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Topic: Atwood 2 stage furnace (Read 1270 times) previous topic - next topic

Atwood 2 stage furnace

I called Atwood today to find out about changing out my furnace, thech department said (1) it will not work with the duo therm comfort control (2) they are going to stop making the furnace because the OEM's are not putting the in coaches,so I guess I will look at replacing our furnace with a new Xcaliber.
The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #1 –
Hi Bill, I plan on changing our furnace with the two-stage Excalibur XT. I don't care that the furnace won't work with the current Duo therm thermostat and would rather have a separate thermostat for the furnace anyway. I actually hate four button thermostat because access to the zones is ridiculous having to try to get two buttons to register at the same time. It works maybe 25% of the time... I will probably do the change over to the 5 button setup, but wish /i could identify another alternative.
Don
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #2 –
Don, the push button switches on the 4 button thermostat can be taken apart easily (don't lose the spring) and the contacts can be lifted out and cleaned with contact cleaner.  I did this with mine and it has been working fine for over a year.
Monti
2015 Born Free Triumph Royal 4x4
Previous:  2000 U320 3600

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #3 –
I changed over to the newer style of thermostat and consider it one of my favorite upgrades.

Products - Dometic

It required the thermostat and a new circuit board for each AC.  No changes required for the furnace.
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #4 –
Atwood can not say how long parts will be available for the 2 stage furnace.
The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #5 –
Did they say when they would stop making them? The current Attwood Xcaliber still works, but I want the two stage option for quieter operation in our single furnace coach. Also, having a separate thermostat to control the furnace would allow the heat pumps and propane furnace to work concurrently, which is not possible with the current setup.
Don
Quote from: Bill Willett –
Atwood can not say how long parts will be available for the 2 stage furnace.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #6 –
Is the thermostat in your link the one you replaced your four button with? Very interesting! Please share your source and part number for the control boards. I like the one in the link much better than the five button option...
Don
Quote from: rsihnhold –
I changed over to the newer style of thermostat and consider it one of my favorite upgrades.

Products - Dometic

It required the thermostat and a new circuit board for each AC.  No changes required for the furnace.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #7 –
Quote from: acousticart –
Did they say when they would stop making them? The current Attwood Xcaliber still works, but I want the two stage option for quieter operation in our single furnace coach. Also, having a separate thermostat to control the furnace would allow the heat pumps and propane furnace to work concurrently, which is not possible with the current setup.
Don
[/

The tech department did not know when they will stop,he said that they just don't sell enough to the OEM's to keep making them,one other thing I learned was that if you have the 8940 111 dclp you have to rerout the gas line for the XT.

The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #8 –
An RV repair guy I work with says the 2 stage Atwoods are not very reliable.  He's changed out several for the single stage versions.

I was thinking about changing ours  to a 2 stage, but have reconsidered.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #9 –
Quote from: acousticart –
Is the thermostat in your link the one you replaced your four button with? Very interesting! Please share your source and part number for the control boards. I like the one in the link much better than the five button option...
Don

The AC boards will be different depending on the exact model of AC that you have along with year and options (heat strip, heat pump, etc).  I contacted Dometic who were able to supply me with the circuit boards and I bought the thermostat from somewhere else online. 

This is the general type of circuit board that needs to be replaced in each AC unit.
Dometic A/C Comfort Control Center Board Kit - Air Conditioner Parts - Air

It was a straightforward replacement but if you decide to do it, make sure to take pictures of the wiring coming off of the start and run capacitors to minimize confusion when putting everything back together since there are quite a few wires that will have to be connected and reattached.

Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3
 

Re: Atwood 2 stage furnace

Reply #10 –
I have seen several of the 2 stage atwood furnaces that would soot up real bad. I think that when they are in slow speed there is not enough air for complete combustion. I think that they should have some way to reduce the amount of fuel into the burner on slow speed.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins