Last year when we went to Tahquamenon Falls, Northern Michigan Feb 2008 we had pretty cold temps and the last night there our water pump slushed/froze up enough that we didn't get to have our morning showers.
We're getting ready to go to the Upper Peninsula again in a couple of weeks so I have made a small change so as not to repeat the same thing.
In the wall that makes up the seat of the dinette is a passive return air duct, I added a 12v computer fan to assist with the circulation. I also added a smaller 12v computer fan that just fits into 3" flex hose, this fan blows room temp air down to the water pump/tank drain compartment. Both of these fans are attached to a lighted switch so they are only on when I think they need to be.
The basement is heated when using the propane furnace but when we have hookups I want the option of using our built in electric heater and this will help keep the basement warmer. On those super cold nights I'll use the propane furnace and this to ensure enough warmth.
Here is a before shot of where I decided to put the supply air fan
Here is the fan installed and a shot of the flex pipe. (I have a small grill to cover the fan but it has to be painted first)
Here is the flex in the compartment
The flex going from the fan to the compartment
Here you see the switch and return air grill
you can just see the supply air on the left, switch & return air.
Hi Bruce: That will work great, you can't go out in the winter and not have a shower first thing in the morning. Did you ever buy that propane gauge and did it work? We want to try and catch up with you guys this summer, last summer was a little to crazy for me to do it.
Mike
Bruce,
its obvious great minds think alike:
Although I went for the high mount position for the lighted switch:
Nice job, as usual! Your camper always looks great, I'd be embarrassed to have you see how beat up mine is!
2002 Dodge 3500 CTD/DRW/
2000 Northern Lite 10-2000cd
Nice, professional looking jobs, both of you!
Excellent ideas. Thank you to both, for posting/sharing of both the ideas and also the pictures.
09 Fleetwood Jamboree 31M - 'Summerhouse'
Ford 6.8 L Triton V10 5spd
“Light hearted I take to the open road… Healthy, free, the world before me… The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose.” - Walt Whitman
Fast.5 - Yup, gotta have that Hot shower. Maybe you'd like to come up to Oscoda with us this year. We'll talk about that later.
robseg - Thats a good idea but I've already got a grill for it
cdl2 - Yes, 2 fans, look close at the 2nd to the last photo and you can see it in the grill for the (what was) passive return.
I do not know the CFM it was not listed on the labels. the large fan is 3.5" and the other is 2.5".
The flex hose is 8' stretched all the way out, but it is effectively only about 5'.
rhodetrip - I want to take a tour of your camper someday, I think you have projects that you haven't told us about. (and I want to steal them)
The side benefit of those fans MAY be that the interior of the camper will also have a more even heat throughout the camper since the air is constantly being moved. That would make it feel warmer than it otherwise would.
Good stuff.
Frank
2011 Palomino Maverick 1000SLLB on a 2004 Dodge Quadcab CTD Ram3500 SRW long bed equipped with Timbren springs, Stable Load bump stops, Rickson 19.5" wheels/"G" range tires and a Helwig "Big Wig" rear anti sway bar.
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