Looking for sensitive thermostat

You could try putting the heat on 30+ minutes before arrival.

Olfrt wrote:
Something to remember, if your heating the camper up from say 40 degrees the air temperature rises quickly but the wall mass that the thermostat is mounted takes longer to heat up and the thermostat responds to that cold. Once the wall warms, which can take some time, the problem goes away. Try insulating the thermostat from the wall with cork. Also when warming up the camper select a lower set point at first the move it up later to prevent overheating.
Comes from too many years solving HVAC problems.

This is great advice. If my furnace is off and the camper is real cold, the temperature will overshoot like the OP describes. However, once the temperature has stabilized in the camper, it works very well. I have learned to use a lower setting for the first 30 minutes and then put it to normal and all is well.

pezvela wrote:
... What is the Wave3? I guess I cold Google it but I'd rather hear it from an avid user.

I do not want to hijack this thread. You can also search RV.NET.

http://www.campingworld.com/search/index.cfm?Ntt=Wave+3+heater&N=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=primary&Nty=1&Ntpc=1

Reddog1 wrote:
Well, I guess you could just cook dinner later, then using the burner would be OK. Maybe cook a roast and get oven heat. :B

There was a time I used the burner and/or oven for heat, but I now use the Wave3. I will run my Wave3 all night if needed. The programmable thermostat allows me to set the temps differently at different times. If I have the Wave3 too low, the thermostat will fire off the furnace. I think I have only had the furnace come on a couple of times.

Wayne

We vacation out West, exclusively. We almost never cook inside. I carry a complete outdoor kitchen with me (shade structure, netting, Lifetime table, propane 2 burner stove, even Rubbermaid wash basins).

Use of the actual INSIDE of a TC is only a last resort for us. But it sure is nice to have when conditions warrant.

What is the Wave3? I guess I cold Google it but I'd rather hear it from an avid user.

Reddog1 wrote:
Well, I guess you could just cook dinner later, then using the burner would be OK. Maybe cook a roast and get oven heat. :B

There was a time I used the burner and/or oven for heat, but I now use the Wave3. I will run my Wave3 all night if needed. The programmable thermostat allows me to set the temps differently at different times. If I have the Wave3 too low, the thermostat will fire off the furnace. I think I have only had the furnace come on a couple of times.

Wayne

We vacation out West, exclusively. We almost never cook inside. I carry a complete outdoor kitchen with me (shade structure, netting, Lifetime table, propane 2 burner stove, even Rubbermaid wash basins).

Use of the actual INSIDE of a TC is only a last resort for us. But it sure is nice to have when conditions warrant.

What is the Wave3? I guess I cold Google it but I'd rather hear it from an avid user.

Still no answer. A 30° hysteresis? I don't think so..unless I misunderstood.

Dick_B wrote:
wouldn't a more sensitive T/S cause the furnace to cycle on and off more frequently thereby contributing to more wear and tear?

My comfort is more important than the furnace's.

Count me one of the ones with a misconception, I guess.

Are you saying that it is more efficient for the propane heater to come on, say five times in 30 minutes when temps drop a degree below the settings than it is for a thermostat to wait for a five degree drop and then run the heater to make up for that five degree drop in one fell swoop?

Lots of misinformation here. A stat that's energy Star rated will keep the temp within 1 degree or less. It's a misconception by many that this limited "swing" (known as hysteresis) means it uses more battery and/or gas. Thousands of hours of testing by a multitude of engineering firms have proved that there is less energy usage and this is where the Energy Star rating comes into play.

pezvela wrote:
... I'll say it and be chastised......but we DO use a single burner on the stovetop to heat the rig just before bed and just after we get up. Maybe 10 minutes, max. Just so efficient and quiet. We just pile on the blankets and can generally stay warm down to about 25 degrees F, w/o running the fan-forced heater.

Oh no, not the burner heat. :E Well, I guess you could just cook dinner later, then using the burner would be OK. Maybe cook a roast and get oven heat. :B

There was a time I used the burner and/or oven for heat, but I now use the Wave3. I will run my Wave3 all night if needed. The programmable thermostat allows me to set the temps differently at different times. If I have the Wave3 too low, the thermostat will fire off the furnace. I think I have only had the furnace come on a couple of times.

Wayne

Olfrt wrote:
Something to remember, if your heating the camper up from say 40 degrees the air temperature rises quickly but the wall mass that the thermostat is mounted takes longer to heat up and the thermostat responds to that cold. Once the wall warms, which can take some time, the problem goes away. Try insulating the thermostat from the wall with cork. Also when warming up the camper select a lower set point at first the move it up later to prevent overheating.
Comes from too many years solving HVAC problems.

Unless your thermostat is not adjusted properly, or it is defective, I think this post above has more to do with the issue than your thermostat.

I have placed thermometers in different places in my TC, and it is not unusual to have a constant 5 degrees difference in temps between two thermometers. Some locations move air more quickly than others, which in turn increases the response time of the thermometers.

My thermostat is not in the best location for air flow. I have learned to just deal with it, rather than relocate the thermostat. I think my thermostat is the digital "RiteTemp" I bought at Home Depot for about $30 (9 years ago?).

Simply stated, I think your issue is the location of your thermostat, not the thermostat itself.

Wayne