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Dash heat control

Yahoo Message Number: 3394
I seem to have the Hurricane working fine, now, but have developed a problem with the dash heat control. Most of the time I only get cold air, but once in awhile it gets warm. Any ideas? Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3399
Walt,

An easily checked possibility would be to check the setting on the passenger temp control. I was surprised at how much it influenced the overall dash system.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3406
Where is the passenger temp control or do you just mean the dash temp control?

On Sun, 1 Dec 2002 16:08:36 -0800 "MayMR" maymr@...> writes:

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3409
Dick, I completely forgot this coach has the dual controls. I'll take a look tomorrow. Thanks.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3411
Sorry..... I just assumed that in 2003 that CC put the passenger side controls on all coaches. It is a fan and temp control next to the door if installed.

If you don't have them here is another thing to look at. My coach had two problems with the dash system. One was that the duct work was not properly attached to the air handler under the front of the coach... underneath.
Air.... cold and hot... was blowing to the outside world. When reattached the system improved a bunch. The other problem, as related to me by CC tech at the factory, was one of the flappers that control air flow inside the same air handler was not directing air properly. Since the "fixes" I have only used heat but that works fine now.
You can verify that no air is being dumped outside by feeling around the fan box under the front of your coach. There was no way on mine to miss the air getting out.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3415
Was glad to hear your hurricane is finally working. I finally got mine to stop leaking. When I took it to Rixen's Jim replaced the CC rubber hose from the radiator cap to the overflow bottle with a clear plastic tube it worked for a day or two, then when I took it to Guaranty they tightened everything and it stopped leaking for a couple of weeks. But it started leaking over the holidays, so I went to hardware store and bought new thicker tubing, and extra hose clamps. I made the assumption that hose clamp had cut through the tubing. In fact, the tubing had cracked. I fear with the constant heating and cooling plastic tubing becomes brittle over time AND this is why CC used rubber hose, i.e. vacuum line type. Anyway it finally works, but my question to all you hurricane users is: Does your heater cycle on and off a lot? My fan goes on blows for a couple of seconds, then the burner comes on burns for about a minute, then fans blow another minute or two, then shut down, and cooling fan on Hurricane blows another minute, then whole cycle starts again. I swear it cycles about 12 times an hour! Is this normal? Camped from Tuesday to Sunday and used about 20 gallons of diesel. Is this right, too? We only heated at night because of below freezing temps, and my fear of frozen water pipes. Sure would appreciate any thoughts or ideas from you folks.
Joe and Patti Frazier
2003 Allure

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3417
Thanks Dick. Back in the dark ages (2000 Allure) CC only provided one control for anything (except the genset which does have a control switch at the genset as well as inside at the door).
My dash heat and a/c do not work well though. Were you able to fix the duct work and the flapper described below yourself? Any hints on how to accomplish this? Any pics in the manuals? Thanks.
On Sun, 1 Dec 2002 20:58:45 -0800 "MayMR" maymr@...> writes:

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3418
Both were fixed by CC at the factory. The leaking air required dropping the unit (my dealer tried once but the repair didn't hold) and I assume the flapper was internal to the unit. But to answer the question... no, I didn't even try since I had the appointment in Junction City. Sorry I don't have more info on the work that they did.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3419
From what I know.... 20 gals of fuel equates to about 60 hours of run time on the furnace unless there are some generator hours in there). The six days camping is 144 hours (give or take a few). Unless you were ice cold weather it sounds like something is not set correctly. I have seen rapid cycling on my HH but I was in VERY cold weather.... 10 at night and teens during the day. But my cycling was not that rapid. Did you look at the hour meter on the Hurricane? It would confirm the hours run.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3420
Re the frequent cycling, mine does it too. I can't help but think less fuel would be used if the cycling was less frequent. Re the fuel usage, I calculate mine at .2G per hour on the hour meter and it seems to be about right resulting in about 7.5MPG engine usage.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3421
Group;

