Help with Coleman Electric Heat Strip using wall thermostat

Question

I recently replaced my 13.5 ducted Coleman Mach AC unit with a ducted Mach 15 AC unit that also included a optional electric heat strip. I have replaced everything successfully and the new AC is so much colder and stronger air flow via all my ducts so very happy but it is connected to a wall thermostat and can't get the heat strip to turn on. My current thermostat allows me to control the propane furnace and AC together and it works but I can't get the heat strip to get warm. It is plugged into the control unit properly. I suspect I might need a different thermostat that controls AC, Gas furnace and electric strip but after research I can't find exact answer so hoping someone else has done this before that can help. This is the thermostat I have today with the new Mach15 AC.
http://www.amazon.com/Rv-Camper-Coleman-mach-Manual-Thermostat/dp/B00C6JE2FC/ref=sr_1_11/179-6399206-0671617?ie=UTF8&qid=1431740616&sr=8-11&keywords=thermostat+rv

Thanks in advance.

toolguy5 · Answer

Have not done that. But my guess is you will need a thermostat that can control 3 items.
In our stick house I have ac, propane heat as well as a heat pump. The ac works off the cooling side as normal. There are two options for heat. Primary heat and auxiliary. Heat pump is primary and propane is auxiliary. It also has an outside sensor that controls when each one of the heat stages operate.

My guess is you will need something like this.

Honeywell RTH2300B1012/A 5-2 Day Programmable Thermostat
by Honeywell
492 customer reviews | 87 answered questions
List Price: $29.99
Price: $24.48 & FREE Shipping on orders over $35. Details
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chris_bryant · Answer

You also need an extra wire between the thermostat and upper unit- I have used the standard thermostat, installing a separate electric/gas heat toggle switch. Not ideal in that you cannot run both at the same time, but I don't know if you can do that with any of the thermostats.
Another option is to simply add a separate furnace thermostat, and use the heat setting on the original for the heat strip.
Again though- this requires an extra wire between thermostat and upper unit.

blacklane · Answer

You can use the approaches listed above (adding a switch or a second thermostat), but Coleman makes a thermostat just for this application: Model 6536A3351
It has "gas heat" plus "electric heat" switch settings.
As stated above, you still need the extra wire from the thermostat to the A/C unit. That's sometimes easy to do, and sometimes not. Thankfully, my RV had an extra wire in the existing thermostat cable.

jtbr3 · Answer

Thanks for advice and I did need a new thermostat. Found this one and works like charm.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RCOYZY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3/187-0995240-4019051?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=13K60SW3GGN2Y2MESM40&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944579842&pf_rd_i=B004RCSRKW

lynnmor · Answer

jtbr3 wrote:Thanks for advice and I did need a new thermostat.  Found this one and works like charm.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RCOYZY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3/187-0995240-4019051?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_r=13K60SW3GGN2Y2MESM40&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_p=1944579842&amp;pf_rd_i=B004RCSRKWI have that thermostat.  The only thing that I don't like is that it will call for gas heat till the temperature is near the setting, then it will go electric only.  Maybe a setting that I didn't read about yet.

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Help with Coleman Electric Heat Strip using wall thermostat

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