Convenience Center Temp - Report

[sreigle]

Someone posted a question wondering about convenience center temperatures.

We have two indoor/outdoor thermometers. One has a sensor under the overhang and shows us outdoor temperature. The other sensor is mounted on the wall of the convenience center, the same wall the water connections are on.

Yesterday we were gone when a cold front came through. The furnace and all indoor electric heaters were turned off. When we returned home, outside temperature was 27. Indoor temperature was 48. Convenience center temperature was 32.7. Close, but not yet freezing.

We turned on two big electric heaters in the llving room, a small heater in the bedroom and set the furnace for 65. Outside temperature continued to slowly drop. Convenience center temperature slowly rose. By bedtime it was 25 outside and 40 in the convenience center.

We turned the furnace down to 58 and went to bed. The electric heaters remained running. So it was a few hours before the furnace came on again. All night, the furnace ran just occasionally, whenever the electric heaters needed help.

At around 4 a.m. I awoke and headed downstairs to check the temperature. Inside was 58. Outside was 19. Convenience center was 37.8.

At this point I am comfortable the convenience center is not likely to freeze if the furnace runs occasionally, even when temperatures get down closer to zero. We did a December in this rig where it got to 5 below and we did not freeze. If we do a cold winter in this rig I will put the regulator in the convenience center and wrap it with insulation (ours is an adjustable. metal.) And, of course, we'll use a heat taped water hose and will tape the park's pipe/spigot.

[bob n pam]

Very interesting, Steve. We are thinking about getting a new rig and this is exactly the kind of information that goes into the hopper. Thanks!

Pam

[rames14]

Thanks for the report Steve. We have an appointment at 4:30 today to attempt to order a 2010 Big Sky 365. Just shows how many upgrades since we bought our 2005 (which we still love).

[Icehouse]

Steve, we use a water filter and in order to keep it from freezing in the convenience center, Bernie losely heat taped the base of the water filter. He also made a "pouch" out of Reflectix insulation for the water filter to sit in. It stays nice and warm no matter how cold. If you use a water filter, it will crack when it gets below freezing.

Also, on our rig, at least down to single digits, if the convenience center does freeze, we just lift the lid to the laundry chute and aim the hair dryer at the convenience center. Within 3 - 4 minutes, everything is thawed and fine.

I hope you will do winter camping in below freezing weather! It's fun!
JMHO!
Tammy

[Waynem]

Steve,
That is good information for cold areas.

Have you considered coming South and get away from it all?

Happy Trails.

[Jolu]

Good information Steve. Thanks for posting it. JB

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by bob n pam

Very interesting, Steve. We are thinking about getting a new rig and this is exactly the kind of information that goes into the hopper. Thanks!

Pam

Bob and Pam, one of the reasons we traded our 2003 for the 2007 was the better freeze protection. The newer rigs have the internal water lines in their own insulated channel between floor and subfloor. With the furnace running occasionally we've had this rig down to five below zero, Fahrenheit, with no freezing problems. We did nothing other than use a heat taped water hose but that has nothing to do with the internal lines. We did film our windows but only because I was dumb enough to not order the dual paned windows. If there's a next time there will be dual pane windows for both temperature control and noise control.

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by Icehouse

Steve, we use a water filter and in order to keep it from freezing in the convenience center, Bernie losely heat taped the base of the water filter. He also made a "pouch" out of Reflectix insulation for the water filter to sit in. It stays nice and warm no matter how cold. If you use a water filter, it will crack when it gets below freezing.

Also, on our rig, at least down to single digits, if the convenience center does freeze, we just lift the lid to the laundry chute and aim the hair dryer at the convenience center. Within 3 - 4 minutes, everything is thawed and fine.

I hope you will do winter camping in below freezing weather! It's fun!
JMHO!
Tammy

Really good tips, Tammy, thanks! We've done cold weather camping several winters, just not like you went through in Alaska! We've had two episodes to five below and a couple of times where the highs never got out of the low teens for a week or two. Plus other episodes. Only one of those winters was in this Montana. The others were in our 2003 3295RK Montana. That one had water lines laying on the frame in the belly, low point drains hanging below the belly (they were the first to freeze and would close off the water lines), etc. I don't think I want to go through a winter as long and cold as you and Bernie went through, though! However, I will steal your ideas!

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by Waynem

Steve,
That is good information for cold areas.

Have you considered coming South and get away from it all?

Happy Trails.

Dennis, we were in Texas for Dec, Jan, and Feb. We just had to be back a little early this year!