Heat holding tanks without using propane ?

[wrapped]

We're fulltime,when heading south for the winter we still hit some cold snaps we heat the coach fine with fireplace and small ceramic heater. Is there anyway to use heater fan to move heated air from coach through heater ducts which would move to tank compartments below? Thanks in advance.

[Bob Denman]

Could you hide some duct-work in the bottom of a closet, and use an inline fan to push warm air down into the basement?

[wrapped]

As usual this group is quick, never thought if that angle, definitely doable. Any more ideas?

[ducksface]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KMQJ8LV...v_ov_lig_dp_it

[16ACE27]

You already have ducts down to the wet bay, but if you're not using your furnace no warm air will get down there. Maybe pointing a small fan back into a heater duct will provide enough warm air flow from the cabin down into the wet bay?

Or if you're handy like Red Green, you could engineer an electric heater to discharge into the furnaces distribution plenum to better heat the whole coach as well as the wet bay on electric heat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI4sIgcZ22o

[JamieGeek]

Are you sure your Challenger doesn't already have heated tanks? (Typically the fresh water tank is above the floor and has the heater duct running near it. The waste tanks may have heating pads on them already.)

The current year Challenger's features (on Thor's website click on "Electrical & Plumbing") does say:

Enclosed & Heated Holding Tanks

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Are you sure your Challenger doesn't already have heated tanks? (Typically the fresh water tank is above the floor and has the heater duct running near it. The waste tanks may have heating pads on them already.)

The current year Challenger's features (on Thor's website click on "Electrical & Plumbing") does say:

I think the "heated" is from the furnace duct routed to the wet bay.

[halfprice]

Usually electric heat pads are glued to the bottom of the gray and black tanks. I have a switch in the control panel to turn them on

Jerry

[wrapped]

16ace27 got it,heat ducts from propane heater to tanks.

[blw2]

maybe a little marine blower
https://www.amazon.com/Rule-140-Line.../dp/B000O8AZ8K
or similar
or other small fan mounted in the duct...?

You could even get real fancy and thermostatically control it

[Brad2018]

Here is the heating pads mentioned earlier. I haven't tried them but was considering doing it before our Christmas trip out west.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT9EUG9...ustomerReviews

[wrapped]

I don't think there's enough exposed tank area for pads,tanks are wedged tight top and bottom.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by wrapped

We're fulltime,when heading south for the winter we still hit some cold snaps we heat the coach fine with fireplace and small ceramic heater. Is there anyway to use heater fan to move heated air from coach through heater ducts which would move to tank compartments below? Thanks in advance.

Depending on your thermostat is wired just running the furnace fan will circulate the air from the coach through the heater system including the tanks.

[wrapped]

That's exactly what I'm trying to do,but I can't find a way to run furnace fans without the heater coming on.

[Bob Denman]

Could you run some sort of "alternate" power source to them; that bypasses the part where the furnace hast to be started up also?
Something with a switch in it, that allows you to run both the heater and the fans... or just the fans.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by wrapped

That's exactly what I'm trying to do,but I can't find a way to run furnace fans without the heater coming on.

If your thermostat will not allow just the fan - you can force the furnace into lockout (not allowing gas into the burner) by turning off the propane. You can do that at the tank, at the manual isolation valve or at the electric gas valve. If you choose to remove the wires from the gas valve make sure you tape the up to prevent arcing and damage to the furnace's circuit board. I do not recommend this procedure, but it available for the more parsimonious ones of us.

[John G]

I leave a small electric ceramic heater on a low (800W) setting. I also have a remote thermometer in there to monitor the temperature.

[vkb]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Are you sure your Challenger doesn't already have heated tanks? (Typically the fresh water tank is above the floor and has the heater duct running near it. The waste tanks may have heating pads on them already.)

The current year Challenger's features (on Thor's website click on "Electrical & Plumbing") does say:

Jamie....our Axis' have electrically heated tanks, don't they ?