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ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad w/ Thermostat - 25" Long x 7-1/2" Wide
(7 reviews)
Price: $35.11
ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad w/ Thermostat - 25" Long x 7-1/2" Wide
Retail:$48.47
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- Reviews (7)
- Q & A (54)
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- Why etrailer?
LaSalle Bristol RV Fresh Water
- Heating Elements and Pads
- Holding Tank Pad
- LaSalle Bristol
Full-contact, weatherproof heating pad helps prevent your RV holding tank or step from freezing. Built-in thermostat automatically turns the heating pad on and off depending on the temperature of the tank or step. Easy, peel-and-stick installation.
Features:
- Full-contact heater pad keeps your exposed RV holding tank or step warm during freezing temperatures
- Works with tanks with a 29- to 40-gallon capacity
- Can also thaw out a tank system or a step if it's already frozen
- Built-in thermostat automatically operates the heater pad
- Turns on when the tank or step temperature reaches 45 degrees F
- Turns off when the tank or step temperature reaches 67 degrees F
- Flexible, weatherproof carbon fiber material bends to fit the contours of a surface
- Easy, peel-and-stick installation onto the bottom of your tank or step
- 2-Wire design with 16-gauge wires
- White wire is for ground
- Red wire is for power
- Compatible with DC power when in transit
- Runs through a converter while connected to a power source when your RV is parked
- Cold room tested down to -32 degrees F
- QAI certified
Specs:
- Pad dimensions: 25" long x 7-1/2" wide
- Pad thickness: 3 mm
- Length of wires: 36"
- Input voltage: 13.5V DC
- Power draw: 5.8 amps
- Wattage: 78 watts
- 1-Year warranty
The Therma Heat RV tank and step heating pad meets the following certification standards:
- Safety for Electric Heating Appliances, UL499
- Safety for Heating Elements (CSA) C22.2 No. 72-m1984 (R2004)
- Flammability tests (UL) 746C, 15 and CSA 0.17,9,2
- Dieletric Voltage Withstand Test (UL) - 1000 volts/1 minute
- Thermal Aging Test (UL)
Note: This heater pad should be installed on non-conductive surfaces only.
Why ThermaHeat?
When the outside temperature is cold enough, the exposed freshwater holding tank or step on your RV will freeze. For tanks, this stops the flow of water from reaching your sink, shower, or other freshwater source. Furthermore, the frozen water could potentially cause cracks or other irreparable damage to your tank or pipes, which would mean you would have to replace them. And a frozen step can be extremely slippery as you try to enter or exit your RV or camper.
The full-contact ThermaHeat heater pad will prevent this by keeping your holding tank or step warm during freezing temperatures. It has a built-in thermostat that automatically operates the pad. When the temperature of the tank or step drops to 45 degrees F, the pad will turn on. When the temperature rises to 67 degrees F, the pad will turn off. It can also completely thaw out a tank or a step if it's already frozen, assuming that none of the components have been damaged. The heater pad does all the work for you, preventing you from having to go out in the cold and thaw it out by hand with a heat gun or hair dryer, which can melt the side of your tank or step if not used properly.
Installation and Wiring
This heater pad has easy, peel-and-stick installation onto the bottom of your tank or step. The flexible carbon fiber material is designed to fit the contours of any surface. The pad is meant for use on fresh water tanks, but can be installed onto gray water or black water tanks. Please note, however, that adding a heat source to a gray water or black water tank may create excess gasses and odors.
The pad has a white wire for ground, and a red wire for power. This 2-wire design is compatible with DC power while your RV is in transit. It can also run through a converter while connected to a power source when your RV is parked.
Additionally, you are able to install this pad with other ThermaHeat heater pads (sold separately). In order to do this, they must be connected and run parallel. You would daisy-chain the red wires together and connect them to the battery of your RV or camper and then daisy-chain the white wires together and ground them. In order to turn the pads on and off, you will need to install a switch (sold separately) between the battery and the pads.
