| Author |
Message |
Michael Lewis (67.160.12.18)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 11:24 pm: | |
I just picked up a nice propane 31,000 BTU propane forced air furnace and thought I would install it in a bay. After walking around the coach scratching my head, I'm still reluctant to cut a hole approximately 7" x 16" in the side, either thru stainless or readerboard.
After looking at a lot of pics and even visiting the local RV dealers mall show today, it appears that most folks simply cut the hole, install and move on. What creative solutions have the genius members here come up with?
Michael |
RJ Long (67.181.236.27)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2004 - 11:43 pm: | |
Cut a hole, install, and move on. . .
Remember the KISS principle!
HTH,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
daffycanuck (66.82.9.25)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:15 am: | |
My 42000 BTU furnace has a vent which uses two small holes, and a nice stainless steel vent cover.....don't cut the big hole!!! |
just me (65.40.180.178)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:33 am: | |
what kind of furnace do you have Daffy!? |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.21)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 1:01 am: | |
Michael
It sounds like you bought the furnace that has outside access for maintenance.
The furnace that has inside maintenance only has two holes, 2" and 3" to the outside wall, one for fresh are, the other for exhaust.
There are other heaters, West marine has some that exhaust through the roof.
The unit I think you have is popular with small RV's or RV's that have little access to the heater inside the coach. Remember, there are reasons this equipment is built the way it is. Buy it if it fits your needs.
Good Luck
cd |
John that newguy (199.232.240.6)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:33 am: | |
Assuming you bought the standard RV version, and that hole is for
the intake and exhaust? You can mount the thing at any height or
anyplace, as long as you vent it directly to the outside. Why not
mount it someplace at window height, where you don't have that
stainless steel? You can use any length (almost) of ductwork
to get the heat where you need it, including to the bays. |
Marc Bourget (209.142.38.81)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 11:30 am: | |
You might want to look a little further into the technology of propane heaters.
I picked up a Quatro Heater some years back, I believe the company was acquired by another or went out of business cuz I can't link them on google.
The nice thing about the Quatro is its efficiency rating. High efficiency units, (IIRC above .86) extract more heat from the combustion air. The exhaust for the quatro was plastic pipe.
Such low temps greatly expand your options for intake-exhaust placement. I'm going to investigate exhausting my heater within the outer of the "tube within a tube" configuration for my genset exhaust "through the roof" installation.
A new professional conversion I inspected in Tehachapi a few weeks back had a polished "stack" that extended with an air cylinder. Stuck up about 2' above the roof when deployed.
Onward and Upward
Marc Bourget |
Michael Lewis (67.160.12.18)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 12:33 pm: | |
I probably should have given a little more information. The furnace we chose is a HydraTherm 8500 series. We chose it because it's identical to what we had in our Dynamax. That heater would run us out of a very poorly insulated coach. It is accessable for service from the outside.
This is a very popular and dependable unit, used in many RV applications, can install horizontally or vertically and is extremely quiet. We purchased it used, as a takeout from a late model vehicle which was wrecked and being parted out. As so, we saved substantially from the usual $500 or so price.
We have had poor experience with pilot light blowout in other propane appliances. This has an electronic igniter.
Reading some posts in the archive leads me to believe that we could fabricate an extended "tube" for the exhaust, however I do not think I will bother with this option. As RJLong said...."cut the hole...move on.
We finally have some pictures of our progress to put up but little time to do so. Will try this week to post some items as we come closer to getting the interior laid out.
Can't tell you how I appreciate your input..
Michael |
TWO DOGS (4.226.105.73)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 2:03 pm: | |
I'd try to centraly locate it,where half blows to the back of the bus & half blows to the front... |