Electric heat strip

[cityofdestiny]

Originally Posted by Ross & Lynn

We have a 2017 21' Escape with an electric heat strip on our Dometic A/C. It was installed by ETI as a $125 (CA) unlisted option. It is controlled by the digital thermostat, where it has its own icon. Loud, but works great for morning warm ups and other daytime use.

We have the same setup. We use it (when plugged in obviously) if running low on propane or to clear moisture from the trailer. As others have pointed out, it is loud. I keep a 400 watt, small space heater in the trailer to supplement the propane at night.

[cpaharley2008]

I have installed a Broan electric heater in every Escape I have owned and I'm very pleased with the product.

[Greg A]

Very nice install and good use of that wasted space. Will be a huge help when on Shore Power.
Noticed Broan doesn’t seem to offer a black grill.
For me personally, I’d have to get an appropriate can of spray paint and shoot the grill black.

[brroberts]

Originally Posted by cityofdestiny

We have the same setup. We use it (when plugged in obviously) if running low on propane or to clear moisture from the trailer. As others have pointed out, it is loud. I keep a 400 watt, small space heater in the trailer to supplement the propane at night.

Is it the Broan 174 or the furnace that is referred to as loud? I might consider this install too. How loud is the Broan?

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by brroberts

Is it the Broan 174 or the furnace that is referred to as loud? I might consider this install too. How loud is the Broan?

Randal: It appears cityofdestiny was referring to Ross and Lynn's reference to the electric heat strip option within the Dometic A/C being loud. I agree that will be loud. My experience with these stand-alone electric heaters like the Broan are that they are not very loud at all. I have considered an install like this but with a better unit with digital control. The trouble is finding the available space because the unit is bigger.

[brroberts]

Thanks Rubicon. That clears it up. I just need to download the Broan manual and see what it says about install clearances. The rest I’m pretty sure I could figure out for an install. Thanks

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Very nice install and good use of that wasted space. Will be a huge help when on Shore Power.
Noticed Broan doesn’t seem to offer a black grill.
For me personally, I’d have to get an appropriate can of spray paint and shoot the grill black.

Me too. I have been looking for a black or brown grill to match my oak better. haven't had much luck

[Greg A]

I just bought 4 new Stiebel 1500w wall heaters to install in our AirBNB end of the month, and they only offered in white too.
Must be a wall heater thing.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

Me too. I have been looking for a black or brown grill to match my oak better. haven't had much luck

A few owners have painted them to match their propane furnace grilles...
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...eat-16639.html

[Radar1]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

Me too. I have been looking for a black or brown grill to match my oak better. haven't had much luck

Originally Posted by Greg A

Very nice install and good use of that wasted space. Will be a huge help when on Shore Power.
Noticed Broan doesn’t seem to offer a black grill.
For me personally, I’d have to get an appropriate can of spray paint and shoot the grill black.

The old brown furnace grill in our Scamp was starting to look pretty bad and it didn't look right with the white fiberglass back so I ended up painting it an off white and it looked much better. Pretty easy to do, and I might paint this one some day to more closely match the oak.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

I have considered an install like this but with a better unit with digital control. The trouble is finding the available space because the unit is bigger.

Probably something like this...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cadet-En...63TW/206750445

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Probably something like this...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cadet-En...63TW/206750445

If that a zero clearance unit it may fit under the Dinette. This is another location I been looking at. I have 4 3/8" depth between the black tank and dinette..so it would mount on driver side dinette backed up to black tank enclosure.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

If that a zero clearance unit it may fit under the Dinette. This is another location I been looking at. I have 4 3/8" depth between the black tank and dinette..so it would mount on driver side dinette backed up to black tank enclosure.

The wall box doesn't need any clearance so 4-3/8" should work. I have to check our trailer as the older ones may be different. How much height do you have? I assume you would be closer to the floor than the 4-1/2" they recommend.

[brroberts]

Don’t now about the Cadet, but the Broan says 6” from floor, but the thread prictures don’t look that far.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

The wall box doesn't need any clearance so 4-3/8" should work. I have to check our trailer as the older ones may be different. How much height do you have? I assume you would be closer to the floor than the 4-1/2" they recommend.

There only 13" from the floor to the bottom of the 1x2 that holds the table. I did not resize you needed clearance from the floor. Now maybe a search for a unit thats wider and not as tall.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by NEWYORKHILLBILLY

There only 13" from the floor to the bottom of the 1x2 that holds the table. I did not resize you needed clearance from the floor. Now maybe a search for a unit thats wider and not as tall.

That might still work given you have a 10-1/8" high opening and 12" grille but you'd be right at the floor. Personally with the heating element up as high as it is on the unit I don't foresee a problem. I would probably install it this way if I couldn't find a better form factor but that's just me.

[Radar1]

Originally Posted by brroberts

Don’t now about the Cadet, but the Broan says 6” from floor, but the thread prictures don’t look that far.

The bottom of the grill is actually only 5" from the floor, although the lowest vent opening and the bottom of the housing is 6" from the floor. I do have an extra 1/2" that I could have moved it up before it interferes with the furnace frame, but I figured if 6" is good for 1500 watts, then 5" should work with the 750 watts.