new thermostat mod

[mtjeeper]

Before we went out last week I installed a Honeywell digital thermostat. It worked great, it seemed to run less and was much more comfortable than the old spring type.

The old spring type seemed to run long making it really hot and wouldn't kick the furnace on until it was freezing making for a miserable night. But not any more.

It only fit in the factory recessed mount turned 90* but hey..it works.

Anybody else swapped in a digital??


Matt

[dthurk]

The very first mod in our new camper was to replace the thermostat.  The stock units that come with the campers are almost worthless.

[tlhdoc]

I don't use my furnace enough to justify the purchase of a digital thermostat.  Some day if I find one at the right price I may go ahead and do it.

[mtjeeper]

most of our camping is done above 8000ft so even in the summer the nights can get kinda nippy. I use it every night. For $20 it was one of the best cheap investments so far.

[dthurk]

I don't use my furnace enough to justify the purchase of a digital thermostat. Some day if I find one at the right price I may go ahead and do it.

so what's the right price?  I think I got ours for less than $20 at Home Depot, just a very basic model, furnace on...furnace off...shows temp all the time.  Still, any price would be too much if you don't use your furnace.  But then, digital thermometers can cost more than the thermostat.  Do you want to know your temp inside the camper?

[AustinBoston]

You didn't need a new thermostat.

It took me 30 seconds to adjust the "dwell time" (hysteresis may be the correct term) with the stock thermostat.  Don't ask me why, but they come from the factory with the "dwell time" set to maximum.  

I removed the cover, moved the little sliding clip about halfway, and it's been fine ever since.  I can only imagine if I moved it the whole way; the thing would be turning on and off every five minutes.  :yikes:

Austin

[EvanDoss]

so what's the right price?  I think I got ours for less than $20 at Home Depot, just a very basic model, furnace on...furnace off...shows temp all the time.  Still, any price would be too much if you don't use your furnace.  But then, digital thermometers can cost more than the thermostat.  Do you want to know your temp inside the camper?

Hey which model did you go with?  Will any standard home digital thermostat work?  I have the same problem with the furnace running long.  I usually have to put an extra fan on the floor of the camper to blow the heat over towars the thermostat. I never even thought a digital one would work.

[AustinBoston]

Hey which model did you go with?  Will any standard home digital thermostat work?  I have the same problem with the furnace running long.  I usually have to put an extra fan on the floor of the camper to blow the heat over towars the thermostat. I never even thought a digital one would work.

Be sure to read my reply before you spend money.

But you can't use just any home thermostat; it has to be for a 12 volt system, and at least some home thermostats are designed for 120 volts.

Austin

[dthurk]

Hey which model did you go with? Will any standard home digital thermostat work? I have the same problem with the furnace running long. I usually have to put an extra fan on the floor of the camper to blow the heat over towars the thermostat. I never even thought a digital one would work.

Thermostats designed to run a furnace are acceptable in an RV.  Furnace systems have 12 volt thermostat circuits.  If the thermostat is designed to run electric heating units, that will not work, as they would be set for 120 volts.
 
I don't recall the exact make and model.  I would suspect it was a Hunter.  Go into Home Depot or Lowes and check out their thermostats.  Either store should have a selection of around 10 to 15 different models.  You don't need anything more than one that just controls a furnace.  You don't need air conditioning controls, nor do you need one of the set back models.  A set back model may be more convenient, but it would also be more dollars.  I went with the least expensive one they had that would work for us.  Ask one of the sales reps for help if you're not sure if you have a 12 volt model.  They should at least be able to answer that question.  Don't tell them you want it for an RV, tell them you need to replace the thermostat for your gas furnace.

[mtjeeper]

I think the factory dial ones are for entertainment purposes only, they are so vauge with a +/- of 10*.

I also played with the setting on the dial one last year and only changed it marginally.

Matt

[AustinBoston]

I think the factory dial ones are for entertainment purposes only, they are so vauge with a +/- of 10*.

I also played with the setting on the dial one last year and only changed it marginally.

Matt

Try reading my first post on this thread.  It takes less than  a minute to adjust the temperature range of the factory thermostat to anything you want it to be.

Austin