.

2 cents,
Dave[/QUOTE]

I tend to agree. I think it is gimmicky and useless. I camp a lot in the winter, but I would not be driving around with a tank full of water as there are no guarantee I can be plugged in to charge batteries when i get where I'm going.