210SLST725RTBX Therma Heat Heating Pad with Thermostat for Motor Home Water Tanks and Steps - 25" Long x 7-1/2" Wide
Alternate part number: 85854 and SL-ST725
Item # 277-000163
Customer Reviews
ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad w/ Thermostat - 25" Long x 7-1/2" Wide - 277-000163
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars (7 Customer Reviews)
Full-contact, weatherproof heating pad helps prevent your RV holding tank or step from freezing. Built-in thermostat automatically turns the heating pad on and off depending on the temperature of the tank or step. Easy, peel-and-stick installation.
- 277-000163
by: plocklin01/15/2019
Install 3 holding take heaters, 1 fresh water tank heater and 5 elbow/ pluming heaters on my trailer. All of the heaters running at the same time draws less than 300 watts so I can now leave then on when towing without having to run my propane heater in the trailer. I added R30 insulation to my underbelly and took a trip to Angel Fire NM where one night it got down to -24 degrees F. None of my tanks froze. I had one temperature probes directly on my black water tank and it was 53 degrees with the 24 outside. Every day was below freezing with temps in the lower teens each night. I believe these are rated at -11 but it is a good idea to have an enclosed underbelly to keep the rest of your pluming warm. 597730
- 277-000163
by: Dale01/25/2019
Just installed and appears to be working as advertised. The website product details really should say that minimum installation temp is 60 degrees. It doesn't! My son and I had to install it anyway. No choice. Then in stalled R2 doulbe-sided foil backed insulation under the tank ( he's going off the grid in his travel trailer) and we had to do all we could to insure his water system would not freeze. The heating pad is working and we're filling the water system tomorrow. Also the PK34310 rocker switch has absolutely no info about what terminal get connected to what wire! You really need to to have info on your website for this. After some digging online I was able to find the proper wiring connections. It would require almost no effort on etrailer's part to do this. 600346
- 277-000163
by: Mary10/25/2020
Shipped when they said it would, all parts correct, good company 903660
- 277-000163
by: Bob T04/18/2020
Product was easy to install, worked the first time I turned it on and is still working great a year later. 782463
- 277-000163
by: Hugh R.09/05/2019
So far, we haven't had much of a chance to use the tank heater but the one time we used it, we had no problems. This winter, we will have ample opportunity to test it out and I will add a better review. 697988
- 277-000163
by: Allen02/20/2019
Required alcohol to clean the area. Joined two (fresh water and black water) Put a fuse in the system just for incase. Fast quick delivery. I will order another if needed. Good prices! We will be telling our friends!! 606630
- 277-000163
by: Teresa12/16/2017
Great product! warms up the holding tank ever so efficiently. Great price, quick ship - perfect communication. Thank you etrailer!! 460616
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Ask the Experts about this LaSalle Bristol RV Fresh Water
- Heating Pads for 50 Gallon Fresh Water TankFor your 50 gallon fresh water tank you will want to use two of the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163 wired together. You can use the ThermaHeat Elbow Heating Pad # 277-000161 as well, but this is a pad for 3 inch pipes so you will want to put it there as opposed to your tank. You can wire these together in parallel by "daisy-chaining" each of the red wires together and connecting them to your RV's battery; you will then also daisy-chain the white...
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- How to Check for Proper Operation of ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heating PadsRV holding tank heating pads like # 277-000164 and # 277-000163 operate on an automatic thermostat. The pads will automatically turn on at 45-degrees Fahrenheit and turn off at 67-degrees Fahrenheit. If you are nearby to the RV when the tanks are in a sub-45-degree environment you should be able to feel warmth from the pad if it is cycled on. I confirmed with LaSalle-Bristol, the manufacturer of ThermaHeat pads, that the thermostats in these pads read the tank surface temperature and...
view full answer... - Wiring and Spade Connectors for Switch for ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Step Heater PadThe ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163 only draws 4.8 amps so you can get by with thinner gauge wire like 16 AWG which we sell by the foot with # 16-1-1. For spade connectors to go from the wire to the switch # PK34360 you could then use the # RM-300115-00 and you'd be set.
