Atwood furnace fan decibel level, anyone?

[Mike G]

I am contemplating ordering a 17B and am looking into the noise level of the furnaces. Currently Escape is installing an Atwood DF series furnace, DFSAD 12131, in the 17B. Has anyone checked, or be willing to check, the sound level of their Atwood furnace with a decibel meter (or dB meter phone app)? I'm mainly interested in knowing how loud it is (quantitatively) at both front and rear dinettes, but a reading about a foot from the furnace might be interesting to know as well.

Melisa at Escape was able to tell me today that this furnace draws only 2.4 amps, which is more thrifty of battery power than I'd expected.

Incidentally, I asked Melisa if there was a way to ensure a build completion date between May 1 and July 31 of any year, because June 1-Aug.10 is the only time window I have to pick up a new trailer (and of course I'd rather not pay for storage!). She replied that they could guarantee such a slot in 2023, and remarked that they will begin booking for '23 in just a couple of days! I bet they're still receiving new orders at an incredible pace.

Thanks for any help with the 'sound data.'

[gbaglo]

The furnace is not loud ( close enough to DB for me ), but the analogue thermostat that I had woke me with a loud click and then I would wait for the furnace to start up. I replaced the thermostat with a digital one to eliminate the click. Thermostat was above my head as I slept.

[Mike G]

Is there anyone at all with the 12,000 btu Atwood furnace who would be able to get decibel readings?



There was mention in a recent ETI video of a possible Truma unit down the road. No earlier than 2023, but that's okay with me. If it's the Combi, they are said to be extremely quiet.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Mike G

I am contemplating ordering a 17B and am looking into the noise level of the furnaces. Currently Escape is installing an Atwood DF series furnace, DFSAD 12131, in the 17B. Has anyone checked, or be willing to check, the sound level of their Atwood furnace with a decibel meter (or dB meter phone app)? I'm mainly interested in knowing how loud it is (quantitatively) at both front and rear dinettes, but a reading about a foot from the furnace might be interesting to know as well.

Thanks for any help with the 'sound data.'

With the furnace vanes directed left /right in my 21, my calibrated sound meter read:

1' left /right - 74 dB
1' above - 60 dB
1' below - 64 dB
@ dinette table - 54 dB
@ bed headboard - 56 dB

[Mike G]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

With the furnace vanes directed left /right in my 21, my calibrated sound meter read:

1' left /right - 74 dB
1' above - 60 dB
1' below - 64 dB
@ dinette table - 54 dB
@ bed headboard - 56 dB

That's just what I was looking for, thank you very much!

[Centex]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

With the furnace vanes directed left /right in my 21, my calibrated sound meter read:

1' left /right - 74 dB
1' above - 60 dB
1' below - 64 dB
@ dinette table - 54 dB
@ bed headboard - 56 dB

Well, if we're gonna go all pseudo-technical here, one must ask: "What weighting curve?"

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

With the furnace vanes directed left /right in my 21, my calibrated sound meter read:

1' left /right - 74 dB
1' above - 60 dB
1' below - 64 dB
@ dinette table - 54 dB
@ bed headboard - 56 dB

And with apologies in advance for asking, you stated “calibrated sound meter.” Does that mean it meets the same standards Marisa Tomei described her torque wrench with in the movie “My Cousin Vinnie” when she said the torque wrench was “Dead-on balls accurate, It’s an industry term!”

But seriously, I do not find the furnace in my trailer to be objectionably loud.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Centex

Well, if we're gonna go all pseudo-technical here, one must ask: "What weighting curve?"

Weighting curve C. I build speakers as a hobby and use the sound meter to test them at the different frequencies using a tone generator. That's the reason for the sound meter to be a calibrated one - so I can set the equalization accurately.

On a different note: it seems that the forum is getting testy again with snide remarks when someone tries to help. Maybe time for me to quit this place for a while - I left being a moderator here because of the same type of BS.

Goodbye.

[Oldtimer]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

Weighting curve C. I build speakers as a hobby and use the sound meter to test them at the different frequencies using a tone generator. That's the reason for the sound meter to be a calibrated one - so I can set the equalization accurately.

On a different note: it seems that the forum is getting testy again with snide remarks when someone tries to help. Maybe time for me to quit this place for a while - I left being a moderator here because of the same type of BS.

Goodbye.

I agree with TOM, there is no need to critics or nick pick ones post when they are helping others. Totally uncalled for this forum is to help people no mater the question so they can enjoy camping in their escape homes.

David

[Centex]

Please accept my apology for the "pseudo-technical" in my post, now realizing that did come across as snide and was uncalled for.

I was genuinely interested in the meter weighting curve, was hoping it might be "A" which accounts for human-ear loudness perception at various frequencies. I suppose that the distinction may be deemed inappropriately 'nit picky'

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

On a different note: it seems that the forum is getting testy again with snide remarks when someone tries to help. Maybe time for me to quit this place for a while - I left being a moderator here because of the same type of BS.

Goodbye.

Tom: Take a deep breath. Alan clearly wasn’t trying to come off unappreciative but more interested in the technical aspects as we know sound is a tricky topic. You can’t go anywhere! Your posts are always helpful and I need you for when I’m crazy enough to commit to a lithium battery bank, solar, inverter, transfer switch & DC-DC charger to run our mini-split off-grid!!

[Mike G]

Never gave any thought to weighting curves. I learn something new every day!


Weighting curve "C" must be for "Camping."



Please do stick around. From now on, let us all resolve to let every good deed go unpunished!

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

On a different note: it seems that the forum is getting testy again with snide remarks when someone tries to help. Maybe time for me to quit this place for a while - I left being a moderator here because of the same type of BS.

Goodbye.

And if I offended you, being snide wasn’t my intent. I was only attempting to add a little humor, and My Cousin Vinny was funny. Marisa Tomei did a great acting job and I have always found her line about her calibrated torque wrench being “dead-on balls accurate” humorous.

[Iowa Dave]

70 plus years of hearing abuse, chainsaws, hog kill, Foundry, guns. tinnitus, my heater noise is not noticeable. Don’t hear the click either. Huh?
Iowa Dave

[Oldtimer]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

70 plus years of hearing abuse, chainsaws, hog kill, Foundry, guns. tinnitus, my heater noise is not noticeable. Don’t hear the click either. Huh?
Iowa Dave

You mean it clicks ughhhhh sucks getting old

David

[Mike G]

I can take out the hearing aids and eliminate the sharpness of the noise (the high frequencies), but not the overall loudness of it. But yeah, the hearing isn't what it used to be!

[Radar1]

I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet our furnace is in our 2020 Escape 19. Much quieter than the furnace we had in our 2005 Scamp 16.

[lloydjdorsey@gmail.com]

We've put lots of miles on our 2017 17B the past 3 years, towing w a 2016 Tacoma. Email me if you want to bounce questions: lloydjdorsey@gmail.com

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by Radar1

I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet our furnace is in our 2020 Escape 19. Much quieter than the furnace we had in our 2005 Scamp 16.

Yes the Atwood/Dometic furnaces are much quieter than the Suburban NT series furnaces used by Scamp.

[Bobbito]

When we had the Atwood furnace in our 2015 Escape serviced by Tedco RV in Langley, BC the owner/mechanic said he hadn’t encountered such a quiet RV furnace before. And we second that, as our Nash trailer had a very LOUD furnace.

Bob K