Yahoo Message Number: 12200 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12200)
Hi folks! New members here. Just picked up our 2003 Allure and have her home. We really love the coach! This is our first diesel so it is a learning experience. I was sent over here by "Don" who recommended that I could get lots of info here. One question I have is about the Hurricane hot water system. Can someone please tell me what the purpose is of the conventional-looking hot water switch above the door. Dealer didn't know that much about it, but said the light inside the switch is not supposed to light up. They called it a summer bypass switch. It also has two switches on the controller down by the unit itself. The top one is labled "service switch" and the bottom one has no label. The well written Hurricane Installation/maintenance/operation manual doesen't mention either of these switches. The wife took two cold showers apparently because I didn't have all the switches in the right place. Also, the pump seems to stay aon alot. Is this normal? The CC owners manual makes no mention of the Hurricane system. Thanks for any help. I'll probably be back with more questions.
Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi (pugs) 2003 Country Coach Allure, 36", DBL Slide
Yahoo Message Number: 12201 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12201)
Larry,
I have a 2002 Intrigue with a Hurricane Heater that is most likely set up similiar to yours. The two switches on the control panel next to the unit control the burner (Service switch) and Hot Water (unlabeled switch). To have continuous hot water, you must have both of these switches on. That way there is a call for hot water and the burner is providing the heat. You could turn the burner (Service) switch off and run the (2) electric elements to heat the water, but they will never provide enough heat. On my coach, the electric elements must be turned on/off at the main 120V breaker box in the bedroom. There are two breakers at 20 amps each. I only use them if I am plugged into 50 amp shore power. I also only use them as an aid for hot water/heating. For continuous hot water, the burner is the only way.
The hot water switch above the entrance door that lights up is probably wired to nothing. At least mine wasn't, even though it did light up when I turned it on. I traced the wire and found it hanging in the Hurricane control panel. I also noticed that the engine pump inside the Hurricane unit was not wired to anything. So of course now the Hot Water switch is wired to the engine pump. This provides me with the option to preheat the engine or use engine waste heat while running down the road. You may not have this option. To check, see if you have (4) green hoses going to the Hurricane. Two should be for space heating and two should be for engine heat. If so, you might trace the water heater wire and do the same.
Finally, the pump does in fact run alot and this is normal. The reason being is that there is no storage tank for the hot water. So anytime there is a call for hot water or heat, it has to cycle to provide heat since there is no reserve. But, you do have continuous hot water once the burner fires up.
All of this was very confusing to me when I purchased my coach, and my dealer really didn't understand how it worked either. The best way to get answers is call International Thermal Research (800)993- 4402 or (604)278-1272. They are the manufacturer of the Hurricane.
If you want, you can email me and I'll try and help if I can.
Rob
'02 Intrigue - #11480
Yahoo Message Number: 12203 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12203)
Larry,
welcome to the group.
On my 03 Allure, the "water heater" switch above the door must be "on" in order for you to get any hot water, and it does light up when on.
Be aware, if you travel in cold weather, that the "engine loop" works both ways, heats the engine while you are parked for the night, and the heat from the engine while driving provides heat for the Hurricane so you can turn on the inside heat zones.
BUT...you don't want the "master system" switch (located at the top left of panel over entry door)in the on position, and the inside zones in the "heat" position, unless the engine is warmed, because you don't want the Hurricane burner to fire up while driving, because you should have the fresh-air intake in the Hurricane bay "closed" while driving so you don't get road dirt in there and foul up the carb of the Hurricane.....Got all that? BUT......unless that master system switch is in the "on" position, you get no heat into your plumbing bay, because there is a solenoid that opens and causes the plumbing bay to be bypassed unless the master switch is "on".
This is all in our CC manual, if you don't have that in yours, call CC, or I will fax the pages to you if you like.
We use Radio Shack remote thermometers, and I leave one in the plumbing bay, by the water pump. I can monitor the temp down there as I scoot into and out of cold weather areas in the winter.
Bill Harris
03 Allure 1st Ave (For Sale)
Datastorm
www.usaharris.com/coach
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Yahoo Message Number: 12216 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12216)
Thanks so much for the valuable information. I am trying to understand how the fresh air intake is supposed to be closed. Is that the black plastic ~2" diameter X 1" long pipe on top of the unit? Does it close electrically or manually? Also, since the unit is in an enclosed (but vented) compartment, I'm wondering about the risk of contaminating the intake. Or maybe I don't understand where the intake is. I called CC today and they told me that there were customer complaints about the light coming on at night and disturbing the quest's sleep, so CC disconnected the light (go figure!) Anyway there was a service bulletin (or something like that) to disconnect the light. So I guess there are some out there that have the light and others that don't.
