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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Scott & Heather on March 01, 2020, 05:43:10 PM

Title: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Scott & Heather on March 01, 2020, 05:43:10 PM
We are temp living in a camper while the bus engine is rebuilt.

Would like to be able to run the furnace for heat but also simultaneously run the roof a/c fan on high for white noise to mitigate the noise of the furnace kicking on an off. When we switch this tstat to furnace mode, the fan controls don't even turn on the roof ac fan at all no matter what setting the fan is set to. Can someone tell me how to keep the roof ac fan on even while the furnace is set to heat?
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: richard5933 on March 01, 2020, 06:29:45 PM
Might be easier to just use a white noise app on your smartphone run through a blue tooth speaker. That's what we've been doing for a few years now, and the white noise drowns out most of the type of sounds you're getting from the furnace.
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Dave5Cs on March 02, 2020, 04:30:00 PM
You could put in a switch separate from the thermostat and run a couple of wires to the AC fans to hard-wire them. When your heater is on flip the switch and turn on the fan(S).
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Scott & Heather on March 02, 2020, 05:56:51 PM
Dave, I might just have to do that. For some reason I though it might be a simple jumper change but maybe not.

Richard, cell phone white noise isn't the same and won't do the trick.
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Dave5Cs on March 02, 2020, 06:49:35 PM
Maybe Scott you could put in a second thermostat for just the AC and the other just for the heater. Then you could turn on the ac fan from it. You could loop the 12Vdc from the one to the other but only for the power and all else is separate for each.
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: richard5933 on March 03, 2020, 03:48:04 AM
Quote from: Scott & Heather on March 02, 2020, 05:56:51 PM...
Richard, cell phone white noise isn't the same and won't do the trick.
Then perhaps a 'Turbo' fan from Walmart.

I just find it's like opening a can of worms to mess with these mixed appliance thermostats. Either remove it and install two separate thermostats, one for each device, or find another way to make some white noise.

Also, before you do anything, check the manual for that a/c unit to see if it's even possible to have the fan run all the time. Some of them won't do it even if set to do so on the thermostat.
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Scott & Heather on March 03, 2020, 04:06:37 AM
Richard,

So this is just a run of the mill Coleman Mach and I've seen this done on these before so I know with a little work it can be done. But I agree with you about making too many changes to a working system. Incidentally we are traveling and this unit doesn't have a generator so we couldn't use the ac fan for white noise anyway so I decided to just use my phone app as you suggested connected to the Bluetooth stereo in the camper and all night we slept to the cabin sound of a commercial jet. Seemed to work and works when you only have 12v power available. Still not the same as the roof ac we are used to but it just might be the ticket.
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: luvrbus on March 03, 2020, 04:50:13 AM
Good luck I have 1 TStat that controls 3 zones for 2 different types of heating plus the AC you need PHD in electronics to work it but I cannot turn on just the AC fans with it LOL I did find out how to work the floor heat of all places the controls are in the SilverLeaf
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Lin on March 03, 2020, 09:39:12 AM
Funny how people are different.  I would rather hear the furnace cycling through the night than the rooftop AC fan.
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Utahclaimjumper on March 03, 2020, 09:58:40 AM

Remove your hearing aids and it's no problem..>>>Dan
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: luvrbus on March 03, 2020, 10:15:37 AM
Quote from: Utahclaimjumper on March 03, 2020, 09:58:40 AM
Remove your hearing aids and it's no problem..>>>Dan

Why Dan you don't hear with them
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Van on March 03, 2020, 04:33:23 PM
Quote from: Utahclaimjumper on March 03, 2020, 09:58:40 AM
Remove your hearing aids and it's no problem..>>>Dan
There's an APP on your phone for that now Dan, just ask LUVR-B lol! :D ;)
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Utahclaimjumper on March 03, 2020, 10:20:03 PM

I spent many years building motorcycle drag racing engines for a living ,, my time around drag racing sent my ears up in smoke..  BUT,, I don't have a problem at night!.>>>Dan
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: RichardEntrekin on March 06, 2020, 05:55:57 PM
I don't have the schematic with me, but look up the schematic for the Coleman Mach. You will find that color of the wire that runs the fan. Jumper 12Vdc to that wire and the fan will come on without messing with the furnace function.
Title: Re: Thermostat Hack Question
Post by: Scott & Heather on March 07, 2020, 02:37:19 PM
That's exactly the info I was as looking for. I was sure it was just a jumper. Thanks!