CheapHeat™

CheapHeat™

RV Comfort Systems firm has successfully engineered an electrical heating option. Now today’s RVer has a choice of propane or electricity to heat the interior of the coach. Called the CheapHeat™ System, this unit employs tungsten heating coils powered by 120 or 240-volts AC to provide the heat. It can be configured into three different wattage ratings, 1,800, 3,750 and 5,000 watts, depending on the shoreline cord limitations. Since there is no flue on the electric furnace, an electrical heat source is 100% efficient; all heat produced is forced through the ducts since the heating core itself is mounted in the direct flow of the distribution system. Compared to the burning of propane for comfort heating, which is approximately 60% efficient, the all-electric CheapHeat™ option is a viable option for serious coach owners to consider.

The Stand-A-Lone system consists of a multi position combination ducted/Plenum cabinet that allows the tri-stage heater element to be installed from either side, to allow users to use this new system in multiple locations. One of the best new features is that with the new Stand-A-Lone electric forced air heating system no longer requires the furnace to be placed next to an outside wall for venting. This gives the coach manufacture more flexibility in their floor plans.

In addition to the heating coil assembly, the other main component of the system is the solid-state controller. The controller is the very heart of the CheapHeat™ system. It communicates directly with the existing wall thermostat and the fan motor so all the user has to do is simply adjust the thermostat to the setting they desire. This well designed and sturdy controller is engineered and applicable to both 30-amp and 50-amp shore power configurations. It coordinates all the functions of the fan, thermostat and electrical heating coil assembly. All internal wiring components and connectors are purposely oversized by at least 30%. And every component part in the CheapHeat™ controller is UL® Listed and mounted in an industrial grade NEMA-1 UL® Listed/certified metal box.

The coil assembly is safeguarded against failure by redundant methods making the CheapHeat™ unit totally safe and permanently installed, which is certainly not the case when RVers use portable space heaters for instance. Aside from overkill on the sizing of the components in the controller, a bi-metal high limit safety switch wired into the coil assembly protects it from any over-temperature situation. Additionally a failsafe device called a fusible links is included for the common “leg” of the coils, (see photo). Which acts as an in-line circuit breaker and protects against any over-current and/or over heat problems. With redundant integral safety measures, plus the fact that no carbon monoxide is produced using electric heat, the CheapHeat™ System is deemed quite safe and viable.

Tests have shown that the CheapHeat™ unit successfully heats the motorhome in less operating time, meaning the furnace blower assembly works less to heat the same space as burning propane. Here’s why.

All propane-fired forced air furnaces require a pre-purge and post-purge cycling of the blower assembly to remove any trace of unburned propane and other gases that might yet exist in the sealed combustion chamber. Some pre-purge cycles can approach a full minute, while post-purge cycles can run up to about 90 seconds each. And if the furnace is equipped with a three-try circuit board, the run-time on the fan motor increases, yet again. With the switch placed to electric mode, the fan motor only operates when heat is being produced. We receive emails every season from disgruntled RVers who experience this pre and post-purge cycling and cannot understand why the furnace is blowing cold air. Unless a fault exists, it’s just the nature of propane burning furnaces. For every heating cycle, there is a full 2.5 minutes of runtime with no flame or heat being produced.

Because of 40% energy loss through the flue along with the pre and post-purge cycles, the realized heat output into the coach with a 40,000 BTU propane furnace, for example, is reduced to about 18,000 BTU an hour when measured at the discharge registers. The CheapHeat™ system, meanwhile, produces a true, one-to-one BTU per hour heat output at the registers. Another factor to think about; it’s not uncommon for the propane furnace to purposely overshoot the temperature setting of the thermostat to compensate for the purging cycles. The elimination of this pre and post-purge cycling is a welcome relief to RVers, because it simply adds to a higher comfort level for the occupants.

