Neighbors hot over HP noise

[pappy19]

On the newer vehicles, Fords at least, the auto tranny has a block valve that heats the tranny fluid within the tranny until it reaches a certain temp then opens to the tranny pan. The block heater only heats the coolant but definitely helps with the starting of the vehicle and has an immediate effect on the hardship of the engine. Any ambient temp under 25 degrees should have the block heater plugged in. If you don't have a block heater in cold country, you definitely need one. In Alaska, there are heaters for almost every part of the engine, tranny and battery; block heater, oil stick heater, and battery blanket with heat pad. Mostly this is for diesels, plus they must run total #1 diesel plus additive to keep the diesel from gelling. That's one reason I went to a gas rig, a lot less cold weather issues and cheaper to maintain.

[Ridgerunner3]

Originally Posted by Skater

I haven't heard one, to my knowledge, so I'm hoping people can give me a loudness estimate...

Are they louder than the regular A/C units on the top of campers? Those can be fairly loud, inside the camper due to the fan noise, outside due to compressor noise and fan noise.

We had an 11,000 BTU AC on our 2002 Safari 25. We replaced the AC with a 15,000 BTU heat pump. In either heat or cool mode the heat pump is much louder (even on low fan speed) inside the trailer than the AC unit was. I am not sure about the noise comparison between the AC & heat pump outside the trailer.

I was the OP on this thread. As an update, the tenter packed up and left looking very worn out after a few nights in a tent in the cold. The number of rigs in the surrounding campsites running heat pumps increased significantly the second night (we stayed on the propane furnace). I need to buy a ceramic heater and stop using the loud heat pump.

[perryg114]

I bet you can use the same heater kit available for the AC only unit and put it on the heat pump unit with it set to fan. I think the kit is only about $60. I had to add an external thermostat to get control but it works better than a space heater since you have a 20A circuit on the AC already.

Perry

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by perryg114

I bet you can use the same heater kit available for the AC only unit and put it on the heat pump unit with it set to fan. I think the kit is only about $60. I had to add an external thermostat to get control but it works better than a space heater since you have a 20A circuit on the AC already.

Perry

I don't know how far back in time the climate control system has been used , but our 2010 Classic has a position on the climate control labeled heat strips. However Airstream was too cheap to pay for them and did not tell us it was an option. If I decide to do it, is just a matter of going up on the roof and installing them and then possibly changing a jumper wire.

Maybe the OP's is the same.

Ken

[Gene]

Ken, I think heat strips are installed at the water tanks to keep them from freezing and are standard on some of the cheaper trailers that have small tanks and are basically for camping with electricity and only for a couple of days. Those trailers do not have a duct from the furnace to keep the tanks from freezing. If you ran them boondocking, the battery(s) would only last a couple of hours.

The climate control may have a position for heat strips because they make those units for all things, but a Classic may not offer that option since you have a furnace that can heat the tanks.

As you said above, it is easiest to use a small ceramic heater. If you have power for a heat pump, you have it for a ceramic heater. They work well, take little space and will keep the trailer fairly warm above freezing. When the temp goes lower, turn on the furnace to prevent the tanks from freezing. The only noise is the fan and it is a lot quieter than the heat pump/A/C fan and somewhat quieter than the furnace fan.

We bought a Lasko for about $25. They make many, many versions, but we got the simplest on that had a fan and a thermostat. Never a problem with it.

Gene

[perryg114]

The heat strips are installed in the air distribution box in front of the air flow. They are installed from the inside. Find a manual for your model heat pump and you will probably find the heat kit for that unit.

Perry

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Gene

Ken, I think heat strips are installed at the water tanks to keep them from freezing and are standard on some of the cheaper trailers that have small tanks and are basically for camping with electricity and only for a couple of days. Those trailers do not have a duct from the furnace to keep the tanks from freezing. If you ran them boondocking, the battery(s) would only last a couple of hours.

The climate control may have a position for heat strips because they make those units for all things, but a Classic may not offer that option since you have a furnace that can heat the tanks.

As you said above, it is easiest to use a small ceramic heater. If you have power for a heat pump, you have it for a ceramic heater. They work well, take little space and will keep the trailer fairly warm above freezing. When the temp goes lower, turn on the furnace to prevent the tanks from freezing. The only noise is the fan and it is a lot quieter than the heat pump/A/C fan and somewhat quieter than the furnace fan.

