Installation Instructions And Product Information For The ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank

Question:

is this holding tank heater pad still effective without using the adhesive? id like to avoid making this a permanent installation as my current camping setup is only temporary. does the thermostat / temperature sensor still work if its not stuck directly onto the tank? is there a minimum thickness the water tank needs to be in order for it to work properly and not melt the tank? how hot does the pad get when its on? my plastic water tank is inside a wooden box which has some foam pipe insulation around it to prevent the tank from bouncing directly into the wood. is it okay for the pad to contact wood or foam? id probably install it on the side of the tank as theres a little wiggle room there vs underneath where the bottom sits flat on a piece of 1/2inch plywood. will the heating pad work effectively on the side or top of the tank?

asked by: Mark

Expert Reply:

I spoke with Therma Heat, and they informed me that the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000164 must be installed on the bottom of the tank and it must be stuck using the adhesive backing.

These pads are meant to be installed at the lowest point of the tank, closest to the drain, so installing them anywhere else would not be effective.

Additionally, while they did not inform me what the maximum thickness these pads can be installed to, they did let me know that these pads will work with up to a 40 gallon tank, will heat up to 75° in 10 minutes, and requires 13.5VDC for maximum efficiency.

Finally, they did mention that installing this pad where it would rest on wood may cause damage to the unit overtime and it is not recommended to do so.

To get around this, you can cut an access hole in the plywood for this pad (18-1/2" L x 12" W), that way your pad won't be pressed against the plywood, and your holding tank will still be supported by the wood.

expert reply by: Bryce D