heat question

jhedges · 10-17-2018, 06:18 PM

I have a 2017 Vista LX 30T and we were going camping this weekend and were making sure our heat worked. When I was going through the thermostat to turn on the heat it said Heat/Electric. So does the heat work on electric and we don't have to use propane? Because our propane was 2/3 full and we were concerned about having enough propane for heat this weekend. If it can run heat on electric that would be awesome. This is our first time camping in colder weather.

thanks,

powercat_ras · 10-17-2018, 07:01 PM

Your RV has a heat pump on the roof. When you have the thermostat set to heat it just heats with the prpane furnace. When you have the thermostat set to electric it will try to heat with the electric heat pump on the roof. Works, but you will notice some cold air coming out the ceiling vents when it first comes on there is a minute or two delay before the air coming out the vents starts being warm.

If the temp difference between the set temp and the actual temp is over 3 or 4 degrees it will also turn on the propane furnace to help reach the set temp. So if you want to save propane you need to slowly raise the set temp so that its not more than 3 or 4 degrees different that the thermo actual temp until you get your RV warmed up.

Finally, a heat pump stops working well as the outside air gets colder. Somewhere around 40 F it will have trouble putting out enough heat to keep your RV warm. You can keep trying to use it - it won't hurt it.

jhedges · 10-17-2018, 07:16 PM

Thanks for the info. since I posted the question I've been reading up on it, and from what I've read it is exactly as you have described. thanks again. We were excited at first that we could use electric to heat, but it sounds like you have to work it right for it to work as intended.

Diesel-Lover · 02-07-2019, 10:34 AM

Power Cat is right on the money as to hp and furnace, you can add another wrinkle via a heat strip to your AC, this will allow you to use the electric side of the equation a bit more, but agian the heat from the furnace is so much warmer and the noise so much lower! Enjoy

Old Crows · 02-07-2019, 02:31 PM

Assuming, of course, you are on shore power and not using the generator....

Diesel-Lover · 02-07-2019, 08:12 PM

Old Crow right you are about generator and noise. In the EU some RVs actually come with fuel cells as generators. Wish we in the US of A could count on the RV industry to be more concerned with keeping things rolling forward as to technology and quality of materials, design and workmanship eh.

Tom-NC · 02-08-2019, 07:34 AM

Hi, The heat pump setting cannot be more than 2 degrees at a time and not the 3 degrees previously stated. Also if the temp outside is lower than 39 degrees the heat pump will not find any heat and the compressor won't work. Lastly I don't know if you have one or two heat pumps on your roof because if you have 2 then zone 1 will kick over to propane heat if the heat pump can't find heat.

Enjoy your trip and stay warm.