Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Brr - we froze on our first trip (Read 3369 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Brr - we froze on our first trip

Yahoo Message Number: 98543
We recently purchased a 2004 Allure. We bought the coach in Palm Dessert, California and drove it home to Washington state. We just about froze to death with the Hydro hot heating. I miss my old propane furnace in our fifth wheel that we traded. We feel that maybe we weren't doing something right or maybe there is some kind of a problem. So, my question is:

Plugged into 30 amp what is the best way to heat the coach and the water? Do we need to have both the diesel and electric switch on or only the diesel?

Plugged into 50 amp - the same question. Do we use just the electric in this case? (Might as well use their power right?)

We had two nights of 9 degree weather.  When we put it on furnace we never did get any heat in the bedroom nor the bathroom. From what we understand the Zone 1 was suppose to heat the entire coach when we used furnace. Also, the heater would come on for about 10 minutes and then kick off. It was never warm in the coach. Even had the heat set 99 degrees!

We managed to blow the circuit in the middle of the night on the 30 amp and my husband had to go outside to reset it. Our only saving grace was that we had an electric blanket that we could huddle under. We also had a little space heater that we used.

The coach is now parked at home and we don't plan to use it until spring. We're just trying to understand our options.

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98545
We have an '04 Allure with Hydro Hot.
We turn on both switches when 50amp.
We turn on diesel only when 30 amp or no hookups.

Both zones on thermostat should be on furnace. They work independently.

Our furnace keeps our coach warm and toasty on normal setting. Sounds like you have a problem.

I would start by checking the registers to see if they are blowing warm air.

There are fans in the registers that sometimes go bad and have to be replaced.

There is a check valve at the Hydro Hot unit that sticks. You can tap it with a hammer and it will start working.  I would find a Aqua Hot mechanic and have it checked out completely.

Roger Berke is in California. He is the "guru" of Aqua Hot and Hydro Hot!!

RV Hydronic Heater Repair - Home

image

RV Hydronic Heater Repair - Home Home | Webasto Burner Exchange | Webasto Rebuild | Parts - RVHYD.com | Forum - RVHYD.com | Photos | Hydronic Heater Model Information | About Me | Contact&nbs...

View on [url=http://www.rvhydronicheate]www.rvhydronicheate...[/url]

Lonny & Diane Livingston
Tampa, FL

'04 Allure #31065

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98546
Sounds like you need to get someone familiar/qualified to check the Aqua Hot and service it if necessary. We kept warm in 14 degree weather.

You should have 3 zones for heating/cooling. Zone 1 and 3 will work the Aqua Hot if you set those zones for 'Gas.'. My display offers either 'Gas' or 'Electric' heat options. Gas means Aqua Hot.

In cold weather, the electric element is probably not going to keep the coolant warm enough so you need to also turn on the diesel burner. Also, there is a 20 amp fuse in the lower electrical panel that controls the fans in the Aqua Hot heat exchangers. Make sure that fuse if not blown. I had a blower motor seize up and blow that fuse and none of my blowers would work until I replaced that motor (it was the one under the shower stall).

Make sure you have set both zones and go outside and remove the Aqua Hot cover. Make sure both of the little pumps are running (you can see the impellers spinning thru the clear plastic cover) or you can feel them running. If the two hoses coming out of the top of the unit are not hot, tap on the brass check valves (above the pumps) and see if that gets it going.

I've had two coaches with LP furnaces. IMO, the Aqua Hot (if working properly) is much nicer... more quiet, more even heat.

Gary

07 Allure 470

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98548
My coach has gas furnaces (2) for heat and the heat pump on the front ac unit. We try to use space heater for all our heating needs.  We run 3 1500 watt heaters when needed and put another heater in the water well when temp falls below freezing. In order not to blow circuits I installed a dedicated plug for two of the heater and tapped off one of the ac breakers. Not to code but figure I won't be running the ac and heaters at the same time. The third heater we plug into any outlet. The fourth heater we plug into the outlet at the pedestals.
 Been in the low teens and as long at the wind is not too strong we have to turn the heaters down. If we want to take the chill off we run the furnaces for a few minutes.

If further info needed- contact me

Robert Huffhines

2007 Tribute 81042 pulling a jeep liberty

Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98557
Quote
We recently purchased a 2004 Allure.  We bought the coach in Palm Dessert, California and drove it home to Washington state.  We just about froze to death with the Hydro hot heating.  I miss my old propane furnace in our fifth wheel that we traded.  We feel that maybe we weren't doing something right or maybe there is some kind of a problem.  So, my question is:

Plugged into 30 amp what is the best way to heat the coach and the water?  Do we need to have both the diesel and electric switch on or only the diesel?
We also have a 2004 Allure, and although we haven't subjected it (yet) to this temperature variables you have, we have not had any problems lately.  We did have the radiant floor heating repaired, and that makes a great difference.  Perhaps your coach does not have that feature, but if it does, I urge you to get it checked out.  As to the Hydro-Hot, in serious temperature extremes we leave both the electric and diesel switches engaged.  Our experience has been that the electric can maintain a temperature, but that one needs the diesel to establish the temperature.  Our experience with 30-amp service is that we can still use one Vornado heater which we will move from front to back as necessary.

