Heater power

[vtullomk4]

I searched many times, but still have questions on heater wiring.

I have the FF Vintage Air heater. It has a heavy duty blue wire and 30 amp breaker that the manual says to connect to fuse panel. The RF harness has a 20 amp fuse and a smaller brown wire for the heater. I saw posts years ago to eliminate the blue wire and just use the 20 amp fused brown wire.

Any suggestions is appreciated.

Vince

[Norm B]

I removed the breaker and used a 20 amp fused circuit. Seven years on the road, having used the heater multiple times, with no issues.

Norm

[vtullomk4]

Thanks. That’s what I’ll do as well. FF should really clarify this....

[edwardb]

Can't argue with those who've gone from 30 amps to 20 amps. If they're not blowing 20 amp fuses then it's not a problem. The failure mode is less than what Vintage Air recommends and you could remove the circuit breaker. At least you're going the right direction. See guys hanging 30 amp devices on a 20 amp circuit and changing the fuse. Really bad idea.

I do question the instructions though. Sure you're reading it correctly? Doesn't really make sense to hang a device with a circuit breaker on a fuse panel. One or the other. I'm installing a Vintage Air system right now myself. It sounds like a similar setup. It too has a 30 amp circuit breaker and relay, and the instructions say to connect this directly to a battery source. There's another wire that's supposed to go to an ignition controlled circuit with a 5 amp fuse.

[vtullomk4]

edwardb,

I agree with you completely. That’s why I reached out. Did not seem to make sense, 30 amp breaker and 20 amp fuse...

Attached is the wiring diagram from my instructions. Only shows the power feed. Let me know what you find.

Vince

143785

[D Stand]

Fuses and circuit breakers are installed to protect the wire that feeds the device. The 30 is designed into the heater component but FFR is not connecting the dots with RF harness to fully supply the 30 with larger wire. There is no issues with removing the 30 amp breaker if you keep the 20 amp fuse. Worst case issue will be the fuse pops if the heater is drawing more than 20. Per most folks here that have removed the breaker have reported no issues of blowing the fuse. This is what I did. If it makes you feel better, I am an electrician.... keep the 20 amp fuse and remove the 30 amp breaker.

[vtullomk4]

Great. Thank you all. I’ll get it wired. First start in a few weeks. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Vince

[edwardb]

Fuses and circuit breakers are installed to protect the wire that feeds the device. The 30 is designed into the heater component but FFR is not connecting the dots with RF harness to fully supply the 30 with larger wire. There is no issues with removing the 30 amp breaker if you keep the 20 amp fuse. Worst case issue will be the fuse pops if the heater is drawing more than 20. Per most folks here that have removed the breaker have reported no issues of blowing the fuse. This is what I did. If it makes you feel better, I am an electrician.... keep the 20 amp fuse and remove the 30 amp breaker.

Yeah those are Factory Five instructions. Not Vintage Air. To keep things simple they just said to connect to a circuit from the fuse panel. At that point the 30 amp breaker is redundant and unnecessary. But doesn't hurt anything. the fuse will let go before the breaker has any effect. But could remove it if you want. Looks like everyone is unanimous on that point.

[rich grsc]

Yeah those are Factory Five instructions. Not Vintage Air. To keep things simple they just said to connect to a circuit from the fuse panel. At that point the 30 amp breaker is redundant and unnecessary. But doesn't hurt anything. the fuse will let go before the breaker has any effect. But could remove it if you want. Looks like everyone is unanimous on that point.

Nowhere does it say connect to a fused 12v source, it should be a 'switched' 12v source. The 30 amp circuit breaker is your protection.

[boat737]

Removed the breaker and am using the 20 amp fused circuit. Works fine.

[olson_adam]

That’s my plan too