view full answer... - Therma Heat RV Tank Heater Pads InstallationTo install the Tank Heater Pads part # 277-000164, part # 277-000161, and part # 277-000162 together you will simply need to run them in parallel. This means that you will daisy-chain all of the positive (Red) wires together and connect them to the battery on your RV, and you will daisy-chain all of the negative (White) wires together and ground them. You can use the Pollak Universal-Design Rocker Switch # PK34310 between the battery and the pads as a way to turn them on and off. Since...
view full answer... - Can 4 Holding Tank Water Heaters # 277-000164 Be Wired Together?You cannot wire the Therma Heat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163 in series but you can wire them together in parallel to add 4 of them to your camper. This means that you will daisy-chain all of the positive (Red) wires together and connect them to the battery on your RV, and you will daisy-chain all of the negative (White) wires together and ground them. You can add wire length as needed # 16-1-1. You can use the Pollak Universal-Design Rocker Switch # PK34310...
view full answer... - How To Secure and Wire the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank PadsThe ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank part # 277-000163 has an adhesive backing so no further method of securing it would be required nor is there anything I can recommend. I would also not recommend covering it for protection as this could be a fire hazard. it In regards to operation, it would work with pretty much any toggle/rocker switch like part # PK34310. I have attached a sample diagram I made to help with the wiring.
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- Can Multiple Therma Heat Heater Pads be Wired to Single Switch Multiple heating pads like the Therma Heat 25 Inch x 7-1/4 Inch # 277-000163 and the Elbow Heater Pad # 277-000162 that you have can be wired to a single switch. If you are not getting enough voltage with your current setup, it's possible that the switch you are using cannot handle the total amperage of the heating pads. The larger pads draw 5.8 amps (each) and the elbow pad draws 0.3 amps. A higher rated switch like the Pollak # PK34310 might be a better option if your existing switch...
view full answer... - Can an RV Tank Heater Be Used for Warming a BatteryThe reason is that a holding tank heater pad like the # 277-000163 you've looked at isn't designed to heat a battery. It's designed to heat a large 29-40 gallon tank, not a much smaller battery. A thermal battery heater would usually wrap around all 4 edges of the battery and gently heat it from all sides, while the tank heater isn't meant to be folded or wrapped around anything. You'd be better off using an actual battery heater, like one of the ones I've linked for you. Using the product...
view full answer... - Why Did Wires to Rocker Switch Melt When Installing Heating PadIf the wire from the battery to the Universal-Design Rocker Switch # PK34360 melted when installing the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163 it may have been that you simply need to use thicker wire, and I recommend 10 gauge # 10-1-1. A lot of things may have come into play to cause this short, particularly the length that the wire needed to be run. It could also have been something as simple as damaged wiring or a loose connection which caused the...
view full answer... - Do RV Gray and Black Water Tanks Require HeatersThe good news is that you don't have to have heaters on black and gray water RV tanks. The fresh water needs a heater as you can't put any antifreeze in it. But since you don't have to worry about poisoning the water in the black and gray water tanks you can use RV antifreeze in them and not have to worry about them freezing. That said, the ThermaHeat tank pads do not have thermostats built into them.
view full answer... - Troubleshooting ThermaHeat Heater Pad Not Operating on Sensor Power WireYou are probably overloading the circuit with both the sensor and the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank or Step Heater Pad # 277-000163 on it. We recommend connecting the heater pads directly to your battery for power so that it is the only thing on the circuit (unless you were to connect more than one heater pad). If you want to be able to control when the heater pad is on separately from the thermostat then you can install the Universal-Design Rocker Switch # PK34360 on the power wire between...
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- Is ThermaHeat RV Tank Pad Needed on All Water Tanks of an RVThe only tank that actually requires a heating pad is the freshwater one because the other tanks you can simply pour RV antifreeze into and not have to worry about heating the tanks. That said if you wanted to you could install Thermaheat pads like the part # 277-000163 on all of the tanks. This is DC powered like you mentioned as well. The pad measures 18-1/4" Long x 12" Wide.
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- Will ThermaHeat Holding Tank Heater Pad Damage Fresh Water Tank If There Is No Water In ItI spoke with my contact at LaSalle Bristol and he verified that there is no risk of damaging your fresh water tank if the ThermaHeat Holding Tank Heater Pad # 277-000163 comes on when the tank is empty. As you mentioned in your question, the pad will automatically turn on when the tank's temperature (not the outside temperature) reaches 45 degrees but it will automatically turn off as soon as it gets up to 67 degrees. This means it will not get near hot enough to cause any damage to the...
view full answer... - Installation of RV Holding Tank Heater Pad to Trailer BatteryThe ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163 can be run directly from your trailer battery if you use an in-line fuse or in-line circuit breaker like # 9506P. Most people utilize a switch like # PK34360 and # 16-1-1 wire sold by the foot to give an on/off option so you don't drain your battery when you don't need the heater on.
view full answer... - Removing Old Heating Pad From Fresh Water TankYou do not want to install the pad part # 277-000163 over the old one because the new pad would not properly sense the temperature of the tank so the built-in thermostat would not work. You could use some rubbing alcohol to possibly dissolve some of the adhesive on the back of your old pad.
view full answer... - RV Holding Tank Heater Pad for 40 Gallon TankAn elbow heater pad is not designed to be used with tanks it fits on pipes. For example the 13" x 3" Elbow Heater Pad for RVs # 277-000161 is designed to be used on 3 inch pipes while the 8" x 3" Elbow Heater Pad for RVs # 277-000162 is designed for use with 1-1/2 inch pipe. For your 40-gallon RV holding tank I highly recommend the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163. This this pad sticks right on your tank and has a thermostat which turns on when your tank...
view full answer... - Why are RV Water Tank Heaters Typically Only Used for Freshwater TanksWith gray water tanks you can simply pour a couple quarts of RV antifreeze down the drain of a shower and toilet and you'll prevent them from freezing. Since you don't want to drink antifreeze that's why the heaters are typically only used on freshwater tanks.
view full answer... - Can Insulating Blanket be Installed Over Therma Heat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad I spoke with my contact at Therma Heat regarding the Heater Pad with Thermostat # 277-000163 referenced in your question. She stated that it is perfectly safe to install an insulating blanket over the heating pad. Please note though, that in order for the pad to be effective, it will need to be placed on the bottom of the tank, not the top. I have attached a short video demonstration on this product that you can also take a look at.
view full answer... - Installation of Heating Pads on RV Holding TanksHolding tank heating pads such as Thermaheat 18 x 12-inch # 277-000164 and 25 x 7-inch # 277-000163 should not be trimmed or cut. When you install one of these on your plastic holding tanks you'll want to be sure to first clean the surface with 91% isopropyl alcohol (available at any pharmacy) to remove any residue that could interfere with the pressure-sensitive adhesive that will hold the pad in place.
view full answer... - Will Therma Heat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad Work with 12V Battery Operating Between 11-13.5 VoltsI spoke with my contact at Therma Heat regarding the RV Holding Tank Heater Pad # 277-000163 referenced in your question. She stated that the pads will work just fine with your 12V RV battery that operates between 11 and 13.5 volts. You will not have any issues. This full-contact heater pad will keep your RV holding tank warm and prevent freezing. It is also capable of thawing out a tank system if it is already frozen. I have attached a short video demonstration on this product that...
view full answer... - Where are Install Instructions for ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163The instructions for the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad w/ Thermostat # 277-000163 that you referenced are actually on the back of the pad on the label that has the UPC code.
view full answer... - Can Multiple RV Heater Pads with Thermostat 277-000163 Be Wired TogetherMy contact at Patrick Industries advised that their RV Heater Pad with Thermostat # 277-000163 could be parallel wired in up to 3 pads total provided that the DC power source has enough current for the 5.8-amp draw from each pad. Typically a 15-amp circuit can handle three since they cycle on and off. These pads are suitable for your 45-gallon grey and black water tanks; one per tank is enough according to my contact. For your 70-gallon fresh water tank you'll want to use two and position...
view full answer... - Would the Heater Pad Part # 277-000163 Be Suitable for a 46 Gallon Water TankAccording to my contact at Patrick Industries, the 25" x 7-1/4" Heater Pad with Thermostat part # 277-000163 would be suitable for a 46 gallon water tank. If you were to use this heater on a water tank larger than 46 gallon then you would want to use two of them wired together but as mentioned, the one pad will work with your 46 gallon tank just fine. As you probably read, this pad has a peel and stick application with an integrated thermostat that will turn on when the water in the...
view full answer... - Can the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Be Used As a Water HeaterThe ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank part # 277-000163 is designed to be used to keep your holding tanks from freezing. I cannot recommend use for alternative applications. The thermostat is not adjustable either, it will turn on when the tanks get below 45 degrees Fahrenheit and then shut off when the tanks reach above 67 degrees Fahrenheit but this cannot be adjusted. The best option I have for you is a hot water heater, the Atwood RV Water Heater part # AT96110 as this is the only device...
view full answer... - Therma Heat Holding Tank Heater Pad is Not Getting Warm with Power AppliedThe Therma Heat Holding Tank Heater Pad # 277-000163 referenced in your question will automatically turn on at 45 degrees Fahrenheit but will auto off at 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If the pad is not getting warm with power applied to the leads, it is likely too warm outside for the pad to start working. As long as power is applied to the unit, they will do a great job of warming your RV tank when the temperature dips below 45 degrees. You might try testing the unit at night when temperatures...
view full answer... - Can ThermaHeat Heater Pad be Insulated with Spray Foam I spoke with my contact at ThermaHeat regarding the Heater Pad # 277-000163 that you referenced. He did state that they don't really recommend insulating the pad with foam like what you are describing, as this can potentially affect its function and may interfere with the surrounding wiring as well. The pads are designed to attach directly to the tank. I have attached a short video demonstration on the heater pad that you can also check out.
view full answer... - In-Line Fuses For Therma Heat RV Tank Heater PadYou do need to make sure you are properly connected to fuses for a single unit as the # 277-000163. This is a thermostatically controlled pad. If you are running more than one, you need to run them parallel. It would be wise to use a combined amperage fuse as you stated. You also want to make sure if you use a switch that it can cover the amperage. Each pad draws 5.8 amps, so a 15-amp or better switch will work, like # PK34571.
view full answer... - Where Does Water Tank Heating Pad Ground Wire ConnectThe best ground location for a water tank heating pad such as # 277-000163 is going to be a negative battery terminal if there is one present. Otherwise you can ground it to a clean, bare metal surface such as the frame. There may also be a wiring harness somewhere near where you want to place the pad that could have a ground wire in it you could tap into. But chances are it would not be as good of a ground as the frame.
view full answer... - Using ThermaHeat RV Heater Pad on Holding Tank with Coroplast WrappingYou can attach the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad # 277-000163 to the coroplast wrapping around your tank but it is not going to be as effective. For best results you really want the pad to make direct contact with the tank (toward the bottom) so that it keeps the tank warm especially once the outside temperatures start to drop. Also note that the pad features a built-in thermostat that automatically turns the heating pad on when the temperature drops to 45 degrees (and off when...
view full answer... - When Does Switch Light of Rocker Switch PK34360 Turn On with ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heater PadIf you used the Universal-Design Rocker Switch part # PK34360 and wired it to the ThermaHeat RV Holding Tank Heater Pad part # 277-000163 like the attached diagram shows the red light will be on anytime the switch is on regardless of if the thermostat. Basically as long as the pads have power the light will be on and then the thermostat will do what's it's designed to do without affecting the switch light.
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