Heat Pump

[RichS]

Hi all.

It looks like I am going to have my 13500 AC replaced on my extended warranty. I am thinking about upgrading to a 15000. My question is. How well does the heat pump work on the 15000? I am only looking at temps down in the 40s. It would be camping in North Central Florida during the winter. Is it better than the propane heater. Can you get away without using the heater.

Thanks.

[Bob Denman]

We are "warm weather" campers, but our 15K unit with the heat pump does make a nice difference on those chilly mornings!

[RichS]

I don't plan on going any further north of St Augustine Florida during the winter. Hopefully I won't need anything else and heat pump will be all I need.

[The Gritz Carlton]

I don't know if my two units have heat pumps or not...how would you know? I run them full blast in the summer and use furnace for the few cool nights we have, or the electric heater(s).

[Chance]

Originally Posted by RichS

.....cut..... I am only looking at temps down in the 40s. It would be camping in North Central Florida during the winter. Is it better than the propane heater. Can you get away without using the heater.

Thanks.

Coleman / Airxcell specs for their heat pumps state that the compressor will shut down if air outside drops below 40 ~ 45 F. If it does get colder, it switches to electric resistance heat which delivers 5600 BTU/hr. That’s about 1640 watts of power, which is limited by electrical circuit to A/C unit.

Heat pumps obviously pump more energy than they consume, so as long as it’s operating as a heat pump, it should deliver more than 1640 watts of heat to the RV.

The main issue I see that owners often have against heat pumps is that they save electrical power which benefits the campground versus RVer running one or more cheap 1,500 watt electric heaters. However, with a heat pump you should be able to end up with more total heat before you run out of electrical service (30 Amps?), but only if temperatures are above ~ 45 F.

I looked at Coleman strictly as an example.

[lwmcguire]

All three of our heat pumps work down to about 32 before switching over or turning off the compressor.

They are around 3 times as efficient as resistant heat and much cheaper than propane or diesel to operate when the temperature is above freezing.

If you have a thermostat with Elect heat selection as well as gas the electric is the heat pump/resistant heat. The gas would be the Aqua Hot on units so equipped

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

I don't know if my two units have heat pumps or not...how would you know? I run them full blast in the summer and use furnace for the few cool nights we have, or the electric heater(s).

When I'm fussing around with the temperature controls: I came across a control for heating with electric, and another one for heating with gas.

[RichS]

I have heard many people say their heat pump will work to mid 30s. If that is the case I should be good for Florida winter camping. The guy that does my RV work says that the Attwood 15000 BTU is a good unit and that is what he recommends.

[Bob Denman]

Propane furnaces burn a whole lot of juice...
But if you can augment your heating needs with a heat pump, and reduce your overall dependence on propane: