98 award northstar water heater

[ian_374229068]

hi

had the van a few years and was wondering if my water heater work on gas,,electric, or gas and electric.

will it work on electricity alone,

and how do i try this,,theres a switxch on wall and i think its a cascade 2

thanx

iain

 

[RogerL]

Some Cascade 2 were gas only, some gas + electric.

Try it - make sure there's water in the system!

 

[ian_374229068]

hi roger

it works great weve been using it for years,

i was just wondering if it was combination fuel,

either gas or electric...or both

it also says rapide on it if that helps

iain

 

[RogerL]

If there is a mains cable going to the heater, in addition to 12v cables for gas ignition, then it will be gas+electric. Both fuels can be used simultaneously to speed up heating.

As we always use sites with hookup, we only use the electric side on our Truma Ultrastore which is functionally equivalent to the Cascade.

 

[ian_374229068]

thanx roger

il need to have a look and see what cables are running to the water heater.

then il work it out from their

thanx

iain

 

[RonD]

Ian,

We always use electric water heating when on hook-ups. We leave it on permanently and the thermostat maintains the water temperature.

Regards,

Ron D

 

[ian_374229068]

hi ron

yes we do this as well, although i wasnt sure if it works with gas,,and or electric,

as the van seems to go through quite a lot of gas..

fridge,,cooker,,heater,,and water heater.

iain

 

[ian_374229068]

hi

had a look at water heater and its got 12 volt and 240 volt going to it,

its a carver rapide, but seems to work on gas , cant see hoiw to work it on electricity.

should it be working with the wall swich, i.e..if gas is on it,ll use gas,

if gas is off will it use electricity,

fitted to 98 award northstar, if that makes a difference

laura

 

[rosies]

Hello Ian/Laura ,

To test the unit just try it out , fill the water system both cold and hot , couple up the EHU , switch on your wall switch ( showing red led on awards ) but do NOT operate your gas water heater . Wait for 30 mins then run some hot water off , if its warm then bingo - your electric water heater works, if not you have a problem elsewhere , element , thermostat , wiring , reset button ( to rear of heater , red in colour ) or maybe switch , process of ellimination. good luck ---- STEVE .

 

[ian_374229068]

hi steve

a few things, sorry but whats a ehu,, and we have only 1 switch on the wall, it says rapide on it,

it has a on and off fail

laura

 

[rosies]

hi steve

a few things, sorry but whats a ehu,, and we have only 1 switch on the wall, it says rapide on it,

it has a on and off fail

laura

Sorry Laura , ehu = electric hook up . Putting a 230 volts power cale to the caravan . Yes , turn the switch to ON and don't light the gas heater ( seperate switch with red-orange-green leds ) --- STEVE .

 

[rosies]

hi steve

a few things, sorry but whats a ehu,, and we have only 1 switch on the wall, it says rapide on it,

it has a on and off fail

laura

Looking again at your comments , the switch you may be talking about ON-OFF-FAIL sounds like the gas control switch , so look for another switch with just ON-OFF similar to a household one , with a red light (led ) in it . If not trace your 230v cable back from your heater to locate it ( if you actually have 230 v going to your heater ? ) . --- STEVE .

 

[ian_374229068]

hi steve

a few things, sorry but whats a ehu,, and we have only 1 switch on the wall, it says rapide on it,

it has a on and off fail

laura

hi steve

the water heater has mains voltage going to it, and yes i think the switch on the wall is for gas operation.

however referring to your other comment about having another switch.

indeed we have and we could not find what these "two switches "actually done if anything

im off to take a couple of pictures to post and it will show heater and switches,

the two spare switches as we call them, just look like ordinary mains switches with lights on them.

thanx steve

laura & iain

 

[ian_374229068]

off to take pics then il try post them,,thanx!!!

laura & iain

 

[ian_374229068]

http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o32/darlinmouse/caravan/
hi steve,

i think this is some pics, the two pics shown, are the ones we didnt know what they were for.

laura & iain

 

[rosies]

Hi Ian , SORRY can't get at the photo's , it will not let me .

1) Are the switches just that , switches , or are they sockets as well ( 13amp ) .

2) It may seem a silly question , but have you ever actually lit the gas heater using the ON-OFF-FAIL switch .

3) I'm guessing but could the double switch you refer to be , one for your water heater and the other for your fridge .

To check if one is for your fridge then , plug in your EHU then operate both switches ( red on both ) then switch your 230 v switch on at the front of the fridge , if the green fridge 230 v light comes on then turn off your switch bank in turn to see if one works the fridge , if so then you can assume ( dangerous word ) that the other works your water heater .

4) I suspect that you may have actually been using your electric heater all the time and have never seemingly operated your gas water heater . So it may be the gas side of things that need checking but like most of us I have been on the wrong track many a time lol .

heres to a bit more inspection ---- STEVE .

 

[ian_374229068]

hi steve

well thats it sorted. at last

we have always run everything on our van with gas,, throughout the last 4 years, It wasnt till last year that our usual site said to me,,"your using a lot of gas, arent u using your leccy.

glad we checked,,because as you said steve the mains switch next to the gas one we always use, has worked our water heater, so no more gas for that.

Now the next switch down operates our mains feed for our fanmaster heating, which ive just sent to gary at a.r.c. to be

fixed and serviced,

now ive tried to operate the fridge with the electricity and its not working though its lighting up.

so il need to make another post

steve thank you so much for your valuable help and info, weve owned the van for 4 years and would have thought we knew a bit about van,s. "but their you r" we know nothing

regards

laura &iain

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ian

Carver produced a number of different Cascade II versions. All of them can use gas, and that is controlled by the beige coloured wall switch with either three coloured LED or the later version with only a green LED. For a definitive answer if you look at the heater in the bed locker, the data plate should be visible. If it has the GE suffix then it has the mains powered option.

The other versions which are known as the Cascade II GE, can also be heated by mains electricity. The two heating systems are controlled independently, and most caravan manufacturers will have fitted an ordinary mains fused spur outlet with switch with and a fuse carrier, (some also fitted with a neon) but these tended to be fitted low down on the bed box, and relatively close to the water heater.

With the GE type of heater You can use either gas or electric to heat the water, but also you can use both together. This cuts down the reheating time. As both systems are controlled independently, they were designed to have slightly different thermostat temperatures on each fuel. The mains power has a slightly higher temperature setting compared to the gas, so when both fuels are used together, if the water is cold, both gas and electric power will heat, but as the temperature increases the gas cuts off before the mains, so when little of no hot water is being used, the mains will preferentially maintain the temperature, and the gas will only cut in if the water temperature drops significantly.

 

[rosies]

Very happy to have been able to help you Iain & Laura , if you do find you have problems with the fridge then gary at ARC is also well genned up on these , you could always fire a question to him on the Preloved caravan forum if you can't get him on here . Hope you have some great breaks away this year --------- STEVE .

 

[ian_374229068]

steve

thanx very much, ive already sent fanmaster to gary,DONT want to push me luck.

same to yourself for the breaks,,we cant wait to get away

laura & iain