Forum Discussion

haydoracin's avatar
haydoracin
Explorer
Feb 08, 2014

Electric Fireplace - Too Cold?

Making updates to MH and I wanted to replace the old CRT TV. It was mounted in the dash and the 32" flat screen would not fit in the existing area. Looked and looked for an electric fireplace to mount where the TV was and finally found one that was the correct width and depth but too tall. Decided I could modify the cabinet so it would fit and I was successful with the modification. After the installation I was very pleased and the fireplace worked great when I took it from the warm house and installed in the MH. The next day I went to the MH and the interior temp was in the 20s. When I turned on the fireplace it started making noise and the display flickered. My question is was the temp too cold for the display function of the fireplace? Will it need to be "warmed Up' like a flat screen TV or computer before it can be turned on? This particular fireplace the display can not be turned off separate from the heat function. I plan to use it for auxiliary heat so I could run the furnace to warm things up before turning the fireplace on if necessary.

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  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Feb 09, 2014
    I guess i havent seen any of the newer electric furnace units. The ones I have seen the fire display was a rotating drum with a 100WATT 120VAc BULB in it. The rotating drum then displayed the flicker light appearance of a real fireplace behind the glass.

    I guess I am hearing now the rotating drum may have been replaced with a LED/LCD monitor idea...

    Roy ken
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Feb 09, 2014
    are you sure the display is LCD
    Plasma displays do not 'like the cold'
    just because it is small display, doe not mean LCD

    is it 'Orange' in color ?

    i remember cnc machine tools with orange plasma displays many years back, before LCD was a mass produced item
  • haydoracin's avatar
    haydoracin
    Explorer
    Feb 09, 2014
    Worked fine after installing it the day before. As cold and dry as it has been here I don't think there would be any condensation. Heater function works just not the fireplace display. Just wondering if it is too cold for the display. The display tries to start but flickers and makes noise.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Feb 09, 2014
    any chance of 'condensation' in the fireplace controls ?
    might need drying out
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Nomad
    Feb 09, 2014
    Sounds like a bad fireplace unit then... :(

    Even at -20* an electric heater should just turn on and start heating...

    Did you try it out before you installed it?

    Mitch
  • haydoracin's avatar
    haydoracin
    Explorer
    Feb 09, 2014
    Plugged into shore power. 30amp circuit. Have plugged 1500w heaters in the same circuit in the MH with no problems. Don't have an inverter.
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Nomad
    Feb 09, 2014
    If you plugged it into the same outlet as the old CRT TV, it might be tied to an inverter as was already mentioned... Try running an extension cord to a known 120v power source and see how the fireplace reacts..

    Good luck!

    Mitch
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Feb 09, 2014
    Did you have shore power
    Or did you plug the fireplace into the "entertainment outlet powered by the inverter"
    It is very likely too small an inverter for the heater, also will kill your batteries
    You need shore power or generator power for the electric fireplace heat
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Feb 09, 2014
    Are you sure it had enough power available? Are you at home plugged into a household 15 amp circuit or something similar?

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