Atwood Furnace Install
From VanagonWiki
The Atwood "Everest Star" propane RV furnace is a more economical alternative to getting a thermostatically controlled, propane fired, forced air furnace in your van. It is considerably less expensive than the popular Propex furnace, which sells for $720-$875 for the two models available in the US. Not only is the Atwood less expensive, but it can also be purchased with BTU outputs that are greater than the maximum available of a Propex, if needed...up to 18,000btu. It is also sometimes referred to with the brand name "Hydro Flame".
One downside to producing more btu, however, is that it uses more propane than the miserly Propex. To produce additional output BTU, more input BTU must be consumed. The ratio of the two is how furnaces are rated, in a percentage.
In Europe, where campervans are used in winter camping more often than the US, the most popular heaters are the Espar / Eberspacher gas and diesel-fired units, Truma, and Propex; these owners have proven that a 6000-9000 btu auxiliary heater is more than sufficient. These heaters range from tiny (4x4x12 inches) to about half the size of an Atwood. All of the above mentioned heaters have self-diagnostics of varying levels.
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' Atwood's 8012 diagnostic mode chart
LED indicator:
Steady on, no flashing= internal circuit board failure
1 flash with 3 second pause= limit switch/airflow problems
2 flashes with a three second pause = flame sensor fault
3 flashes with 3 second pause= ignition lock out fault
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The available models are as follows: (All furnaces look exactly the same)
8012 1200 btu 1.8 amps (the only one with 1.8 amps current draw) '(See below for special eBay pricing on this model'''')
7912 1200 btu 3.4 amps
7914 1400 btu 3.4 amps
7916 1600 btu 3.4 amps
7918 1800 btu 3.4 amps
Link to the manufacturer's web site: www.atwoodmobile.com/Products/furnace/7900.cfm
Link to an installation and service manual: Hydroflame_Service Manual ( large PDF file takes a while to load)
Link to a dealer. (Note the new low amp draw version.) www.ducktec.com
Link to alternative dealer. www.americanrvcompany.com Click on Ebay store. Price is $270.00 + $30.00 shipping as of 10/4/07
Note: The Atwood furnace is standard equipment in all Adventurewagon Vanagon camper conversions
The compromise you have to accept with an Atwood is that you will be much more limited in choices of installation locations. A Propex can be installed in a variety of locations since the small, flexible, vent hoses can be bent to go through holes to the exterior that can be cut in a number of different locations, even hidden away in a closet as the unit has a very low case temperature. The Atwood must be mounted perpendicular to the outside wall of the van. The limitation on locations is due to the fact that the air/exhaust duct exits straight out the back of the furnace. It is not flexible and it cannot be modified, according to the manufacturer. This requires the installer to cut a hole through the side wall of the van to route the exhaust. The mounting depth of the furnace, from the inside vent face to the outside wall must be 20.5", which is slightly more than the depth available between the front of the Westy cabinets to the exterior sheet metal. However, this does not present a big problem as the photo below shows. All that is required is a frame ...or panel...around the outside of the vent.
Another cosmetic disadvantage is that the rectangular face of the heater is much larger than the small round opening of the Propex. The exterior face comes in a brown color and must be painted to match the grey interiors of '86+ model Vanagons.
I would expect the interior noise of the fan to be similar for the two furnaces....but for the $200 I paid for one on eBay, I'll accept the compromises. The photo below shows one installed several years ago by GoWesty. The extra panel behind the furnace is made from a spare Westy table. The panel does not have to be so large as this one, however, which, in this installation, caused loss of the shorepower 110v outlet and the circuit breaker. See other pictures soon to follow of alternative installations.
