Tank Heaters

[Kraut]

Just bought a 2022 Cougar 316RLS. How do I know if I have tank heaters?

[LadyCPA]

I would like to know that as well. We have all the documents on our 2022 Raptor, but I don't think I have seen anything about tank heaters.

[NH_Bulldog]

According to Keystone it has the Climate Guard mandatory package which includes tank heaters as a standard feature. They may or may not be controlled by the InCommand panel, but the switches are often mounted above or below the panel if not. They would be on the wall before you go up the stairs.

That being said, any 2022 model is a Covid-era unit and nothing was built as normal, and things were often left out due to shortages or supply chain disruptions. So yours is “supposed” to have heaters, but it’s anyone’s guess whether they actually included them.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by LadyCPA

I would like to know that as well. We have all the documents on our 2022 Raptor, but I don't think I have seen anything about tank heaters.

Look at the spec sheet under weather package. It includes the tank heaters and I suspect the trailer came with it.

https://www.ronhooverrvs.com/product...362-1892286-26

[Bob N]

I have a 2022 Cougar 25RDS with tank heaters. Does anyone know if I can operate them with the trailer moving on the road? BTW, my are controlled by the inCommand.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Bob N

I have a 2022 Cougar 25RDS with tank heaters. Does anyone know if I can operate them with the trailer moving on the road? BTW, my are controlled by the inCommand.

Yes, you can operate them while towing (traveling on the road). That said, let's do a little "simple math" to better calculate what you're looking to do:

A single lithium 100 amp hour 12 volt battery provides 1200 watts of power for one hour. (12*100=1200)


Let's assume, as Chuckster57 posted in another thread, each tank heater uses about 65 watts of power. Then, three tank heaters (two gray and one black) would use 65*3=195 watts per hour. For easier math calculations, let's assume that the temperature remains below 32F and the tank heaters will remain powered on with no thermostatic control to cycle power to the tank heater blankets.

Now, doing some math, a 1200 watt hour battery would provide about 1000 watts with a cutoff somewhere around 200 watts remaining when the battery was "completely discharged". So 1000 watts available power, using 195 watts for the tank heaters (and NOTHING ELSE powered on in the trailer) the battery would last about 5.1 hours.

You can expect about 1 or 2 amps of "charge capability" from the tow vehicle, so that's about 12-24 watts per hour.

So, using "quick calculations", you can run the tank heaters during a 5 hour tow and arrive at your destination with your "single lithium battery" pretty much completley discharged.

Now, if you have Flooded Lead Acid (FLA) batteries, you can expect to discharge them to about 50%, so a 100 amp hour FLA battery will provide about 500 watts of power before you "risk battery damage".

Power on more equipment (furnace fan, refrigerator, etc) and you shorten the length of time until battery discharge.

Add more batteries, add a better charging system (tow vehicle or solar) and you can substantially increase the capability to run the tank heaters. Adding both would be even better option.

[LadyCPA]

Hey Sourdough Thank you so much. The documents are stored in The Beast, so we will go pull them out and check. I will be honest we bought the unit because it was the perfect floor plan and garage size for us, but it had way more bells and whistles than we had planned, and a year later we are still learning
Thank you again.

[LadyCPA]

this is Roy, Rhonda's husband.. so if we go to the compartment and turn off the master shut off .. does the solar panel array still charge the batteries .. we added 4 panels and 3 285ah lithium batteries?.. and how do you shut off the residential fridge for a few months while its stored . thanks

[chuckster57]

As a rule, solar systems bypass the factory cutoff and provide charging to the battery(s) all the time there is sunlight.

If you have a residential fridge, you most likely have an inverter. If your unplugged from shore power and turn the inverter off, your fridge should be off. Make sure you leave the fridge and freezer doors open to avoid issues.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by LadyCPA

this is Roy, Rhonda's husband.. so if we go to the compartment and turn off the master shut off .. does the solar panel array still charge the batteries .. we added 4 panels and 3 285ah lithium batteries?.. and how do you shut off the residential fridge for a few months while its stored . thanks

What brand of res fridge? I can turn our Samsung off as they say to but the lights will still come on - it only shuts down the cooling portion. In addition to turning mine off with the interior buttons I also flip the breaker to it to prevent the lights from coming on. I also turn the inverter for it off as well.

[Trailgrunt]

I have 2022 25RDS (eastern) but I have to control them from the InCommand app (as weird as that sounds) and cannot access on the main panel by the door.

[RollaMo]

Originally Posted by Trailgrunt

I have 2022 25RDS (eastern) but I have to control them from the InCommand app (as weird as that sounds) and cannot access on the main panel by the door.

Are you sure about that?
I believe your In-Command panel is the same as what we have in our 2022 24RDS 5th wheel.

On the main screen, you see the tank levels along top of screen.



Now touch that top line and it will open the next screen.
This is where you will see the option to turn on/off tank heaters.

[Trailgrunt]

I’m not 100% about anything. I never tried tapping on the tanks for the next screen and will do so. Thank you.
I’ve been in temps to 13 degrees (overnight, not sustained) and have not had a problem yet.

[rlh1957]

If you can see the tank bottom underneath the Coroplast (remove a few coroplast screws and pull down to see tank bottom. If warmer pads are present you will see what looks like a thin foam or fabric looking pad glued to tank bottom.

Usually in the pass through bin (garage!) you should find switches for the tank heaters. When on they go through a pad thermostat sensor that triggers at around 40 degrees F. So if they are left on the won’t operate unless temp drops below threshold. They don’t get hot, just warm similar to an electric blanket and not even as warm. Keeping the tank liquids from freezing still doesn’t protect you from smaller fittings or lines from freezing first. So to me the tank heater is just another pipe dream to fix something that is the last thing to freeze in the system.
To me all water lines being wrapped with heat tape would make more sense, but cost and labor would be prohibitive.

[RollaMo]

Originally Posted by rlh1957

Keeping the tank liquids from freezing still doesn’t protect you from smaller fittings or lines from freezing first. So to me the tank heater is just another pipe dream to fix something that is the last thing to freeze in the system.

My thoughts as well.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by Trailgrunt

I never tried tapping on the tanks for the next screen and will do so.

Me neither. I didn't even know there was a next screen there! Though all it did was show me a larger bar graph of the same tank levels, as my heaters are on rocker switches.

[LadyCPA]

we have a Haier..

[LadyCPA]

it is a Haier.

Originally Posted by sourdough

What brand of res fridge? I can turn our Samsung off as they say to but the lights will still come on - it only shuts down the cooling portion. In addition to turning mine off with the interior buttons I also flip the breaker to it to prevent the lights from coming on. I also turn the inverter for it off as well.

[Kraut]

Originally Posted by RollaMo

Are you sure about that?
I believe your In-Command panel is the same as what we have in our 2022 24RDS 5th wheel.

On the main screen, you see the tank levels along top of screen.
Attachment 45957


Now touch that top line and it will open the next screen.
This is where you will see the option to turn on/off tank heaters.
Attachment 45958

That worked. Thank You.

[LadyCPA]

I want to thank all of you for the comments, the suggestions, and patience. Thanks to all of the posts throughout this forum we are learning so very much about our RV. The walk through provided at purchase just does not allow one to take in all that there is about most of these units. Again, had no idea that the unit had tank heaters. Every time we take it out, we learn something new.