Installation Manual: Mobile Comfort System 7

Welcome to the digital installation portal for the Rixen's Mobile Comfort System 7 (MCS7). Version 1.

1. The Mobile Comfort System 7

1.1 Please read first

1.2 Safety Instructions for operation

Warning! Scalding by hot water!
  • Water temperatures over 52°C (125°F) can cause severe burns from scalding.
  • Water temperature at the heat exchanger can be up to 85°C (185°F) during operation and possibly higher in the event of a malfunction.
  • Use a temperature mixing valve to limit the hot water temperature at the faucet or shower.
  • Feel water before bathing / showering. Exercise additional care when bathing children.
Warning! Water quality!
  • Only potable water is to be heated.
  • The user is responsible for the quality of water used and the sanitization of the water delivery system used with this heater.
  • Take precautions to keep the water system free of debris and sanitized to prevent the growth of microorganisms.
Danger! Emergency electrical shut-off location!
  • Being aware of the location of the emergency shut-off is vital to safe operation of the furnace.
  • Emergency shut-off location is vehicle and installation specific.
  • Consult with the vehicle's instructions / manual for details.

1.3 Disclaimer

2. System Introduction

2.1 Hydronic air and water heating system

Figure 1: System Overview
Figure 1: System Overview Diagram (Click to enlarge)

2.2 Heating with the Eberspaecher Diesel or Gasoline Furnace

Note: Use of B20 Bio diesel is acceptable for the diesel furnace.

3. Installation

3.1 Assembly and Mounting of the Furnace

Figure 2: Assembly and Mounting
Figure 2: Furnace Assembly (Click to enlarge)

3.2 Mounting of the furnace fuel pump

Figure 3
Figure 3: Fuel Pump Mounting
Figure 4
Figure 4: Fuel Line Angles

3.3 Mounting the Rixen's Glycol Pump

Figure 5: Pump Orientation
Figure 5: Pump Orientation (Click to enlarge)

4. Optional Add-ons

4.1 Heating with Electricity

Figure 6: Electric Element
Figure 6: Expansion Tank / ComfortHot Wiring (Click to enlarge)

4.2 Capture Heat from Running Engine (Option)

Figure 7: Engine Heat Option
Figure 7: Plate exchanger captures engine's excess heat and adds it to the system.

4.3 Preheat the Engine (Option)

Figure 8: Engine Preheat Option
Figure 8: An additional pump and plate exchanger can circulate and preheat the engine's glycol loop

4.4 Heating with the Floor Option

Figure 9: Floor Heat Option
Figure 9: Radiant floor heat

5. System Schematics

5.1 Component Layout

Figure 10: Component Layout
Figure 10: Component Layout (Click to enlarge)

5.2 Control Board Wiring

Figure 11: Control Board Harness
Figure 11: Control Board Harness Wiring (Click to enlarge)

5.3 Component Wiring

Figure 12: Component Wiring
Figure 12: Individual Component Wiring Diagrams (Click to enlarge)

5.4 Furnace Harness Wiring

Figure 13: Furnace Wiring
Figure 13: Furnace Connections (Click to enlarge)

5.5 Mixing Valves

Figure 14: Mixing Valves
Figure 14: Honeywell vs Watts Mixing Valve Reference (Click to enlarge)

5.6 Touchscreen Controller Dimensions

Figure 15: Touchscreen Dimensions
Figure 15: Touchscreen Dimensions (Click to enlarge)

5.7 Optional Controller Mounting Plate Dimensions

For applications where no hard mount is available inside the van (sold separately).

Figure 16: Mounting Plate Dimensions
Figure 16: Controller Mounting Plate (Click to enlarge)

5.8 Air Temp Sensor Mounting

Figure 17: Air Temp Sensor
Figure 17: Air Temperature Sensor

6. Commissioning the System

6.1 System Coolant

Coolant Requirements
  • Be sure to fill the coolant system with a high-quality automotive antifreeze (50/50) premixed. Examples: Dexcool, Prestone (all makes, all models).
  • Do not use propylene glycol or other boiler antifreeze unless it is automotive grade.
  • Leave a one-inch (25.4mm) air space at the top of the tank for thermal expansion.
  • Domestic freshwater is not needed to operate the system. It is not necessary for space heating.

6.2 Commissioning Checklist

Intake and exhaust – check routing to ensure they have adequate clearance from moving parts and heat sensitive items.

  1. Check fuel level - minimum quarter tank.
  2. Check FMP (fuel metering pump) for correct angle. (15° to 35° upward).
  3. Check fuel line route for adequate clearances from moving parts and heat sources.
  4. Ensure the proper coolant was used and the system is filled to the proper level.
  5. The power wires should be 10 awg. and protected with a 20 amp fuse.
  6. Note: Do not connect power until the system is filled with coolant.

6.3 Filling the system

  1. Begin adding glycol. It is recommended to visually check for leaks before completely filling the system.
  2. Remove the pressure cap from the expansion tank during the bleeding process to allow for air to escape.
  3. Apply 12v DC power to the system.
  4. Go to Hardware Setup in the menu and set the system pump speed to High for bleeding the system.
  5. Select Electric as a heat source on the touchscreen.
  6. Note: The electric element should not be actively powered by shore power during this process. (AC breaker off)
  7. Create a call for heat by activating the Hot Water function. This will activate the system pump.
  8. Monitor the coolant level in the expansion tank and check the system for leaks.
  9. Once the system has been purged of air you can turn off the Hot Water demand, this will turn the pump off.
  10. The pump setting should be set to Low after purging.
  11. Note: You will need to check the coolant level again after commissioning the system. Do not operate the system with low coolant.

6.4 Remote Controller Settings

  1. Go to the hardware setup menu and make the appropriate selections for your installed equipment.
  2. Select the options for your system. The icons will appear on the main screen.

6.5 Electric Operation Test

  1. Activate the electric element and check amperage and monitor the coolant temp. AC amperage: 1500W – 12.5A and 2000W – 16.5A.

6.6 Furnace Startup Test

  1. When the fuel line is initially installed, leave the hose off the furnace and put it into a suitable container. Use the Fuel Prime function (located in the Menu > About section) until fuel comes out of the hose. Then install the primed hose on the furnace.
  2. Go to the main controller menu, select the Furnace as a heat source and choose a temperature above ambient or hot water. This should activate the furnace to start. If it does not start during this cycle (typically due to fuel supply), retry after the furnace has completed the shutdown cycle.
  3. Go to the diagnostics menu screen and monitor the Fan-glow-fuel.
    FAN - rpm of the combustion fan motor (higher RPM indicates higher heat output).
    GLOW - power consumption in watts (active during start up and shut down cycles).
    FUEL - pulse rate in hertz (higher rate indicates more fuel and increased heat output).
  4. Monitor the temperature Inlet and Outlet. A 10° to 30°F (5° to 17°C) difference is normal.
    Below 10°F (5°C) – Check the pump setting. It should be Low.
    Above 30°F (17°C) – Check coolant lines for restrictions.
  5. Run furnace 15 to 20 minutes, change temperature set point and monitor Fan, Glow, Fuel to see if furnace is reacting accordingly.
  6. Fan operation - Change fan speed percentage and verify the fan(s) correspond.
  7. Floor heating (if equipped) - Activate floor heating and touch the pump to verify the floor pump is running.
  8. Engine D+ (if equipped) - Start the engine and verify the furnace is shutting down.

6.7 System Check

  1. Check the entire coolant circuit for leaks when hot.
  2. Check the coolant level when cool.

Part 2: Operations Manual

Operations Manual: MCS7 Touchscreen Controller

Welcome to the digital operations guide for the Rixen's MCS7 Touchscreen Controller.

1. General Information

  • All functions for daily use are available through the remote's 5.5" touchscreen display.
  • The remote is permanently installed on an easy to access wall using the included mounting bracket.
  • The remote uses WiFi to connect to the Rixen's PowerBox which controls the furnace ECU, and other system components to provide heated air and water.
  • Rixen's PowerBox and any additional controlling elements communicate with each other using a CANBus protocol.
  • If the power supply in the vehicle is interrupted (e.g., the battery is disconnected), the system's controller retains all the basic settings.
  • The MCS7 works independently from any cellular or satellite signal by creating its own Wi-Fi hotspot which then communicates directly with a mounted remote, smart phone, laptop, or tablet.
  • The device offers a range of 10-30 meters.
MCS7 Touchscreen Controller
MCS7 5.5" Touchscreen Display Box Contents (Click to enlarge)

2. Quick Start Guide

If you just need to get the heat running immediately, follow these three simple steps:

  1. Wake the Screen: If the screen is dark (rest mode), tap it once to wake it up.
  2. Select a Heat Source: Tap the Furnace icon on the left side of the screen. It will turn orange when the furnace is engaged and ready.
  3. Set the Temperature: Tap the center temperature numbers. Use the Plus and Minus symbols under "Set Temp" to dial in your desired interior air temperature.
  4. Fans will blow hot air when the system's glycol loop comes up to heat.

3. Main Interface & Icons

The touchscreen controller icons can be configured depending on your system setup. If any of the icons do not appear on your screen, they may have been removed by the builder as that option is not currently available on your installation. The screen will dim to rest mode after one minute of inactivity; it will reactivate by tapping the screen.

Touchscreen Icon Layout
Main Screen Icon Map (Click to enlarge)
  1. Furnace operation and fault code indicator: Displays the current status of the system and any fault codes that may appear on the furnace.
  2. Menu Options: View system operations, furnace diagnostics, Wi-Fi set up, fuel priming, and access the technical manual.
  3. Fan Speed: Fully automatic or manual from 10-100% in 5% increments.
  4. Furnace: Eberspaecher 5Kw (17,000btu's) Hydronic Fuel Operated Heater.
  5. Electric Element: 1500W electric element to be used when plugged into shore power.
  6. Engine: Capture engine waste heat and add up to 30Kw of heat to the system.
  7. Set Temperature: Choose your desired interior temperature.
  8. Domestic Hot Water: On demand continuous hot water for shower and sink.
  9. Radiant Floor Heat: Circulate coolant throughout the floor for even heat distribution.
  10. Engine Pre-Heat: Use the Eberspaecher furnace to preheat the engine for cold starts.
  11. Auxiliary Zone Control: Provides an additional analog input/output control.
  12. System Fluid Temperature: Displays the current coolant temperature of the MCS7.

Icon Status Colors

4. Climate Control

The fan speed, interior temp, humidity and set point temperature are displayed in the middle of the screen. Tapping anywhere in the middle of the screen will prompt a new screen to appear to set the Fan speed and thermostat.

Thermostat Controls
Thermostat and Fan Control Interface (Click to enlarge)

Temperatures

Fan Speed

5. Selecting a Heat Source

The heat source options are located on the left side of the screen. One of these options must be selected in order to produce hot air and water for the RV.

Furnace

Electric

Engine

6. Specialized Features

Continuous Hot Water

Floor Radiant Heat

Engine Preheat

Auxiliary Control Option

This function provides an additional analog input/output control, refer to the builder's manual to see if and how this option is utilized.

7. System Menu

Diagnostics

Settings

About & Priming

8. Wi-Fi Configuration

Wi-Fi Setup Screen
Wi-Fi Configuration Screen (Click to enlarge)

9. Glossary & FAQ

Troubleshooting FAQ

Glossary of Terms

For further assistance, please reach out to our team:

  • 📞 Give us a call at (503) 668-6090
  • 📱 After hours tech support (Call or Text): (503) 744-2408
  • ✉️ Email us at contact@rixens.com
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