Quote
Plugged into 50 amp - the same question.  Do we use just the electric in this case?  (Might as well use their power right?)
When using electric heaters on so-called 50 amp service, two good electric heaters can be used as long as each is plugged into a separate circuit.  Trial and error will help you determine which outlets are connected to which circuit breaker.  To plug them into the same circuit will insure tripping the breaker.  I have often heard it said that, on "50-amp" service, the coach is electrically divided in half lengthwise, with the right and left sides being on separate circuits.  Don't believe that for a moment

Quote
We had two nights of 9 degree weather.    When we put it on furnace we never did get any heat in the bedroom nor the bathroom.  From what we! understand the Zone 1 was suppose to heat the entire coach when we used furnace.  Also, the heater would come on for about 10 minutes and then kick off.  It was never warm in the coach.  Even had the heat set 99 degrees!
In our Allure, zone 1 is for the front of the coach, zone 2 is for the rear (bathroom, shower, and bedroom).  Neither zone will satisfactorily heat the entire coach.  And we find that the furnace is a poor substitute for the radiant floor heat and the Vornados when we are plugged in.  I also note that there are heat elements in the air conditioners, but I have never used them.  In your situation, I would be inclined to try them if you have them (the Duo-Therm controls will indicate if they are available).

You might note that our 2004 Allure is 33'.  If you have significantly longer coach, I suspect the problems you encountered will be somewhat magnified.

Quote
We managed to blow the circuit in the middle of the night on the 30 amp and my husband had to go outside to reset it.  Our only saving grace was that we had an electric blanket that we could huddle under. We also had a little space heater that we used.
If you had to go outside to reset a tripped 30-amp circuit breaker at the pedestal, I would suspect that something is wrong in the coach itself.  In the case of an overload, why should a circuit breaker further down the line trip before the one closest to the problem?  Experts (one of which I am not) might be able to answer this question.

Ken Harrison
2004 Allure 33' "Seaside" CCI #31035

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98558
Ken,

I would get in touch with Kevin Waite here on CC Yahoo.  He knows about everything for the CC and could probably help you with the Hydro-Hot problem.

Dave
07  Country Coach Allure 430 #31495 12 Jeep GC Toad
Mountains of So Cal
Dave & Jodi
2007 CC Allure 40’ Tag #31495
2012 Jeep GC
Big Bear Lake, Ca & Henderson, Nev

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98559
For the record, I know Kevin Waite.  He has serviced our coach.  He is a marvel.  He is a superb font of available CC parts.  My responses to the heating questions were based on my experiences, and Kevin does not figure into that equation.  I was responding to the specifics of the post by the recent purchaser of the 2004 Allure.

Ken

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98572
Thanks to everyone who responded to our problem regarding the heating of the coach. We do have a service person at our local RV place who has been to training on Hydro Hot so I think that will be a big help. We will investigate a couple of things ourselves before involving the RV repair, but now we have some ideas of things to check out. We do only have the furnace option on Zone 1. Zone 2 has fan, heat pump, and cool, but no heater option. The person where we bought the RV told us that zone 1 heater should heat the whole coach. So, it sound like it could be an issue with a fan.

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98574
what is your coach number?

our '04 Allure thermostat has 2 zones and both have furnace options.
If you have a register in the bedroom you should have Hydro Hot heat in there.
Our register in the bedroom is under the dresser.

Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98576
Our coach number 31072. Does the coach number tell you something about what we have? We do have the original window sticker. There are registers under the dresser in the bedroom but no heat comes out.

This is what the sticker says about the coach: œ Remote switching for generator and hydronic heat fan in bedroom œ Diesel-fired hydronic central heating system (50,000 BTU) w/ zone control œ Two 13,500 BTU inter-ducted roof air conditioners with heat pumps œ A/C & heating system with separate dual controls for driver / passenger (45,000 BTU heating, 19,000 BTU cooling

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98579
I have to second that motion.  I'd have it checked by a competent service person.  Of course, if you are anywhere near Oregon, that is either Oregon Motor Coach or Kevin Waite.  We also had to have OMC service the Hydro-Hot and replace a plastic fitting on the bottom of the tank with a brass one, as under duress (like trying to use to many things at once) it complained bitterly and wouldn't keep up with the "program" but rather began to "spill its load."

Ken

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98580
do you hear a fan running in the bedroom register?

You can try a thermostat reset to see if it will recognize the furnace in zone 2,  if you have the 5 button thermostat:

16. SYSTEM RESET
a. Turn the ON/OFF switch to ìOFFî position.
b. Simultaneously depress and hold the MODE and ZONE  push-buttons while turning the ON/OFF switch to ìONî.
 FF should appear in the LCD display until the MODE  and ZONE push-buttons are released.
c. When a dip switch is turned on or off after initial configu
 ration, a system reset will need to be done before the Comfort Control CenterTM will recognize the updated selection.

Was a new AC installed in the rear?

Lonny & Diane Livingston
'04 Allure #31065

Re: Brr - we froze on our first trip

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 98595
Be sure to go to the link above for Roger Berke. He has suggestions for testing and repair. If you have the 450D I believe he has recommended using diesel unless you are just in moderate weather because the electric element is just to keep the water warm or very quick showers. Cold weather with demand for heat is beyond the electric elements capability. Model dependent. Go to the forum and be very specific about the model (AquaHot or Hydrohot #s) and he needs to know what the indicator lights are showing on the unit. My zone 2 is Heat Pump or Air Conditioning only. Zone 1 and 3 kick out a fair amount of heat.
John

08 Intrigue # 12235
10 Ford Escape