Heat strip?

[sallemann]

How effective is the optional heat strip in the A/C? It's nice that if we're going to be plugged in, we can get heat without using propane... but I'm wondering if the heat strip works well?

Is this actually a heat pump?

Thanks!

[elongest]

I have a Casita with a heat strip and it knocks off the chill after a while. The A/C fan is too noisey for us, we like a cube heater, more heat less noise.
Eddie

[tractors1]

A small ceramic/quartz type heater is very quiet and easy to store. Love this one:

Heaters | Portable Electric | Comfort Zone® Heater Ceramic Oscillating CZ448 Black 750 / 1500W | B1191210 - GlobalIndustrial.com

The heat strip option is just a resistive type heater element added in the box.

[cpaharley2008]

I installed a small electric wall heater in both my 19 and 21 Escapes, always with me and no cords to worry about.

[Jim Bennett]

I too would be inclined to go with a small cube, or a wall mount like Jim's. We keep a small cube in our trailer, but it has been a couple years since it was used. It seems the only time we camp with 120V hookups, it is way too hot to need heat anyway.

[sallemann]

Great feedback. Thanks all!

[BCnomad]

If anyone has the AC heater strip installed and the digital thermostat:

do both the propane heater and the AC heater come on at same time, or is there a switch to control that?

[Tonny LR]

Originally Posted by BCnomad

If anyone has the AC heater strip installed and the digital thermostat:

do both the propane heater and the AC heater come on at same time, or is there a switch to control that?

It is either heat strip or furnace. It cannot not be both.The Dometic thermostat has four settings, heat, cold, furnace and heat strip. I hope this info helps.

Tonny LR

[BCnomad]

Thank you, it does.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by sallemann

Is this actually a heat pump?

Although RV air conditioners with a heat pump mode exist (I have one in a larger trailer), I've never heard of an Escape being equipped with this type of unit. I suspect that the heat pump feature is only offered on larger units.

[cpaharley2008]

Actually it is not a heat pump, but a/c with a heat strip. Two different animals.

[C&G in FL]

When I had my Scamp, the A/C had a heat strip. It didn't put out a lot of heat. If the temperature was falling outside, it would hold the inside temperature. But it for the most part would not increase the internal temperature.

[cpaharley2008]

I believe they are around 1000 watts, so with the fast fan cooling it down, they do not feel too hot.

[padlin]

Here's the brochure on the Dometic Penguin II Air Conditioners, if I'm looking at it right, it shows a 1530 watt heater available for a couple of the bigger 13.5k units but not the 11k. Interesting that they show you need a 2500 Watt generator for the small unit.

http://www.dometic.com/QBankFiles3/E...I-AC_17729.pdf

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by padlin

Here's the brochure on the Dometic Penguin II Air Conditioners, if I'm looking at it right, it shows a 1530 watt heater available for a couple of the bigger 13.5k units but not the 11k.
...
http://www.dometic.com/QBankFiles3/E...I-AC_17729.pdf

Is ETI supplying Penguin II air conditioners, and only this model range? If so, and if the options page is correct about the size (11,000 BTU/hr) the brochure does suggest that:

• a resistance heater ("heat strip") is not available, but would be 1530 watts on the larger models which include it;
• a heat pump version is not available in this model, but would be available on the higher-capacity model; and,
• this is a single-fan-motor design, so if you do get the higher-capacity model with the heat strip, it will run the outside blower whenever the heat is used.

[MyronL]

Interesting Dometic online brochure. Makes me feel good I got the 11K btu. I find it the ideal size for my 19 even without the heat strip, which I think is redundant. Too bad their brochure doesn't say what it's db level is. That's probably because the sound of it running is akin to that of a mobile 45kw generator. Love the modern, cool looking shrouds, though.

[steve dunham]

We've had the heat strip in both our trailers and if we purchase another new trailer it will have a heat strip. We have camped in 20 Deg F weather and the heat strip maintained trailer temps
of 65 Deg F. We travel with our dog who has a tendancy to knock things over. The heat strip is much safer and works well IMHO

[float5]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Interesting Dometic online brochure. Makes me feel good I got the 11K btu. I find it the ideal size for my 19 even without the heat strip, which I think is redundant. Too bad their brochure doesn't say what it's db level is. That's probably because the sound of it running is akin to that of a mobile 45kw generator. Love the modern, cool looking shrouds, though.

I figured the heat strip also was not needed. Heard it is noisy and we have an electric heater and furnace. For a dog though, don't know if that is better.

[padlin]

Is the heat strip even an option on a 17?

[Vermilye]

I don't believe so, at least with the stock AC. I agree with others - while the heat strip sounds like a good idea, the noise when using it is just as bad as the noise of the AC. I'd stick with a ceramic cube electric heater. Quieter, and it can be aimed where you want the heat.