We bought a Lasko for about $25. They make many, many versions, but we got the simplest on that had a fan and a thermostat. Never a problem with it.

Gene

Gene,
These heat strips we are talking about are accessories (electric heating elements)for the air conditioner. They install inside the air conditioner. If you have them installed and the climate control set up correctly, the air conditioner can act as a somewhat effective electric heater. We had them in out last trailer.

Ken

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by perryg114

The heat strips are installed in the air distribution box in front of the air flow. They are installed from the inside. Find a manual for your model heat pump and you will probably find the heat kit for that unit.

Perry

It has been a while since I looked at the info about them in the manual. I remember there being some reason to remove the outside cover. I think that may be where the jumpers are located. However since the heat strip position shows on the climate control, maybe it is already set correctly and all I have to do is install the elements. We used to use them a lot in our 21' bigfoot to take the chill off in the morning. In any case, thanks for the info.

Ken

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

Gene,
These heat strips we are talking about are accessories (electric heating elements)for the air conditioner. They install inside the air conditioner. If you have them installed and the climate control set up correctly, the air conditioner can act as a somewhat effective electric heater. We had them in out last trailer.

Ken

Oh. Why would you need a heat pump and these heat strips?

Gene

[Pitou49]

Because heat pump stop around 32 F and not heat stip.

[Pitou49]

And no reversing pump so less noise, only the fan is running.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Gene

Oh. Why would you need a heat pump and these heat strips?

Gene

What the other two guys said. If I could have, I would have gotten heat strips and no heat pump function. I tested the heat pump function once just to see if it works. Thats the only time it has been on.

Ken

[Gene]

I never heard of this option before. The heat pump was standard when we bought our trailer. I understand the heat pump becomes less and less efficient as the temp drops and seems to be pretty worthless below 35 or 40˚. The strips would be useful then, but you still need the furnace below freezing to keep the tanks warm, so the strips seem to be of limited use. Our trusty little Lasko heater must be cheaper than what Airstream charges for heat strips and it does the same thing at the strips—resistance heating with a fan.

Gene

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Gene

I never heard of this option before. The heat pump was standard when we bought our trailer. I understand the heat pump becomes less and less efficient as the temp drops and seems to be pretty worthless below 35 or 40˚. The strips would be useful then, but you still need the furnace below freezing to keep the tanks warm, so the strips seem to be of limited use. Our trusty little Lasko heater must be cheaper than what Airstream charges for heat strips and it does the same thing at the strips—resistance heating with a fan.

Gene

As far as I know Airstream doesn't have the heat strips. If your air conditioner will accept them (it should mention it in the manual-I know mine will) you can get them online from RV parts places. When we had them, they were handy to turn on first thing in the morning on what was going to be warm day. They make much less hullaballoo and clang bang than either the furnace or the heat pump. If you let the A/C fan run continuously at a lower speed, it's a constant fan noise, and blends into the background. If you are already carrying an electric heater, I can see no advantage for you in having heat strips, except you are definitely losing out on coolness points.

Ken

[perryg114]

What model heat pump we talking about here?

Perry

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

you are definitely losing out on coolness points.

Ken

Won't be the first time. I can handle it.

We've got an Airatream and a FJ Cruiser plus I'm left handed—that's as cool as we can stand.

Gene

[m.hony]

As I was sitting by the campfire last night, no more than 20 feet from the trailer, I paid particular attention to how loud the heat pump was while running. It really isn't that loud from the outside of the trailer. It is no louder than a box fan running.

[m.hony]

From here it wasn't very loud at all...

[m.hony]

Maybe after a year and a half I am getting used to it, but it doesn't seem that loud inside or outside. I am outside by the fire 15 feet from the trailer and I can hear people talking in the next campsite while the heat pump is running.
It is, however, hard to hear the television when it kicks on.

[FlashSilver]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Maybe after a year and a half I am getting used to it, but it doesn't seem that loud inside or outside. I am outside by the fire 15 feet from the trailer and I can hear people talking in the next campsite while the heat pump is running.
It is, however, hard to hear the television when it kicks on.

Why guess, get this decibel meter for a buck. It works well.

http://www.performanceaudio.com/apps/decibelmeterpro/

BTW, do you need to be plugged in to shore power to use the heat pump in the A/C?