Styrofoam block in A/C unit?

[50ST8R]

Heat doesn't radiate downwards....for all intents and purposes, it is zero.

To add to the argument, if you place a thermometer in the basement you will find there is definitely heat there which demonstrates what the furnace is doing. Yes heat rises but it also goes where pushed. Place a thermometer in the basement and one by the battery box in front to explain the difference in temperature if there is a zero factor there. I would wager with the heat strips they will be much closer to the same temperature. Needless to say, for creature comfort the heaters are nice but I want to make sure I have pipes not freezing. Just sayin’.


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Kevin & Deb. 2021 Reflection 320 MKS
2018 Ford F-350 Diesel SRW Platinum

[cookinwitdiesel]

To add to the argument, if you place a thermometer in the basement you will find there is definitely heat there which demonstrates what the furnace is doing. Yes heat rises but it also goes where pushed. Place a thermometer in the basement and one by the battery box in front to explain the difference in temperature if there is a zero factor there. I would wager with the heat strips they will be much closer to the same temperature. Needless to say, for creature comfort the heaters are nice but I want to make sure I have pipes not freezing. Just sayin’.


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Kevin & Deb. 2021 Reflection 320 MKS
2018 Ford F-350 Diesel SRW Platinum

You could run the furnace with the heatstrips on to recirculate air through the furnace ducting, not sure if you can run just the furnace fan though. In my fifth wheel, the return for the furnace is the hidden openings under the hutch and bottom of the pantry.

[The_Lovells]

Heat doesn't radiate downwards....for all intents and purposes, it is zero.

Not to get into Urinary Olympics but.. from : https://engineeringlibrary.org/refer...r-doe-handbook
All bodies above absolute zero temperature radiate some heat. The sun and earth both radiate heat toward each other. This seems to violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that heat cannot flow from a cold body to a hot body. The paradox is resolved by the fact that each body must be in direct line of sight of the other to receive radiation from it. Therefore, whenever the cool body is radiating heat to the hot body, the hot body must also be radiating heat to the cool body. Since the hot body radiates more heat (due to its higher temperature) than the cold body, the net flow of heat is from hot to cold, and the second law is still satisfied.

[cookinwitdiesel]

Not to get into Urinary Olympics but.. from : https://engineeringlibrary.org/refer...r-doe-handbook
All bodies above absolute zero temperature radiate some heat. The sun and earth both radiate heat toward each other. This seems to violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that heat cannot flow from a cold body to a hot body. The paradox is resolved by the fact that each body must be in direct line of sight of the other to receive radiation from it. Therefore, whenever the cool body is radiating heat to the hot body, the hot body must also be radiating heat to the cool body. Since the hot body radiates more heat (due to its higher temperature) than the cold body, the net flow of heat is from hot to cold, and the second law is still satisfied.

I understand the thermodynamics, but for the sake of the topic at hand, it effectively does not radiate into the underbelly in any meaningful way. It would be a BAD idea to count on a hot living area to keep your underbelly from freezing up without other considerations made

[The_Lovells]

I understand the thermodynamics, but for the sake of the topic at hand, it effectively does not radiate into the underbelly in any meaningful way. It would be a BAD idea to count on a hot living area to keep your underbelly from freezing up without other considerations made

I absolutely agree with you, and as I previously stated, I made that very same comment in my original heat strip post. However, their is a large population of RV users/owners, on this forum, and elsewhere, who believe that heat strips are not effective. I contend that they are very effective and very cost effective if you have dual AC's and the electrical hookup to power them. I would recommend that anyone that wants to save money should consider them and not use them below 32 degrees outside air temperature. I have them in our 297 RSTS and had them in our previous Dutchmen Adirondack with two Dometic AC's. My personal threshold based upon real world experience is <32 degrees >25 degrees for less than 2 hours, will not freeze the underbelly water lines in my Reflection 297 RSTS if the internal temperature in the living room and bedroom areas are heated to at least 72 degrees. Your mileage will vary as you do not have my 297 RSTS.

[BobLandry]

Does anyone have a thought as to why GD disables the dump function on their ACs? I had it on my previous trailer and it was a great feature for when we ha guest and were sitting in the living area. I on't see a reason not to remove the baffle and restore the ump function. Is there one?

[Double Eagle]

With the dump disabled you get much stronger airflow through the ducts for faster more balanced cooling. The dump will cool one area faster. But having it blocked will cool the entire RV faster.

[Flyn2high]

The reason that the manufacture of the styrofoam block gives is that the dump exit is very close to the intake and much of the cool air is short circuited back into the intake. Before the mod with the dump closed the pressure in the duct is also increased. After the mod it is an intake but it bypasses the filters.

There is a noticeable increase in air flow in the duct after the mod. On ours we had to turn the round exit vents so that it wasn't blowing directly on us.