Like most of the TC's out there, my Northern-Lite has a propane forced air furnace and a roof top air conditioner. As detailed in the pic below, the Atwood unit in my NL came with a thermostat that doesn't really allow you to accurately set the thermostat to a specific temperature.After doing a little research, I found a digital replacement for units with just heat - see below.The first step was to remove the existing thermostat. The cover popped off and the base was held to the wall with two screws that I removed. As you can see in the picture above, my Atwood had two wires on the thermostat, a white one and a black one. The white wire was connected to the 'W' and the black wire was connected to the 'R'. I made a note of this since I would attach the wires to the new thermostat the same way.After disconnecting the wires, I removed the backing plate from the new thermostat and attached the white and black wires to the new terminals before attaching it to the wall.I installed the provided batteries into the new thermostat, then attached it to the backing plate. After a quick test, I confirmed that everything works according to plan, so my days of playing the thermostat temperature game are over. It will be nice to simply set it and forget it like a Ronco Showtime Rotisserie.

I was planning on doing the same thing then thought again about it that it was just another battery to monitor so I did not run it dead at -30.To bad you could not get it to pull from the camper battery, yes another phantom draw but at least if you had 12v in the camper the thermostat would still work.On Edit: That one may be able to run with power from the camper if that is what the C is for.

Photomike wrote:I was planning on doing the same thing then thought again about it that it was just another battery to monitor so I did not run it dead at -30.To bad you could not get it to pull from the camper battery, yes another phantom draw but at least if you had 12v in the camper the thermostat would still work.On Edit: That one may be able to run with power from the camper if that is what the C is for.I keep an assortment of batteries in the TC, so I'm not concerned if the two AA batteries need replaced in the thermostat. I will say that I would definitely hook it up to the existing 12V system had there been a third wire in the wall.

I made same switch and have been pleased with the change. Not sure what the battery life is --- change mine out once a year when I put new batteries in the various alarms.

That looks pretty good. Do they have programmable ones as well?

The original Atwood thermostat sucks. Not only can you not set it at a specific temperature, it is quite sensitive as to where exactly you set it. They make a digital one that they use for their two speed furnaces (it also controls aircon), it is powered from the furnace, but it is unreasonably priced as a separate item. Most home type thermostats were designed to be powered from 24VAC (standard control voltage for home HVAC) if not batteries so I don't know how they would do on 12VDC.

New Digital Thermostat | Good Sam Community

Photomike
Explorer III
May 05, 2016
I was planning on doing the same thing then thought again about it that it was just another battery to monitor so I did not run it dead at -30.

To bad you could not get it to pull from the camper battery, yes another phantom draw but at least if you had 12v in the camper the thermostat would still work.

On Edit: That one may be able to run with power from the camper if that is what the C is for.
Wardster
Explorer
May 05, 2016
Photomike wrote:
I was planning on doing the same thing then thought again about it that it was just another battery to monitor so I did not run it dead at -30.

To bad you could not get it to pull from the camper battery, yes another phantom draw but at least if you had 12v in the camper the thermostat would still work.

On Edit: That one may be able to run with power from the camper if that is what the C is for.

I keep an assortment of batteries in the TC, so I'm not concerned if the two AA batteries need replaced in the thermostat. I will say that I would definitely hook it up to the existing 12V system had there been a third wire in the wall.
ksg5000
Explorer
May 05, 2016
I made same switch and have been pleased with the change. Not sure what the battery life is --- change mine out once a year when I put new batteries in the various alarms.
jimh406
Explorer III
May 05, 2016
That looks pretty good. Do they have programmable ones as well?
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
May 05, 2016
The original Atwood thermostat sucks. Not only can you not set it at a specific temperature, it is quite sensitive as to where exactly you set it. They make a digital one that they use for their two speed furnaces (it also controls aircon), it is powered from the furnace, but it is unreasonably priced as a separate item.

Most home type thermostats were designed to be powered from 24VAC (standard control voltage for home HVAC) if not batteries so I don't know how they would do on 12VDC.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
May 05, 2016
Yup, I used the exact same one in my camper. Just wish the window would stay illuminuatd all the time. Need to press one of the buttons and then it only shows you the set temp, not the actual temp. But still better than the old springy thingy.
jimh406
Explorer III
May 05, 2016
You guys convinced me to go ahead, so just have to wait for Amazon now. :)
trail-explorer
Explorer
May 05, 2016
jimh425 wrote:
That looks pretty good. Do they have programmable ones as well?

Yes. I bought the same sized Honeywell, with program functions, at Home Depot.
Homeless_by_Cho
Explorer
May 05, 2016
Wardster wrote:
Like most of the TC's out there, my Northern-Lite has a propane forced air furnace and a roof top air conditioner. As detailed in the pic below, the Atwood unit in my NL came with a thermostat that doesn't really allow you to accurately set the thermostat to a specific temperature.

Wardster, I am sitting at the table in my N-L starring at the same mechanical thermostat. I have been searching for a replacement all week as I have been traveling since Sunday.

You are the MAN. Lowe's is directly across the parking lot. I am headed over there now to see if they have one. Everything that I looked at wouldn't work for one reason or another.

Note: The unlighted screen is no issue for me. I can still remember the temperature that I set it at. Also, my digital clock with indoor temperature readout is directly above the thermostat so I should be good-to-go and soon as I buy one.

Thank you,
LeRoy
Fitzbev
Explorer
May 06, 2016
Great post! I'll be getting one as well!