Thermostat- heat strip

John · 12-11-2002, 12:13 PM

According to my Duo-Therm manual, the ac thermostat does not control the optional heat-strip. Does the heat-strip have an internal thermostat or does it just continue to heat?

I turned it on this morning around 3:00am and by 5:30am, it was too warm inside the trailer.

Many Thanks, John

p.s. The ceramic heater that I've been using failed last night, so I had to use the heat-strip as a back-up. I did replace the ceramic heater today and will use this in the future, as it has a thermostat.

**jcanavera** · 12-11-2002, 01:47 PM

John,
The Duo-Therm Penguin on my Safari does not have a thermostat on the heat strip. You turn it on and when you get warm you turn it off. I didn't know this initially. Sort of a disappointment.

Jack

John · 12-11-2002, 02:35 PM

Jack,

It sure is disappointing, since it seems to be a simple thing to have available. I woke up almost in a sweat!!!
John

Pahaska · 12-11-2002, 03:09 PM

And that's taking the early morning chill off.

I use two ceramic heaters, a Pelonis with a thermostatic variable speed fan and variable heating element, and a cheapie SOB that I paid about $15 for years ago. The cheapie varies only from 800 - 1600 watts. I put the cheapie at the lowest setting in the bathroom with the door left open. Then, I set the Pelonis near the entry door set at about 65 degrees.

With the temperature right at freezing, the Pelonis only revs up once in a while. Meanwhile, the bathroom stays cozy warm.

The Pelonis is a great heater with tip over and overheat safety switches that the cheap one doesn't have.

John · 12-11-2002, 03:35 PM

John,

We talked about this a couple of weeks ago. You have the 5 disc ceramic furnace ($74 @HD). I have the ceramic heater 1500W w/two heat settings, thermostat control, safety tip over switch, overheat thermal protection and inlet air overheat protection ($17 @ HD). The fan motor died and I replaced it today. It works great, I just got a lemon motor.
John

James Schmidt · 12-12-2002, 04:21 PM

The heat strip in my Pinguin duotherm has a thermostat that cycles the heat. This is the same T stat that controls the A/C when in the cooling mode. There is a switch on the control that switches from heat to cooling. The wall T stat in my unit controls only the propane heat. The controls for the heat/Air are an intergral part of the unit mounted in the ceiling.

John · 12-12-2002, 04:27 PM

I too thought the a/c thermostat controlled the heat-strip, but I found out differently in the manual.
John

**jcanavera** · 12-12-2002, 04:32 PM

There are Penguin units that have heat pumps. Those units have thermostatic control of the heat. James, maybe you really have a heat pump unit rather than the heat strip?

Jack

James Schmidt · 12-12-2002, 04:33 PM

John,
My unit is a 93 model and I have used it extensively to heat on the "just chilly" mornings. It actually does cycle the heat. I can't imagine why yours does not do so.
James

James Schmidt · 12-12-2002, 04:35 PM

Jack,
I wish I did have a heatpump! The dealer had my unit apart before I bought it--maybe he made some modifications. I just thought this was normal. It certainly should be.
James

**jcanavera** · 12-12-2002, 05:35 PM

We probably are dealing with the situation where its cheaper to build without a thermostatic control for the heat strip. This is probably the case of newer isn't better.

Jack

John · 12-12-2002, 05:56 PM

I have a newer a/c and my older unit had a slide switch thermostat which did cycle through the heat mode. I completely forgot about this, that's why I check the manual to begin with.
John

Gordon Watt · 12-12-2002, 06:16 PM

My heater combined with the A/C is on the thermostat.

My unit is 1979. I think it's original.

The furnace packed it in one night when the out side temperature was - 10 C. The heater in the A/C kept the trailer nice and toasty.