Furnace with battery power

[SC0872]

Tried testing furnace as we bought our 375FL High Country last summer so we never needed the furnace. Tried testing this evening as we are going camping this weekend. Had tanks on and turn thermostat on but only running on battery power. Nothing would run. Lights work fridge came on etc... but no furnace and fan wouldn’t run either. Wasn’t sure either if the battery disconnect should be on or off. Also the way this switch on the propane line. [ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[jimcol]

If the lights and fridge are working on battery only the battery disconnect switch is in the correct position. Furnace should run on just battery. Since nothing is happening I would make sure the thermostat is in "Heat" or "Furnace" mode. Beyond that you might check your 12v fuse. Hopefully it is labeled. Thinking as I type I seem to remember there is an on/off switch on top of the furnace, kind of acts as a service switch. Perhaps someone can confirm as I'm going from memory several years old. Past that you will have to begin some DC trouble shooting. Hope this helps.

[SC0872]

I did only try the thermostat in the kitchen area not in the bedroom in the rear of the trailer.

[coachgrowl]

Fan needs 110 to run

[Mr Pachu]

Originally Posted by SC0872

Tried testing furnace as we bought our 375FL High Country last summer so we never needed the furnace. Tried testing this evening as we are going camping this weekend. Had tanks on and turn thermostat on but only running on battery power. Nothing would run. Lights work fridge came on etc... but no furnace and fan wouldn’t run either. Wasn’t sure either if the battery disconnect should be on or off. Also the way this switch on the propane line. [ATTACH]Attachment 1506[/ATTACH]

It appears to me that the red key for the battery disconnect is out, so that means the battery is disconnected. Put the key in and turn it so that you can't pull it out.

[SC0872]

It was in and turned when I was trying to get the furnace running. Lights only worked when it was in and turned also.

[BuilderBob]

Is your battery fully charged? witch heater control is the main for your furnace? the switch points to witch tank you are on when you hooked up your propane tanks did you open the valves slow? does the stove light? if you are talking about the ceiling fan it is 110v.

Bob & Carol
Washington St
2017 352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW CC LB 4x4

Happy Trails

[SC0872]

Battery shows good charge. Didn’t try to light stove but I will tomorrow. Don’t know which thermostat is main. I didn’t try the one in rear bedroom.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by SC0872

Battery shows good charge. Didn’t try to light stove but I will tomorrow. Don’t know which thermostat is main. I didn’t try the one in rear bedroom.

The main will be the one in the living area, NOT bedroom. Generally, the bedroom operates the AC unit in that room and nothing else. As mentioned, light the stove top burners for a minute. Run the switch to fan and put on auto, then down to furnace and set the temp much higher than inside temp. If no gas is coming from full tanks, shut them both off for a couple minutes then open very S-L-O-W-L-Y.

[rohrmann]

Originally Posted by coachgrowl

Fan needs 110 to run

The furnace is strictly 12 volts DC, and does not need 120 volts AC. The battery disconnect switch must be in the position where the key does not come out, which has power to the inside electric panel.

[WaltBennett]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

The furnace is strictly 12 volts DC, and does not need 120 volts AC. The battery disconnect switch must be in the position where the key does not come out, which has power to the inside electric panel.

This is true, but it's also an electric motor and will suck a single (or even two of them) battery dry quickly unless you're hooked to shore power.

[SC0872]

Went back this morning and turned everything back on opened slides and lit the stove. Then I turned the thermostat in the kitchen area to fan auto and heat on and nothing. So I checked fuses everything good. So I went into the bedroom and turned that thermostat to heat and bang everything worked. It also has heat strip on it. What is that for?

[DQDick]

A heat strip is the old way a AC unit could produce heat. It has a heating element in it and uses the fan to blow the heat into the rooms. Some of the newer rigs have a heat pump, but the idea is the same.

[scattershot]

Originally Posted by coachgrowl

Fan needs 110 to run

Maybe they have changed, but I’ve never seen one that wouldn’t run on 12v.

[CaptnJohn]

OP has the 1st I've seen with the main thermostat in the bedroom. Even more surprised it has a heat strip instead of the heat pump. The thermostat with the most functions will be the main.

[jcurtis934]

That is also one funky thermostat. Rear bedroom units usually very different for thermostat than rear living. Also with two thermostats, it is 50/50 as to which controls furnace.