While I have your attention, have you ever serviced you unit with anti-freeze? The procedure looks a little complicated, but doable. It talks about attaching a separate self-priming pump to the expansion tank and pumping the anti-freeze into the system while at the same time bleeding out all the air. My pump is pretty loud which the Hurricane Tech told me (I called them too) this was a sign of air in the system. My plastic over-flow tank is empty which tells me I need fluid. I want to drain the whole system and start over. The book talks about using "inhibited propylene glycol" (VS regular automotive anti freeze) if there is a chance of fresh water contamination. I'm guessing that since my hot water tank is in the middle of all this, that I should not use regular automotive antifreeze
By the way, the CC tech told me that there is no information in the CC owner's manual for the Hurricane. I mentioned to him what you told me, and he said that maybe you didn't have an Allure. The book he was looking at referenced the hurricane manual. But the Hurricane manual can't know the unique configuration of each coach manufacturer, so it can't be all-inclusive (IMO). Just wondering, how many pages in your CC manual discuss how to operate the system?
I see you're selling your Allure. Are ya ready for the Magna now? Thanks for all your help.
Larry
Yahoo Message Number: 12217 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12217)
Dear Larry & Family,
Welcome to the Group!
We're sure you will enjoy the diesel immensely.
We have a 36 Allure, Triple Slide, 2002 model. We purchased it new, and it resides in Key Largo, Fl.
Enjoy!
Jeff & Lisette
36 Allure....2002...triple slide
Yahoo Message Number: 12218 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12218)
Thanks Jeff and Lisette! We live in Melbourne FL. Maybe we'll run into you some day.
Larry & Debbie Feather
Yahoo Message Number: 12219 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12219)
Great! Melbourne's not so far away, but how did you fare with the Hurricanes? I think your area was hit pretty hard; the Fl. Keys ironically were a haven for many during the storms!
Jeff & Lisette
Yahoo Message Number: 12220 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12220)
Not bad! A few shingles and half the fence.
Yahoo Message Number: 12224 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12224)
Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi (pugs)
Bill,
I just went to your site. Very impressive layout for your pictures and coach. It presents very well, leaves one with the feeling you really know your coach and have taken care of it.
Michael
Yahoo Message Number: 12225 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12225)
Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi, Welcome to the forum and to the CC family. I know you will enjoy your new coach and we hope to see you on the boards. If you ever get to California, let us know, we love to meet you. We have two Devon Rex cats and I love pugs. Good Luck,
Dale & Candace Hollick
2005 Affinity #6370 Quad Slide
See You Down the Road!
Yahoo Message Number: 12226 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12226)
Bill, I agree with everyone else....you do have a beautiful coach!! In the photos, it appears that the genset is located in a side bay rather than up front as in many coaches. Is this correct? If so I wonder why CC elected to do it this way and also what the resulting front space is then used for? Thanks,
Tom Fisher
Dallas, TX
Yahoo Message Number: 12231 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12231)
Hi Tom,
yes, the gen is located in the first bay on the left side.
They had not started putting it up front in 03.
Bill Harris
coach!!
Yahoo Message Number: 12234 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12234)
We will be inTaverniere in February. We are enjoying our C C so far.
Yahoo Message Number: 12228 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12228)
Regarding the lower "Water Heater" switch over the entry door, on our 2002 Intrigue this switch turns on the propane water heater ... completely independent of the Hurricane heater. When it is first turned on, it lights up red until the propane burner ignites (just a few seconds) and then the light goes out but the propane heater remains on. Turning off this same switch turns off the propane heater for the hot water. It's as simple as that. There is also the breaker in the rear cabinet that turns on the electric element in the water heater but that is only active if you are either plugged into shore power or have the generator running. These can both be operated at the same time but the propane heater is more effective than the electric.
The hot water is also heated when driving down the road since the coolant system flows through a jacket around the hot water heater and this is the same water that is heated by the Hurricane heater when it is on.
As pointed out by someone else on this board, to get heat out of the Hurricane heat exchangers when going down the highway without firing up the Hurricane diesel furnace, turn off the "Central Heat Control" switch over the entry door and leave ON the "Interior Heat Exchanger" switch and the rotary fan switches; and of course the thermostat has to be set to the "Furnace" position.
Hope this helps. Sounds like there are some differences in our coaches based on other answers that I have read.
Steve Bufty
Yahoo Message Number: 12232 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12232)
Thanks Steve
In response to your message QUOTE: As pointed out by someone else on this board, to get heat out of theHurricane heat exchangers when going down the highway without firing up the Hurricane diesel furnace, turn off the "Central Heat Control" switch over the entry door and leave ON the "Interior Heat Exchanger" switch and the rotary fan switches; and of course the thermostat has to be set to the "Furnace" position.
I haven't noticed where the Interior Heat Exchanger and the rotary fan switches are. Where are they on your coach? Thanks
Larry
Yahoo Message Number: 12238 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/12238)
Larry,
be careful, the 02 may have different systems than your coach, this can become confusing.
You have "instant hot water" with your hurricane, no aux propane water heater.
That's why we include coach info in our signatures.
Bill Harris
03 Allure 1st Ave 30912 (For Sale)
www.usaharris.com/coach