RV Propane Furnace ?

Have an odd question and thought there’s no better place to get an answer than Trapperman.

I recently acquired a 1979 Skyline Nomad camper.

How does the propane furnace work??

Do you just hook up the electric, turn the propane on and set the thermostat?

Or is there a pilot light or something that has to be lit?

is it the original furnace?

I don’t know for sure but I’m guessing it is.

I can 't say for sure Todd but I'm guessing one of that vintage has a pilot light. Shouldn't be hard to figure out.

Find the name of your furnace and look for a manual online. I doubt it has a pilot light. More modern furnaces operate through a sequence of steps in which a blower exhausts any gas, that blower must open a switch that then permits the inlet of gas and drives an igniter to fire the furnace. To operate there must be electric power for the blower and igniter as well as gas.

A 79 probably has a pilot light is my guess.

Newer ones have a sparker ignighter like on your gas grill and it sparks it up every time it kicks on instead of burning a pilot light constant.

You could kick it on and see if you hear the sparker trying to light it.

I had one about that age and it did not have a pilot light for the furnace. I think they all run on 12 volts so you need a good battery. The campers I had used some 12 volt spark thing to start the furnace. The water heater did have a pilot light and so did the refrigerator. I remember lighting the water heater pilot light but think the refrigerator was self lighting, again all 12 volt. When I remote camped I had two batteries and a generator. I would just make sure the battery is charged and try it. I have had 6 or 8 campers and none of them required 120 v electric. They all ran everything except the air conditioner on a 12 volt battery.

Butch,
Is there a place for the 12 v hookup? I just saw the cord for 110/220 but I have to look closer. Or did you just use an inverter?

All of my campers had/have a deep cycle battery mounted on the outside front behind the propane tanks. Inside somewhere there should be an inverter to charge the battery and run 12 volt things when you are connected to 120 v. In PA you need the battery for inspection, but if someone didn't move the camper they may have removed the battery. You should be able to find where the battery connected even if someone removed the battery and its cables. I carry a small electric space heater. I only use the onboard propane heater when I'm awake with a window open. I knew a guy that died in a camper from carbon monoxide.

In all campers with which I am familiar, the cord from outside bringing 110/120 will power the wall outlets, air conditioner, refrigerator/freezer when switched to 110, and some lights. This will allow you to use standard household microwaves, tvs, crock pots etc which require the higher voltage. The 110/120 will also power an inverter which will recharge the battery or batteries which are powering the 12 volt portion of the electrical system which is driving items such as hydraulic pumps, some lights, and the necessary electrical power to run the furnace and the refrigerator when it is not switched to the higher voltage. By lifting the name from your furnace and going online you should be able to find the details about its operation.

With the photo of the camper and the position of the battery identified, I would point out that if you wish to maintain a charged battery while powering your refrigerator while driving, you will need a line from your tow vehicle that feeds 12 volt to the battery enroute. I always use the larger round connectors between camper and tow vehicle because they have such a connector but the tow vehicle end must be connected in the vehicle.

The furnace runs off 12v often since it is only a fan
A microwave and a/c needs the 110
There should be a door/hatch you can open to find IF there is a pilot light, same with the water heater.

You'd be wise to invest in the owners manual, just like when you buy a used car or truck. first purchase afterwards.
Little differences abound.

Joining www.irv2.com is the nations best site for camper info too, BUT, get the owners manual FIRST so there is no second guessing.