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Old 12-23-2020, 12:23 PM   #1
AlmostThere
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Adding a 2nd Heat Pump

We have a 2020 377FL with 2 Coleman Mach ac units. As we know, only the front has the heat pump unit installed. I assume others have done this or talked about it, although I haven't found it, why can't I install another heat pump into the back unit?

Seams likes it's too easy and there must be a reason why it's not able to work.

Thanks!!
 
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Old 12-23-2020, 08:51 PM   #2
Tom N OH
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It’s really unnecessary. One heat pump keeps our 3811MS plenty warm until the temperature drops to the point that a heat pump becomes too inefficient to keep up. At that point, adding a 2nd one wouldn’t do any good anyway.
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Old 12-23-2020, 08:58 PM   #3
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It’s really unnecessary. One heat pump keeps our 3811MS plenty warm until the temperature drops to the point that a heat pump becomes too inefficient to keep up. At that point, adding a 2nd one wouldn’t do any good anyway.

Absolutely dead spot on! Agree!

That "point" is around 42-45 degrees. When the outside temperature is less than that, they just blow cold air. And when the temperatures are above 45, one heat pump will cook you out!
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Old 12-24-2020, 03:30 AM   #4
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I have found that the heat pump will actually help and circulate heat well into the 20's if you supplement it with the fireplace heat and/or a ceramic heater inside. We've been down to the teens and 20's with only the heat pump, fireplace and a small ceramic heater. It's able to keep the entire coach at 69 degrees. I do recommend that you monitor temps in your underbelly and basement to prevent freezing pipes. I purchased a thermometer with 3 remote sensors and put one in the underbelly, garage and pass through basement. Temps remain 48 and above down there so no problem with freezing pipes.
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Old 12-24-2020, 05:58 AM   #5
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We’ve been able to use our HP well down into the lows 30s by using the fire place heat strip, I also use a small ceramic heater in my basement that I have set for around 35 to 38 degrees, this has work very well keeping thing from freezing and it also keeps our bedroom floor warm. I’ve been doing this for several years, also this helps ad the furnace when you do eventually switch over to propane for heat.
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Old 12-24-2020, 08:33 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by RMcNeal View Post
I have found that the heat pump will actually help and circulate heat well into the 20's if you supplement it with the fireplace heat and/or a ceramic heater inside. We've been down to the teens and 20's with only the heat pump, fireplace and a small ceramic heater. It's able to keep the entire coach at 69 degrees. I do recommend that you monitor temps in your underbelly and basement to prevent freezing pipes. I purchased a thermometer with 3 remote sensors and put one in the underbelly, garage and pass through basement. Temps remain 48 and above down there so no problem with freezing pipes.
I like the idea of a thermometer; what model did you buy?

Thanks,
Brad
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Old 12-24-2020, 10:53 AM   #7
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Thanks... I know HOW a heat pump works and the limitations. I'm not sure how your HP works but ours doesn't keep our entire rig "toasty". The front area is great but the back room and top loft is chilly.

So the main idea is no... There is no technical reason anyone has seen that would prevent adding a 2nd.
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Old 12-24-2020, 12:22 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by AlmostThere View Post
Thanks... I know HOW a heat pump works and the limitations. I'm not sure how your HP works but ours doesn't keep our entire rig "toasty". The front area is great but the back room and top loft is chilly.

So the main idea is no... There is no technical reason anyone has seen that would prevent adding a 2nd.
No, there is no technical reason that would prevent it. My DP has 3 and it is nice to have the extra heat to warm a cool coach up, or like you stated keep the entire rig toasty.
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Old 12-24-2020, 10:17 PM   #9
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On our HC we have a heat pump on one end and a heat strip on the bedroom AC. When the bedroom AC goes out on our Montana we'll replace it with a heat pump or, if necessary a heat strip unit.
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Old 12-30-2020, 04:30 PM   #10
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I have a friend that did it (no In-Command, not a Montana but pretty close floor plan) and found the new bedroom (front bedroom) AC would make the bedroom so hot that adjusting the thermostat to where it stayed comfortable it never came on it was always off. Just pumped too much hot air into the bedroom. Since he spent so much money he is thinking of putting a fan in the bedroom doorway to move the hot air out. I think he's just chasing a problem with no good solution.
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Old 01-02-2021, 07:04 AM   #11
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On our HC we have a heat pump on one end and a heat strip on the bedroom AC. When the bedroom AC goes out on our Montana we'll replace it with a heat pump or, if necessary a heat strip unit.
How does the heat strip work and is this something you installed?
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