The Timberline Premium Heat & Hot Water System is a comprehensive solution for heating and providing hot water in RVs, designed to operate efficiently in various conditions, including high altitudes and cold temperatures.
Function Description
The system generates heat and hot water using an Autoterm Binar Compact diesel or gasoline burner, supplemented by a 110V electric element. A heated glycol solution is circulated through air handlers in the living space, providing soft radiant heat. The glycol also circulates through an instantaneous water heat exchanger to produce hot water for showers and kitchen use. This dual-source approach allows for efficient comfort whether dry camping (using the burner) or plugged into shore power (prioritizing the electric element).
The system is controlled via an intuitive touchscreen digital panel, allowing users to adjust interior temperature, fan speed, and heating source preferences. When the RV is cold, fans run on high until the target temperature is approached, then automatically slow down to maintain comfort levels.
Important Technical Specifications
- Heating Sources: Autoterm Binar Compact diesel or gasoline burner, 1500-watt 120V electric element.
- Power Requirement: 110V for the electric element.
- Coolant: Glycol-based system.
- Control: Touchscreen digital panel with various settings and information displays.
- Temperature Range: Interior temperature adjustable via a temperature bar (60°F to 90°F shown on display).
- Fan Power: Adjustable (e.g., 37% shown on display).
- Heating Duration Limitation: Domestic water heating can be set from 30 minutes to infinity; system heating from 1 hour to infinity.
Usage Features
- Touchscreen Control: The primary interface for managing the system.
- Hot Water Icon (Faucet): Activates the hot water heat exchanger. Requires either the burner or electric element (or both) to be selected for hot water maintenance.
- Electrical Element Icon (M): Activates the 1500-watt 120V electric element for supplemental heat to the coolant. When both burner and electric element are selected, the system prioritizes the electric element.
- Burner Icon (Flames): Activates the diesel/gasoline heater to keep the coolant hot for hot water and heat. The heater cycles on and off to maintain coolant temperature.
- Interior Temperature Adjustment: Set desired temperature by sliding the bar or using '+' and '-' icons.
- Settings Menu (Wrench): Accesses various system configurations:
- Display: Adjust brightness (0-100%), enable sleep mode, and set screen timeout (e.g., 90s).
- Clock: Show clock in sleep mode and set the current time by rotating a dial.
- Service Info: Displays real-time operational data:
- Air temp (current living space temperature)
- Tank temp (coolant temperature in the Timberline tank)
- Heater temp (coolant temperature inside the Timberline heater)
- Heat exchanger (domestic water heat exchanger temperature)
- Circ pump (circulation pump status: activated/not)
- Solenoid (heating loop solenoid status: activated/not)
- Fuel pump (Timberline heater fuel pump status: activated/not)
- Element relay (110V element activation status: activated/not)
- Fan Speed & Coolant Pump:
- Fan auto mode: Regulates airflow based on heating needs; fans blow harder when more heat is needed and softer when maintaining the set point.
- Fan manual mode: Fans run continuously at a selected percentage when heat is called for.
- Pump override (10 min): Runs the coolant pump for 10 minutes, used for purging air from the coolant system.
- Limitation of Heating Duration:
- Domestic water: Sets the activation time for domestic hot water (30 minutes to infinity).
- System: Sets the activation time for the entire system (1 hour to infinity). Useful for limiting operation when leaving the coach unattended.
- Energy Management: The system self-manages, prioritizing the electric element when plugged into shore power and using the burner as needed. Users can manually turn off the electric element to conserve amperage or use only the electric element to conserve diesel.
- Note on Electric Element: The electric element has limited energy and may not provide as much hot water or keep the coach warm in colder temperatures compared to the burner.
Maintenance Features
- Hydronic System:
- Does not require annual maintenance.
- Recommended to test alkalinity in the system coolant annually.
- Domestic Water System:
- Does not require annual maintenance.
- Calcium build-up can act as an insulator; the exchanger unit can be back-flushed with a lime removal cleanser.
- Fan Unit(s):
- Does not require annual maintenance.
- Furnace (Autoterm Binar Compact Burner):
- Limited required maintenance.
- Recommended to "exercise" the burner monthly by running it for 15-20 minutes. If utilized monthly, no annual or hour-based maintenance is required.
- Exhaust System:
- Should be inspected annually for damage.
Winterization
- System Coolant:
- Does not require winterization.
- Can be tested for its freeze protection value.
- Domestic Water System:
- Needs to be drained or protected using RV winterizing fluid.
- Draining involves opening low point drains and blowing air through the water system (refer to RV owner's manual).
- Propylene-glycol can be pumped through the system using the domestic water pump and opening both hot and cold valves at a plumbing fixture. This procedure does not require draining the Demand Hot Water exchanger.
Need help?
General
To Next Page