[A/S] Thermostat's

[Jack Canavera <jackcanavera@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Folks, Happy New Year!

I asked this question on the list last fall regarding
replacing my mechanical furnace thermostat on my
Safari with a digital unit.  As it ends up I went up
to my local A/S dealer who promised that they would
look into it, but 2 months later they have not yet
called back.

What I have found out on my own is that Duo-Therm and
Coleman build digital RV units.  All on the pricy
side.  In my case I am only looking for control of the
furnace so a unit for furnace should be pretty basic.

More information that I have gleaned from the Web is
that some home thermostats will work.  I have read
that on the safe side buy a thermostat the works on
both 24 volts and millivolt systems and be sure that
the thermostat itself is powered by internal batteries
(housed within the thermostat).  Some units have
internal batteries that only are used to maintain
settings.

Lux states that their digital thermostats are all
battery powered.  A unit identified by a RV owner as
one that will work is a LUX 500.  I found a TX500 on
the Lux's web site.  I have also seen a posting from a
motor home owner who uses a Hunter digital (42345) in
his RV.  He that states that Hunter thermostats are
also battery powered.  I have seen Lux equipment at
Home Depot and Hunter is sold at Kmart.  

Honeywell states that they have no digital units that
will operate in an RV and White-Roger's units are not
battery powered. Atwood makes no digital thermostat. 
I can't find one from Suburban either.

My next step will be to shop between Lux and Hunter
and buy one this spring.  In either case I have
already checked and the thermostats purchased from HD
or Kmart are returnable if they don't work.  I'll keep
you posted on what I find.  

Regards,

Jack