Anyone using a digital thermostat?

[David and Nancy]

I am interested in replacing the clunky thermostat on the propane furnace with something digital. There are a couple of threads on other forums about this, but the info is a little unclear. I understand the household thermostats that will work on an RV furnace must be battery powered. I would want one that is for heat only since my AC is on its own. Anybody do this mod and can recommend a product and installation advice?

[Perry J]

I hate to wake up in a cold camper.
The first one I used was in my pop up slide in camper.
It came on at 6;30AM and I woke up to a warm camper.
I had one in the 13" Scamp I just sold.
I think all Digital Thermostats are dual purpose for heat and cold.
You just use the heat setting.
The battery is necessary to power the digital portion of the thermostat.
I use the Honeywell Model #RTH2410B.
I bought mine at our local Ace hardware for about $30.00.
It's very easy to program.
Hook your wires to the W and R lugs on the thermostat base and your ready to go.
I have this one on the pellet stove in my home.


John

[padlin00]

About the same as John, a cheap $20 Honeywell from Home Depot. Even I could do it, it's only 2 wires.

[Darrin S]

Do it, you will love it.

[David and Nancy]

Thank you for the advice and encouragement. My initial thought was just getting a digital display that is more visible and easier to accurately set. But getting one that is also programmable makes a lot of sense for those icy mornings. I'll be heading to the hardware stores.

[CAMPER DOUG]

I have a propane thermostat heater with ducted heat. When I am on the grid with separate 120v electric heaters and charging the house batteries it would be great if I could have the option to run the propane 12v fan without the propane heat running. This would keep the holding tanks and plumbing from freezing via the ducts.

[rick in arvada]

David,
Several years ago I installed a LuxPro model PSD010Bc in place of the analog thermostat that had self destructed in my Scamp16. Check it out on line [not available in stores, at least here in the west]; you'll like the price! Moreover it is very simple to install and easily fits in the space left by the analog thing. This model is specifically designed to work with the two-wire configuration that we have in our trailers. Several of my friends with stick built RV's have also installed it and have been happy with its performance. The accuracy is amazing compared to the analog thermostat.
Rick in Arvada, CO

[frankcfx]

You might look at a house thermostat and use the "fan only setting.
Incidentally most RV thermostats have an off switch to disable the temp control, this prevents triggering by vibration of the bi-metal coil.

[stevebaz]

Here is what I used on my Attwood furnace.
White Rodgers Digital Thermostat Model 1E78-144
This is a very simple digital thermostat. I used VHB tape to mount it so I didn't need to drill more holes.. You can set it so the light comes on when you adjust the settings so you can see it at night. I bought mine on Ebay. its tall and narrow instead of short and wide. It fit nicely between the metal support rods on the side of my sink cabinet.
Your heater will run more often but with a shorter on time. The temperature swing in the trailer is so much better. It now about 3 degrees instead of almost 10 degrees with the magnetic bimetallic mechanical switch that Attwood uses.

[Jim Bennett]

I put a digital thermostat in about two years ago, and for the life of me, don't know why I didn't do it sooner. Not only is it easier to read the set and air temperatures, it is easier to adjust accurately too.

I used the non-programmable heat only thermostat, as I don't have A/C.

Click photo for link

[David and Nancy]

Great ideas, everybody. Gotta wonder why RV furnace manufacturers can't supply a digital thermostat for their products as an upgrade option. Something that would operate on a 12V RV power system without the need for AA batteries. But maybe it would be too much draw in boondocking situations. Anyway, I will be looking in Lowe's, Ace and such places to see what is on hand that will work for me. If I have to order something, that Luxpro looks like a great way to go. I like that it is heat only with 2 wires. I appreciate simplicity and don't care much about programmable capability.

[Jon Vermilye]

I replaced the heat only mechanical thermostat in my Escape 17B with a Honeywell RTH111 Digital Thermostat. While not programable, it does what I wanted -shows the temperature. Uses an internal battery for the electronics, so it doesn't draw anything from your trailer battery.

[Aids10]

Howdy Stranger!

I used a Honeywell TH1100D1001 for Propane Heating; direct swap (easy).

& a Honeywell TH1110D1000 for Rooftop AC/Electric Heat; this Mod requires installing a relay, et cetera.

Photos Installed-

[David and Nancy]

Hey Aidan
That trailer looks familiar! Now I have finally found out you made it back to Texas pulling a Bigfoot 21 with a Land Cruiser.


Thanks for the good info on the thermostats. Putting one on the AC would really be a great upgrade. I have to look into that.


Dave

[Aids10]

I'll need to call ya to tell all!

It's the same as doing it on a Casita but slightly easier as the AC j-box is exposed in the Bigfoot.

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...mod-24914.html

Gone Bush Expeditions: Eggspedition- Electrical Mods

Here's a quick pic installed and our last outing-

[David and Nancy]

Sure looks less complicated to run wire using separate thermostats for heat and AC in a Bigfoot, like you did it.


And let me know sometime how that trailer is working out for you. We sure love our 25.


Dave

[Jay Moeller]

Are these thermostats compatible with the Atwood Furnace in my 2005 Bigfoot 17?

Which would you chose?
http://www.luxproproducts.com/pdfs/s...ENG_Manual.pdf or http://www.braeburnonline.com/sites/...20Manual_0.pdf