Tiffin Motorhomes 2014 Phaeton, Owner'S Manual

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TIFFIN MOTORHOMES –PHAETON® Chapter 3 HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Warning
Be cautious when washing the exterior of the motor home; water should never be
sprayed directly into the furnace vent. Should any water be forced beyond the rain
baffles into the furnace vent, the furnace may rust which, in turn, may cause
improper combustion and produce unwanted by-products of combustion.
Before the beginning of each travel season, the furnace should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Any obstructions,
debris, or lint which may obstruct free air flow or impede the operation of the air circulation system should be removed.
For example, accumulated dust or lint could possibly obstruct the orifices for the pilot light or may accumulate on the
blower blades and unbalance the operation of the blower. Additionally, any debris in the ductwork, when heated by
the furnace, could emit unpleasant odors or possibly become a fire hazard.
Consequently, the furnace system should be periodically cleaned; annually is recommended unless the motor home is
subjected to dust levels significantly greater than average; in which case more frequent cleaning is recommended.
The Owner’s Information Package provides recommended cleaning tips and procedures; when needed, a more
thorough cleaning should be performed by a qualified service technician.
Air Conditioning System
The factory-installed air-conditioning system is designed for 120 VAC power supplied either from the external power
cord or from the generator. Any unnecessary heat loading (e.g., exposure to direct sunlight for long periods of time;
transmittance of sunlight through the windows) will work the air conditioning system harder and may compromise the
desired results. Accordingly, if the air conditioning system is to be used, park the motor home in a shady location
whenever possible and close drapes on those windows exposed to direct sunlight. Additionally, any heat-producing
sources (e.g., oven, unnecessary lights) within the motor home will work against the air conditioning system; so strive to
minimize their use.
The air conditioning system is the major consumption device of electrical power in the motor
home. When this system is being used in an RV park, cumulative use of these air-conditioning
systems by the resident vehicles can create a bigger demand for electrical power than is actually
available. Accordingly, at times a “brown-out” condition may arise—this is when the AC voltage
normally available drops to a lesser value (e.g., 10-20% below normal or more).
“Brown-out” conditions cause appliances to draw greater currents to make up for the reduced
voltage; thereby causing circuit breakers to trip or fuses to blow. Under such conditions, your own
motor home is not at fault; simply reset your breakers and/or replace your fuses. Should such conditions continue, one
may wish to turn reduce the electrical load (in this case, turn “off” the air conditioning system for awhile) or start the
electrical generator.
To cool the motor home, the thermostat inside the Phaeton is used—this is the same thermostat which controls the
furnace functions (described earlier). The air-conditioned, cooled air is emitted through the vents, which are
located in the roof throughout the entire coach. The discharge and return air vents run parallel, front to back, on the
ceiling. Note that the return vents are similar to the air conditioning vents. This system allows even distribution for
the returns instead of forcing an excess amount of return air through two smaller openings. The even return system
takes more of the hot air from the motor home, thereby providing cooler air throughout the unit. The air
conditioning vents that are mounted on the ceiling are round vent filters (Figure 3-2) that need to be periodically
checked for dust accumulation. When dust has accumulated on the filters, remove them and wash in a mild
detergent and warm water.
3-3
Figure 3-2. Round
Vent/Filter