ALDE 3020 COACHMAN 560 VIP ALDE WET SYSTEM HEATING FAILURE.

[JTQ]

You will not get heating at 1kw as it needs to be on 2kw at least. 1Kw is only about 4amp and if I recall correctly the fridge etc will be using most of that.

Even our very large fridge and freezer, a Dometic RTM7655L, has a 170 Watt mains element, so uses, not "most", just 17% of the available 1 kW.
Plus, that is only when it is in active cooling mode, when not its zero.

Heating the hot water only takes power during the time the water is heated, once hot the only power it drains is that minute amount lost and if being drawn to reheat what gets replaced.

 

[Buckman]

Does the Alde 3020 ONLY have an overall power limiter?

We have the earlier Alde which has no overall limiter but allows the electric power to the Alde to be set as 1kw, 2kw or 3kw - we find that 1kw works just fine, although in cold weather I do turn it up to 2kw.

It works fine for normal water heating, but for overall heating it needs to be on 2kw. If the OP is still unsure, then they could contact ALDE and ask them as ALDE are very helpful.

 

[RogerL]

It works fine for normal water heating, but for overall heating it needs to be on 2kw. If the OP is still unsure, then they could contact ALDE and ask them as ALDE are very helpful.

We have to agree to disagree - I know from experience that 1kw works just fine - one of our favourite sites has a 5 amp limit on the sites with the best view, it does mean using one powerful appliance at a time but we have plenty of hot water and heating.

 

[Buckman]

We have to agree to disagree - I know from experience that 1kw works just fine - one of our favourite sites has a 5 amp limit on the sites with the best view, it does mean using one powerful appliance at a time but we have plenty of hot water and heating.

Not sure how you managed that as the ALDE system draws nearly 8amp for hot water heating and overall heating? When we have been on sites with a low amp limit, we used gas for heating hot water.

 

[GUMPY]

The power limiter is an optional extra.
Many do not have it but rely on the element settings.
1kW is 4 amps so the heating, fridge etc will easily run from a 6amp supply.

 

[RogerL]

Not sure how you managed that as the ALDE system draws nearly 8amp for hot water heating and overall heating? When we have been on sites with a low amp limit, we used gas for heating hot water.

The Alde draws power/amps according to it's setting - when set to 1kw it draws just 4.3 amps - at least it did when I studied physics at school!

 

[ProfJohnL]

As far as I know the power limiter incorporated into the Alde heating system only monitors the power the heating appliance uses. It does not take into account any other appliance that might be drawing power from the mains.

Thus the amounts power the fridge or any other non Alde heater related appliance should makes no difference to the Alde power limiters operation.

Even if a fridge mains element does draw 170W (0.74A at 230Vac) )will not change the Alde's power draw.

 

[Slowtow]

Just because the display says the pump is running, does not mean it actually is. Just unscrew and lift the pump. If running it will be obvious. If not, check for voltage.

If pump is Brocken, either replace, or get an upgrade kit to an inline pump. And then the glycol can be replaced at the same time.

John

When I've checked the service screen on the LCD it mentions RPM and ours is saying 0.
There isn't any fault codes showing either so I'm not sure really. It could be a case of the pump needing a jolt a bit like we have to do on the fresh wa

 

[Slowtow]

Thank you gentlemen for all of your helpful comments.

The Alde control panel is now reporting a 'control panel failure2' message in the event log for day 1 and now day 2.
This I believe only occured after I had removed the 12v 5A boiler fuse to check which after reinserting must of woke the controller up hence the messages now appearing.
According to the manual it says 'moisture on control panel, remove and dry in a warm environment!'(or words to that effect)
Is Alde taking the piss? Lol?

 

[otherclive]

Oh the simplicity and joy of a blown air system where you could easily tell if the fan was running. And even if it wasn’t you could still get heating. 😂

 

[Slowtow]

Actually I now know why some only buy 'vans with the trusty Truma hot air system and avoid 'wet systems'. We had our Swift Signature for 18 years with hot air and central heater which was faultless for all of that time.
I have gone right off central heating in a caravan.

 

[JTQ]

Seriously, phone Alde UK and speak with their technical team, if my experiences are any guide these people exemplify what customer services ought to be, and some.

 

[JTQ]

Oh the simplicity and joy of a blown air system where you could easily tell if the fan was running. And even if it wasn’t you could still get heating. 😂

Well only in the case of the older convection based Carver & Truma S type, the Combies along with Whale, Protex, Eberspacher, Wabasto etc all need "blowing", somewhat as "blown heating" implies.

 

[Buckman]

The Alde draws power/amps according to it's setting - when set to 1kw it draws just 4.3 amps - at least it did when I studied physics at school!

That is correct, but how do you manage to get 8amp out of 4amp?

 

[RogerL]

That is correct, but how do you manage to get 8amp out of 4amp?

I don't need 8 amps

 

[RogerL]

Well only in the case of the older convection based Carver & Truma S type, the Combies along with Whale, Protex, Eberspacher, Wabasto etc all need "blowing" somewhat as blown heating implies.

The Truma Ultraheat will work on convection if the fan system fails, or is switched off - most of the others can't work without the fan.

 

[RogerL]

Actually I now know why some only buy 'vans with the trusty Truma hot air system and avoid 'wet systems'. We had our Swift Signature for 18 years with hot air and central heater which was faultless for all of that time.
I have gone right off central heating in a caravan.

Our best upgrade to the Alde wet heating system is a £15 fan heater - heats the caravan quicker from cold, even on the 1 kw setting - in winter we use Alde set to 1kw and the fan heater set to 1kw, works better than the Alde on 2kw but draws the same current.

 

[GUMPY]

As far as I know the power limiter incorporated into the Alde heating system only monitors the power the heating appliance uses. It does not take into account any other appliance that might be drawing power from the mains.

Thus the amounts power the fridge or any other non Alde heater related appliance should makes no difference to the Alde power limiters operation.

Even if a fridge mains element does draw 170W (0.74A at 230Vac) )will not change the Alde's power draw.

Not quite!
If that's all it does it's been incorrectly fitted and would serve no useful purpose at all.
It should be fitted in the main power intake and then it monitors the total use by the van.
If the monitor unit is set at 6 amps and the alde is on 2kw it will reduce the alde to 1kw thus staying below the 6amp total load.
If I turn the kettle on with the heating running it switches the heating off until the kettle has finished. It's just a current sensing coil the clever bit is already in the software of the 3020.
I have fitted one to my van as an extra and it works well and saves us having to remember when on low current EHU to switch the heating off when we need to use other 1kw items.

Alde Load monitor - Alde

Used to limit power consumption of the vehicle. Reduces the output of the electric element in stages if the load is too high. This prevents the circui...

www.alde.co.uk

 

[otherclive]

The Truma Ultraheat will work on convection if the fan system fails, or is switched off - most of the others can't work without the fan.

Such is progress. ☹️

 

[Slowtow]

Seriously, phone Alde UK and speak with their technical team, if my experiences are any guide these people exemplify what customer services ought to be, and some.

Thanks; good idea. I've texted our caravan service engineer to see what he suggests but I am loathed to remove the controller as I've previously read horror stories of the touch screen becoming inactive if the refitting is too tight or something? Happy to leave it to when we're home. Hot water is fine which is main thing.

 

[Slowtow]

Guy's, I noticed a service sticker in the waldrobe that says May 2022 which I assume is the last time the gylco was last replaced.
That being the case should I ask our service engineer to replace it again soon?

 

[Beachball]

Our best upgrade to the Alde wet heating system is a £15 fan heater - heats the caravan quicker from cold, even on the 1 kw setting - in winter we use Alde set to 1kw and the fan heater set to 1kw, works better than the Alde on 2kw but draws the same current.

+1 We also got a fan heater as a back up to our Alde wet heating system 🙏

 

[Buckman]

I don't need 8 amps

You may not, but the heating system requires nearly 8amp to operate efficiently and also deliver hot water

 

[Jcloughie]

I think if you check, it may be a bit more than .5amp, but it all adds up and you will not get heating at 1kw as hot water heating will use up a bit of the 4amp. Plus lights, water pump etc. I suggested 2kw as heating will work on 2kw. I am talking from experience of using the ALDE system. When last did you need to sue your ALDE system? Next time try using the ALDE on 1kw and see how you get along.

Ian. I think you are getting the optional power limiter confused with the Alde power settings. These settings are independent of all other power usage in the caravan.

I can confirm, that in milder weather, the 1 kw setting is sufficient for hot water and heating. It is just slower to respond to change. We have just returned from the van. Supper warm on just 1 kw.

John

 

[Woodentop]

Does the Alde 3020 ONLY have an overall power limiter?

We have the earlier Alde which has no overall limiter but allows the electric power to the Alde to be set as 1kw, 2kw or 3kw - we find that 1kw works just fine, although in cold weather I do turn it up to 2kw.

+1
and the 3020 version is a lot simpler to use and set up than the 3030 we have in our latest van