Dimensions:
10″ Hi X 17 ½” Wide X 19″ Deep

Clearance from Combustibles
Top 1″
Side w/ Heater Head 3″ To allow clearance for electrical access
Side w/o Heater Head 1″
Front w/ 4″ Duct 6″ To allow connection of 4″ round ducts
Front w/o Duct 1″
Bottom 0″

The CH50-DH50 is comparable to a 40,000 BTU propane furnace (it does, however, require 50-amp shore power service). The CH50-DH37 is akin to a 30,000 BTU propane furnace and also requires 50-amp service. The smaller CH50-DH18 is equivalent to a 20,000 BTU propane furnace but only requires 30-amp electrical service.

For additional information regarding the complete line of CheapHeat™ products, visit: www.rvcomfortsystems.com

Comments for CheapHeat™

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Jul 07, 2012

RV Hybrid Furance Now Available at Reduced Price

by:


July 2012: RV Comfort Systems announces that their patented CheapHeat™ Add-on Electric Heating System is now available to the public, through their web site. In the past, RV Comfort Systems only sold their product through OEM’s and RV Service Centers.

Because of customer demand, they are now going to offer the CheapHeat™ Add-on and Stand-A-Lone electric heating system, to the public through their web site. Check it out.


Jan 24, 2012

CheapHeat’s Electric Forced Air

by: CheapHeat User


The CheapHeat™ system consists of a UL certified and RVIA compliant stand-alone add on Duct Heater and Controller for mobile vehicles. This product connects directly into the ductwork of the existing central heating system allowing the user to switch between Gas or Electric as a heating source for the Recreational Vehicle. As a UL certified product our system meets, or exceeds, all NEC (National Electric Code), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) specifications and standards for Recreation Vehicles both in the United States and in Canada.
This product is unique in its’ design because it does not affect any RV gas furnace ANSI listings. In the same way that a conventional residential or commercial gas furnaces does not change the ACCA, UL, AHRI, and ANSI listings or standards when a 3rd party Duct Heater, or AC coil, is added into the existing ductwork. Our system does not use any of the LPG furnace electronic controls, gas controls, or safeties. It actually enhances the gas furnace overall operation, comfort level, and longevity. Additionally, there are benefits associated with the firebox, fan motor, and airflow as listed below:

Blower fan life
• CheapHeat™ increases fan motor life because we have no Pre-purge or Post-purge for each heating cycle and, as a result, the overall fan run times are reduced.
• CheapHeat™ increases fan motor life because our system eliminates the 400 to 600 degree heat on the flue gas fan blades, during the heating cycle that would transfer to the motor shaft. This will overheat the shaft bearing and prematurely seize the fan motor.
Firebox rust
• For the customer that does not want to use their gas furnace and prefers to use an alternative heat source, they have the potential of moisture being drawn into and rusting the firebox. But, with our system, the firebox is kept warm so that it does not draw in moisture and rust.
Airflow
• Improved because all of the ducts are moved to the end of the furnace cabinet (reducing back pressure on the fan motor). This allows the airflow to have a straight path through the firebox with no 90 degree duct take off of from the sides or the top and bottom of the furnace before the air has a chance to passes completely across the firebox.
Improve Comfort Level Both Gas and Electric
• Because the air static pressure has been reduced by the new arrangement of the ducting runs, it means that the longer runs will have greater airflows. This helps to equalize the temperature through out the entire coach.
Increases Firebox life
• With all of the duct runs moved to the end of the firebox, this eliminates the need for duct runs of off the sides and bottom of the furnace cabinet, and stops hotspots thereby reducing premature firebox burn out.


Dec 12, 2011

Sub Floor heating

by: Larry


There is already a sub floor heating system made by Aqua-Hot, it cost about $9,000.


Dec 03, 2011

RV heating system

by: Jeffrey Greenspan


Do you sell and install sub-floor heating systems for RVs. I want a heating system installed under the floor of my RV that runs on electricity and can be switched over to propane. The propane part of the system would consist of a gas heated fluid being pumped through tubing installed under the floor. And the electrical part of the system would consist of wire heating elements, also installed under the floor right along with the tubing. I think that sub-floor heating is the best way to go for a whole bunch of reasons. A dual energy system would be sooo perfect. Warm floors, dry radiant heat rising to warm the coach, no residual condensation, no lack of air quality to breath, no need for a fan (although, in the propane mode, a fluid pump would be necessary) I even have a fantasy of having solar charged batteries to run the electrical system.


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