by MOT and Rudy Leggett
1. Turn the AH on by switches under the counter near the kitchen sink. The diesel switch or the electric switch or both turns on the AH
2. Set the room temperature with the thermostat on the wall by the driver ‘s seat. Set the Mode to “furnace”.
Set the bathroom heat with the thermostat in the bathroom. That allows heating just the bathroom if someone wants it warmer in there while bathing.
Set the bay heat with a thermostat in the bay. It sets the temperature at which the AH will come on to keep the bay areas from freezing. Set at about 40 degrees. The AH has to be running on diesel. There may be a switch in the bathroom that needs to be turned on to activate the bay heat.
3. The electric mode alone will provide warm water for washing hands and warming the coach in mild temperatures, such as 50+ degrees. You must be connected to shore or generator power.
4. The electric plus the diesel or diesel alone provides higher heat, such as for a shower and room heat in colder weather. (The diesel furnace in the AH provides ten times the heat as the electric heating element.)
5. The Engine Heat switch can be used to heat the engine prior to cranking in cold weather. Heating takes several hours. To operate, run the AH on diesel, turn on the Engine Heat switch. After cranking, turn off the Engine Heat switch to drive, otherwise, the engine radiator will have the extra heat from the AH to dissipate.
6. Generally do not use AH diesel or electric (turn switches off) when driving. The engine will provide the AH with warm heat. (To shower and drive, or need coach or bay heat in very cold weather while driving, you would need the diesel AH power!) Electrical alone, however, is very warm and lasts a long time.
7. The AH will cycle, if you have it on, turning off and on the diesel as it needs to maintain the proper AH fluid heat. The electric can be on to help supplement the heat and preserve some diesel.
7. The heat pump separates of the AH, on the thermostat MODE, can be used if there is a 110v supply (shore power or generator). This could be an option to conserve diesel. There will not be the hot water without the AH.
8. Cycle the AH at least once per month on diesel, letting it get to full temp (about 180 degrees). (This is similar to “exercising” the generator monthly)
9. The diesel fuel to the AH is the same supply as to the engine. There is a safety mechanism to prevent using the diesel below some level, about ¼ tank, however, the tank should be kept well above that before parking and running the AH for many days.