Our E-19: Plans and Problems

[John-in-NE-Texas]

I hope that you all are having a very Happy Easter.

As I’ve shared earlier we took delivery of our Escape 19’ in mid-July and are still preparing for our first shakedown cruise. In preparation I took the trailer to Big Beard Batteries (associated with the National RV Training Academy, NRVTA) in Athens, TX who installed a Big Beard 600 Ahr lithium battery, 2 x 200W solar panels and a full Victron system, including a DC-DC controller. I’ll connect the DC-DC controller line to my Nissan Titan’s battery with a 50 amp cable.

I’m happy with everything else with the E-19, except for three items:

1. The shower curtain rod was a disappointment. I contacted Dawn, in ETI’s After Sales Svc. (she’s a great asset to that department), who said that the shower curtain rod used in Escape trailers is the industry standard. So be it, but I wanted something better, so I ordered a 7/8” diam 3-piece 28-48” tension shower curtain rod from Amazon (using only two of the three pieces) provided and rod end holders. This setup uses a standard shower curtain rod and hooks. Works great.
   
   
2. SPRINGFIELD MARINE PEDESTAL for Dinette Table. I opened the two clamps on the pedestal column and lowered and locked the dinette table onto the supports to convert the table to a bed. When I released the column clamps to return the table to its normal height, the table would only raise to 25½” of the maybe 28” from the floor. I don’t know what the specific height should be, but 25½” feels uncomfortably low and cramps my legs. I give the table a good upward tug each time I try to raise the table top, but it always stops short. Springfield offers a 5-year warranty on this product. Does anyone have any suggestions?
   
   
3. DOMETIC FURNACE with Analog Thermostat (heat only, as I have the 13.5 Houghton AC with a separate control). At first I didn’t think the ON-OFF switch on top ot the thermostat was functioning at all, until I saw a video. It seems that the ON-OFF switch lever moves only about 1/16” to the left or to the right. When I move the lever to the left I think the switch is in the ON position and moving it to the right puts it in the OFF position. When I move the temperature control slider on the bottom from left to right I hear a click when it reaches the current temperature. I turned the propane ON and tested the stovetop to confirm there is adequate pressure. The battery is fully charged. However, when I try to turn the furnace ON, nothing happens. No fan sound. No ignition clicks. No heat. I tested the contacts of the thermostat in both the ON and OFF positions with a VOM. Both positions showed continuity regardless of the setting, but still no response from the furnace.
   1. Can someone tell me where I can find the brand, model number and serial number of the furnace in my E-19?
   2. Thankfully, this E-19 has an exterior access panel.
   3. Does the furnace have any 120v circuitry? Is removing the 15 amp furnace sufficient to work on the circuitry safely?
   4. The trailer has traveled about 100 miles to and from Athens, TX. Otherwise, it’s been parked in the driveway for about nine months (with insect screens in place). Still the furnace compartment is dirtier than I expected. Could this be the culprit to interfere with the sail switch?
   5. Where will I find the sail switch? I’ll try to attach a photo of my E-19’s furnace compartment.
   6. Any hints and tips to diagnose the furnace will be appreciated.

I hope the fix doesn’t require a new circuit board but, if so, I hear good things from the forum for dinosaurelectronics.com.

If anyone wants to connect their trailer to a tow vehicle with an Anderson Connector (as I do), Powerwerx.com has agood selection of weatherproof Anderson Connector enclosures (under the name, Trailer Vision) for your rear bumper and a good selection of circuit breaker/switches for the battery end of your cable.



Thank you for your patience in getting this far in my rambling. Please let me know if you have any ideas for my Springfield Pedestal Table or my Dometic (?) furnace. All the best.



John-in-NE-Texas

My T-Shirt should say, “I’m Retired. I’ve got All Day.”

 

[brroberts]

The heater is 12V. If there’s absolutely no response after a few seconds with the thermostat high enough and on that you hear it click and call for heat, I’d start checking for 12V at the heater.

 

[zephirus]

Are your propane lines purged? If no, it will try to start and then quit. It will try starting again after maybe 5 minutes.

 

[Ron in BC]

Re: Springfield I had another brand, same function, on my boat. It levitated like a rocket. The Springfield seems more balanced. Easier to push down and needs a little help coming up the last few inches.

Furnace: did you jump the two thermostat leads? Even if it's not the problem many folks have ditched that horrible factory thermostat for a digital one. Lot's of threads on that.

Ron

 

[WinterIsComing]

Re: Furnace. Our '25 E21 furnace is Dometic; the installation and instruction manuals ETI gave us are for multiple DF Series models. The manuals we received from ETI are available online here:

operations manual

Installation Manual

The installation manual has a list of troubleshooting steps on page 25 to try if your furnace does not light and no blower.