Here we are on our "matron voyage" with happy faces and many puzzles. Would someone help with this one -- or two -- ?

1. Auxiliary heat switch on the dashboard -- what does it do and where is the auxiliary heat located?

2. There is an AMFAB INC thing that has two hoses (they look like the heating hose from the propane furnace) which are aimed into the bedroom. Nothing comes out of these two hoses when the propane heat is on -- could they be the auxiliary heat that is activated by the mysterious auxiliary heat switch?

Betsy & Carl Feren
1992 30 ft Breakaway
Idgie, Onyx, Princess & Talley the Cat

This is a guess, but it could be the block heater, possibly operating a 120VAC relay; mine is on a 120VAC switch above the driver's seat.

I also have a mysterious "Heat Pad" switch on the wall near the bathroom door, and I have no idea what it does, and neither did the former owner...I suspect it's a heat pad for the FW tank, but I haven't traced the wires yet.

Another possibility is that your switch is for a rear heater core connected to the engine cooling system - my LWB van has rear heat-A/C, and there's a switch for the fan on the dash.

quote:

Originally posted by Ol' Betsy:
Auxiliary heat switch on the dashboard -- what does it do and where is the auxiliary heat located?

My auxiliary heater is located under the sink in the bathroom - it sends the heat from the engine coolant into the living room, hallway and bedroom. It runs on 12v.

"what does it do and where is the auxiliary heat located?"

Another possibility: My '86 (gas 454 front engine) had engine auxiliary heat to the water heater, sending coolant through the tank heater while driving (and it worked well!). We could see the red neoprene hoses at the tank under the sink.

Most likely situation - the auxiliary heat switch turns on a blower in the mysterious AMFAB INC thing, which is a gizmo commonly called "motor aided heat" on this site. In addition to the heat ducts you note, odds are there are water hoses connected to it which carry engine coolant to give you "motor aided" heat while you are underway.

Try turning on that auxiliary heat switch while the motor is running, & see if you get air flow from those heat ducts.

Could this switch be connected to an auxillary pump, to pump hot water from the back to the front for the dash heater and heater under sofa and the hot water heater. Mine has hoses from the rear to the front and the water heater and what looks like a pump, but i have not had time to check it out. Thoughts? happy motoring Sky

Olroy is most likely correct regarding the "motor aid" heating set up. I have two "motor aid" heaters in my coach. Both have heater cores connected to the engine's coolant system. When your engine is up to temperature, switch on the "Aux Heat" switch and a 12 volt blower should produce heat for you through the ducts that you described.

Barth also used "motor aid" heat in their hot water tanks to pre-heat water while driving down the road. When you got to your camping spot, you already had hot water to use.

Bill G

I have an Aux Heat switch on the left console (see picture) that turns on the fan in the bedroom/hallway to send heat from the engine through a second rear heater and air condioner system. It is a second evaporator and fan that runs off the dash air system. Engine driven compressors are fully capable of supplying cold air to two evaporators. I found that while running the dash ac and turning the switch to on that I can cool the entire coach wihtout using the roof air. To test it run the ac at idle and turn on the switch - you will get cold air out of the black plastic vents at the floor and at the top of the drawer stack next to the bedroom tv.



93 Regency 32 feet, Cat 3208T, 300 hp Allison 4 speed transmission.
Tom

Yes.

Thank you. We tried the switch when plugged in at the campground and nothing came out of the vents. So we will try it when we are on the road again.

We are at 3000 plus miles of our first long trip and are very very happy with our Barth. What are those other folks doing? One man kept walking around -- at a respectful distance. He finally came over to say that this was the most sensible and handsome bus in the park. Nice.

God bless all.

Betsy & Carl Feren
1992 30 ft Breakaway
Three dogs & a cat

quote:

One man kept walking around -- at a respectful distance. He finally came over to say that this was the most sensible and handsome bus in the park. Nice.

Well, of course he did, because he's right! Diesel pushers under 34' are rare, and AFAIK, only Barth made 'em 28' and 30'.

Well by gosh and bingo! too...

The Auxiliary heat switch on the dashboard does turn on "motor aided heat" while we drive. And we had hot water ready for use when we arrived at the next campground. So, 'nuther one solved.

On the right wall between the bathroom door and the entrance to the rear bedroom, about a foot above the wooden grill (may be the cold air return) is a switch in the off position with no other id. It is connected to two white wires that run back I believe (bifocals are treacherous that way) to an insulated tank. You may have guessed that technical talk is not easy here. Any idea on that switch?

Thanks to all. I appreciate the help.

Betsy & Carl
92 Breakaway 30'
Idgie, Onyx, Princess & Talley the Cat

Hi Betsy and Carl! Isn't that rear auxilary heat vent great? Gets the coach nice and toasty for your destination. The switch you are asking about is so you can heat your water with AC instead of propane. Of course you need to be plugged in...I've never used it but I bet it draws some power.

Hi Larry and Heidi --

Thank you! Nice to hear from you! We've already put 3000 plus miles on this lovely bus and are really happy with it.

Thanks for the news about the water heater. I thought maybe it was for winter camping and kept one tank or another or both from freezing. But we'll give it a try tonight and see what happens. Only hot water I hope.

Betsy and Carl etc etc

Didn't heat the water -- either it doesn't work or has some other function. Investigation continues...

Betsy & Carl Feren