The Hurricane cycling depends on several factors. The primary factor is the workload, i.e., how cold it is and how warm you are keeping the coach. In tests, in 40 degree F ambient temps, with the coach at 68 degrees throughout, the furnace has a 6 minute burn, 15 minute off cycle. This seems pretty consistent in most of the tests we have done. As the ambient temp drops, the cycle becomes more frequent, closer to 50%, or 5 on 5 off. The other factor, in the case of the XL, is how much hot water is being used. With a constant hot water demand, the cycle is pretty much 100% on until the demand goes away.
A possible explanation for short cycling. First, try an experiment with the thermostat settings. There is a tendency to set both the front and rear t-stat at the same temp and, depending on the layout of the coach, this can lead to an imbalance. Try setting the front t-stat at 68 degrees and the rear at 70, then see if that has any effect on the cycling- experiment a little, the interior of a coach is not like the interior of a house and t-stat placement is a "best guess" science. We run into the issue on all of our installations- boats and coaches- and a little experimentation will usually yield some good results. I would be interested in whether you have the electric elements on when the short cycling occurs.
The furnace consumes fuel at a rate of .35 GPH when it is running. Total fuel usage should reflect hours run (fuel used/hours). I would be interested in the data if you have it.

Craig G.
Rixens

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3423
Thanks, Craig, for your input. I haven't gathered any data re the cycling frequency, just seemed to be pretty often. I was dry camping last week when I noticed this situation, so did not have electric element on. I'm glad to have the .35GPH fuel usage as I have been using .2GPH in my calculations. I must be getting a little better mileage than I thought. I am using .5GPH consumption for the Onan 8.0KW generator. Maybe somebody has a better number.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3424
Quote from: "
Sorry..... I just assumed that in 2003 that CC put the passenger

side

Quote
controls on all coaches. It is a fan and temp control next to the

door if

Quote
installed.

If you don't have them here is another thing to look at. My coach

had two

Quote
problems with the dash system. One was that the duct work was not

properly

Quote
attached to the air handler under the front of the coach...

underneath.

Quote
Air.... cold and hot... was blowing to the outside world. When

reattached

Quote
the system improved a bunch. The other problem, as related to me by

CC tech

Quote
at the factory, was one of the flappers that control air flow

inside the

Quote
same air handler was not directing air properly. Since the "fixes"

I have

Quote
only used heat but that works fine now.

You can verify that no air is being dumped outside by feeling
around the fan

Quote
box under the front of your coach. There was no way on mine to miss

the air

Quote
getting out.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438

From:
To:

Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 3:07 PM > Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Dash heat control >

> Where is the passenger temp control or do you just mean the dash

temp

Quote
control?

> On Sun, 1 Dec 2002 16:08:36 -0800 "MayMR" writes: > > > Walt,
> >

> > An easily checked possibility would be to check the setting on

the

Quote
> passenger

> > temp control. I was surprised at how much it influenced the

overall

Quote
> dash
> > system.
> >

> > Dick May

> > 2002 Intrigue, #11438
> >
> >
> >

> > From: "spiker1029"
> > To:

> > Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 11:18 AM > > > Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Dash heat control > > >
> >

> > > I seem to have the Hurricane working fine, now, but have

developed

Quote
> a

> > > problem with the dash heat control. Most of the time I only

get

Quote
> cold

> > > air, but once in awhile it gets warm. Any ideas? > > > > Walt Rothermel
> > > 2003Allure30811
> > >
> > >

> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email
Well, I wish all my problems could be solved as easy as this one. I found the temp control at the passenger seat set on cold. As soon as I changed it to hot I got hot air on both sides. Thanks for all of the advice.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3427
Walt,

I have always estimated 1/2 GPH for my generator... and 1/3 for the Hurricane which I will now tweak to .35....
I've been having so much trouble with my engine temp swinging from 216 to 160 that my fuel consumption calculations yield numbers that mean absolutely nothing.... but I track it anyway.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3429
Craig, Would you please go into more detail about balancing the system. Zone 1 of course is the largest zone, should it be at a lower temp than zone 2 ( bedroom & bath) to maintain a even temp in the coach.

Gary Wallstrom
'03 Allure 30872

Re: Dash heat control

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3440
It has been my experience that each coach has different characteristics, stemming from the differences in the layouts as well as the differences in the subjective sense of enough heat. In general, the forward zone should be set lower, because of the location of the thermistor, generally near the front windscreen. Locating this thermistor there means that there will be calls for heat when the rest of the area is comfortable. It really is necessary to experiment a little to find the settings that are best for you. I would probably start by turning off the bedroom zone and getting the living room zone the way you prefer, then set the bedroom slightly lower than the LR.
Regarding the bay t-stat. The temps on the dial are approximate and it is sometimes necessary to set the unit using ice. Assuming ice is approximately 32 degrees, touch the bulb of the t-stat with a cube and turn the dial down until the furnace fires, then go one unit higher. That's your base setting. Adjust it when you are in conditions that allow it to function.

CG