Aqua Hot performance

[Eric]

I spent one night at +6 degrees while only using the Aquahot. I wanted to see
if the Aquahot would keep up. The Aquahot could keep up. It cycled on an off.
It appeared to have plenty of additional time to heat the glycol solution. It
sure wasn't toasty in the coach. Let me give you a run down of life in the
coach as I remember it.

I almost never run the bedroom heat (Zone 3). I did run it occasionally on that
night. I don't like the noise nor a hot bedroom. Zone 2, the bathroom was fine
but remember Zone 2 also heats the basement and in cold conditions there are a
lot of radiators in the basement demanding hot water. The 1/2" line that
circulates glycol is mighty small to keep about 6 to 8 radiators satisfied.

Finally zone 1, the main area puts out heat but by the time the hot glycol gets
to my dashboard toe heaters the air blowing out is lukewarm. The first zone,
under the sink if fine, the radiator under the couch is warm. The third
radiator in series with the other two heaters, under the dashboard is
disappointingly lukewarm.

In order to keep the coach comfortable (I should say from being uncomfortable.)
I closed all the window coverings as tightly as I could. I turned the basement
thermostat down to as low as it would go +/-40 degrees. I should tell you that
Rich Archie's recent experience with freeze up should be kept in mind when
setting the basement heat on minimum.

I chose not to run the electric heat that night. By morning the temperature in
the coach, as I recall, was in the high 50's. I turned all the electric heaters
on. The bottom line for me, in my coach, in single digit temperatures is to run
the electric heaters.

In fact 98.9% of the time I run only electric heaters to heat the main cabin. I
of course use the Aquahot to maintain above freezing conditions in the bays.
The only time I ever use the AquaHot to heat the cabin is when I dry camp. When
I start dry camping in single digit temperatures is the time for some members of
my family to commit me for my own safety.

After full timing for 7 years we've found that supplementing the two electric
heaters that BB provided with one silent type heater near the dash board is
quite satisfactory. The front, silent heater is on all the time and the other
BB heaters trim the heat in the bus. I don't use the Aquahot because it is much
louder than the electric heaters. Furthermore the AquaHot uses diesel. I pay
for that. Typically I don't pay for electricity.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Eric Perplies
96' PT-42
currently in Las Vegas