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Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat

Other than needing to occasionally change the batteries on a digital thermostat are there any advantages or disadvantages between the two?

I would think the digital thermostat would provide less temperature swings before turning on or off but I don't know.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #1 –
I generally only use the LD furnace to take the chill off the rigs interior. If I need a more continuous source of warmth, I’ll fire up the Wave 6. Quiet and saves on propane and coach battery since the wave has no fan and sips propane.

With that being said, I’ve not bothered to upgrade the OEM thermostat to a digital version. I do know that the rigs original thermostat is difficult to dial in a perfect temperature while the digital version allows you to set an actual temperature rather than rely on the rather simplistic dial of the manual thermostat.

If propane and coach battery longevity and fan noise is not an issue, then running the rigs furnace will be a non-issue and a digital thermostat may provide a more consistent interior comfort level.

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #2 –
The digital thermostat is much better for us. We can set it to a repeatable temp, rather than guessing with the mechanical slider.
2013 27’ Mid-Bath
2005 Honda CR-V
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #3 –
Switch to a digital thermostat. Cheap at $20 or so, noticeably more comfortable (one degree temperature swing vs 3 or more) smaller temperature variation), and easier to set repeatedly (for us: 73 during the day, 60 at night).
2005 Jayco 24SS
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #4 –
Hmm...
I have seen mechanical thermostats that hold temperatures better than digital, albeit it was twenty years ago. I reinstalled the mechanical thermostat.
Your mechanical thermostat should have an anticipator.  The anticipator accounts for the residual heat mass in the furnace and turns off the furnace early.  It is a little piece of bare wire(i.e. resistor) with a metal slider.  The furnace is shipped with a label or installation instructions to set the anticipator value to set on the thermostat. Higher anticipator values(higher resistor value) makes the furnace turn off late the the room gets too hot.  Lower anticipator values (lower resistor values) makes the furnace turn off early and the room temperature drops when the weather is colder.  Note: The mechanical thermostat anticipates by heating the bi-metllic temperature spring with a little electric current,12 volts in a RV.
Rodney
1988 Mid Bath
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #5 –

Hi Eric;  We sleep in the King bed (TK) just a foot from the thermostat. We just switched to an electronic one   Amazon.com: Emerson 1E78-140 Non-Programmable Heat Only Thermostat for...      and it lets us control the temperature better right where we are. Particularly with hook-ups we have a small box heater with just a dial mechanical thermostat that is pointed at the bed area. So even with the box heater running we can use the digital thermostat to monitor the temperature.  With wrap around non dual pane windows, outside wind/rain/sunlight conditions can change the inside conditions rapidly.  With just curtains drawn in the cab area, we get quite a gradient between front to back. Two of the cats are indicators of cold/heat when they move from the cabover toward the back to warm up. (the third cat sleeps at the foot of the bed).   RonB

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #6 –
Since we only use the furnace for warming up a cold interior, the mechanical thermostat works fine for us.
Once the interior is comfortable, the furnace is turned off, letting the catalytic heater maintain the temperature. We never leave the furnace or the cat heater on at night.

We have a switch in the bunk area, wired in series with the thermostat,  for turning the furnace on in the morning, allowing the inside to heat up before getting up on cold mornings. To make sure the furnace turns on, the thermostat usually stays set at the maximum temperature

Larry.
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #7 –
Another vote for the Emerson. We liked it so much we put it in our Tiny House. Note, both our TK and the Tiny house thermostats only control heat. AC has its own independent thermostat control. BTW, our Tiny House has a propane heater for back up but the main heating and cooling is done by a mini split which we just love love love.

What I like about digital and the Emerson in particular:

There is a backlight that operates for a few seconds when the up or down temp button is pushed and the light will come on before a change in the temperature setting is made. No more futzing around setting a desired temperature. Tighter hysteresis (temperature swings). And, it shows the current room temperature even when the heat is turned off.
Steve
2003TK
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #8 –
Many of us have upgraded the stock mechanical thermostat with a digital one.  I replaced mine with a Honeywell unit that’s pretty much identical to the Emerson mentioned above after the plastic “triangle” on the mechanical unit broke.  Read all about it here:

Heater Thermostat
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #9 –
Digital thermostats have higher accuracy, are more sophisticated, and may have a greater chance of breaking.
Sam
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #10 –
Hi Sam;  Fortunately for us, The number of moving parts has the most effect on reliability. Electronic parts generally are more reliable and long lasting. Home computers and cell phones each contain many millions of transistors and the interconnections to the 'chips' are what are the least reliable parts. Even less reliable are buttons, other switches and wire connections.  The least reliable part of a digital thermostat would be the relay that actually controls the heater. Or the battery contacts where a new battery has to be installed every year or so.
   Steve, how did you connect your Emerson to get the backlight to operate. It would be handy at night to read the display.  Mine doesn't seem to have the back light.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #11 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
   Steve, how did you connect your Emerson to get the backlight to operate. It would be handy at night to read the display.  Mine doesn't seem to have the back light.  RonB

Ron, wasn’t sure if the Honeywell I installed had a backlight so just checked and it does.  If I remember correctly, it was just a two wire install.  The back light works even in the “off” position.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #12 –
Ron, the Emerson doesn’t come from the factory with the backlight enabled. Kind of silly imho since the back light only stays on for a few seconds. However it’s very easy to enable the backlight. You just push the down and up buttons at the same time and a menu item will select it on.
Steve
2003TK
Re: Digital vs Mechanical Heater Thermostat
Reply #13 –
Thanks Steve! Will try that tomorrow.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB