heating instructions - 1999 coleman

[streamside]

I misplaced my manual and wanted to test out the heater in my camper before i do some winter camping.  I have a 1999 coleman pop-up (bought it this summer).  I see the thermostat and the area where the heater is located, next to the fridge.  But I don't see how to actually start the heater.  Do I start it on the outside of the camper somewhere?  In the same location as where i start the fridge?  Any help would be great.  Thanks.

[tlhdoc]

Welcome to PUT.
 
To turn the heat on you need to turn the thermostat on.  If it is the factory thermostat there should be a switch on the bottom.  It is VERY hard to move.  Facing the thermostat you move the switch to the right to turn it on and to the left to turn it off.  Then you need to set the temperature.  You need to have a good battery or be plugged into a power source and propane turned on.  If your furnace doesn't turn on you need to pull the front cover off of the furnace (pull the cover up from the bottom), and there is a rocker switch that you can turn the furnace off and on.  The fan will blow cold air before it lights.
 
One side note.  The furnace is not a Coleman product and its use is not in the camper's owners manual.  I can't remember the brand, but you should be able to get a furnace manual online from the manufacturer.

[streamside]

perfect.  thanks for the great instructions.  i turned the switch on below the thermostat along with the gas, and it started running about 10 seconds later.

Any idea how much propane the heater uses?  I think I have a 5 gallon tank that is about half full.

[tlhdoc]

Is the tank the standard grill size tank?  If it is, it is a 20 pound tank.  It depends on how cold it is, how warm you have the thermostat set for and how long you run the furnace.  Most people get a long weekend out of a tank of gas.  If you are running the furnace off of a battery, the battery will die before you run out of gas.  The blower uses a lot of power.  If you have any other questions let me know.

[AustinBoston]

Tracy left one thing out.

If your '99 furnace is like my '00 furnace (I also have a Coleman/Fleetwood), then it also has a switch on the face of the furnace itself.

You can find the switch by removing the single screw from the front cover and switch it on.  I can get it on using a screwdriver without removing the cover, but don't need to because I leave that switch on 24/7/365.

The furnace will not run if the galley is down.  It is on the same safety switch as the lights.

Austin

[tlhdoc]

Tracy left one thing out.
 
If your '99 furnace is like my '00 furnace (I also have a Coleman/Fleetwood), then it also has a switch on the face of the furnace itself.
 
You can find the switch by removing the single screw from the front cover and switch it on. I can get it on using a screwdriver without removing the cover, but don't need to because I leave that switch on 24/7/365.

AB you might want to read my post a little more carefully.  I did cover the rocker switch and on the 1999s you don't need a screw driver.  The bottom of the cover just clips on.
 

If your furnace doesn't turn on you need to pull the front cover off of the furnace (pull the cover up from the bottom), and there is a rocker switch that you can turn the furnace off and on. The fan will blow cold air before it lights.

[streamside]

my tank is the standard one.  I think I can probably get a few nights out of my tank.  I'll probably just set the thermo to 60.  And hopefully it isn't too much colder than 30.  And i won't be running it during the day.  
I got the heat working today and it seemed to heat up the camper pretty quick.  

thanks again for the help.  i'm looking forward to some late fall/early winter camping here in Iowa!

[tlhdoc]

Have a good time camping and stay warm.  Will you have electric hookups?  If you do you can run an electric heater and save some propane.