ALDE Central Heating / Catalytic Heaters

[vansmudge]

Following on from my topic on ALDE Central heating, I would welcome any comments about Catalytic heaters or any other form of gas heating to be used as an aid to get the caravan up to a comfortable temperature as soon as possible in winter conditions.

Thanks

Barry

 

[Andrewbutcher]

Hi Barry, i am dissapointed to hear that you are unhappy with your alde heating system.

did you try the gas and electric together? We have a 2008 swift conqueror 630, we haven't had any problems with the heating, it takes around 20-30 minutes to reach 20 degrees when outside is -2 degrees, then i turn the gas off and run on the electric, i have to say we are over the moon with our caravan and the alde system.

Have you had the system checked over by your supplying dealer?

Kind regards, Andrew.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Barry,

A few years ago a number of catalytic heater manufacturers put what can only be described as misleading advertising regarding the safety of such heaters. They claimed they were flameless heaters which was misinterpreted by some to infer they were safe to use in the small confined space like a caravan. - This is not true. Whilst they may not have a gaseous free flame, they have all the other properties of a flame, heat and flue products.

You cannot chemically convert LPG into heat without producing some waste products, which include Carbon Dioxide, water vapour and some Carbon Monoxide which is a serious health risk and killer in moderate quantities.

Current regulations do not allow open flame appliances to be fitted in caravans, and all the heaters that are normally supplied (Alde, Carver, Electrolux, Fiamma and Truma etc) utilise room sealed combustion, which guarantees that all the flue gasses are piped away to the outside.

Ventilation in caravans is designed to cope with the intermittent use of open flame devices such as the cooker, but open flame heaters may be used for long periods, so the risks of accumulating dangerous levels of flue product in the caravan are increased.

It is not considered to be a good idea to use catalytic heaters in small occupancy spaces.

 

[DeliDave]

they also need a minimum room volume and an airvent ,iirc usually about 100 square cms.

 

[vansmudge]

Hi Andrew,

We have only uised the van once since we took delivery - only to find that some wiring loom was missing. Hence my general concerns.

We plan to use it again this weekend which should give it a 'normal test' using both gas and mains to start up the system. My concern is that we are planning a winter trip and I was simply seeking belts and braces as we simply can't stand the cold.

We do have a convector heater to boost the heat but if - as it surley will be - cold when we pitch, then it occured to me that a gas heater would be the chappie to get so as to avoid tripping the fuses on the pole or in the van.

I will revert next week to let you know how we went on.

If we are dissapointed then back to the dealer we go!

Thanks again,

Barry

 

[vansmudge]

Hello Barry,

A few years ago a number of catalytic heater manufacturers put what can only be described as misleading advertising regarding the safety of such heaters. They claimed they were flameless heaters which was misinterpreted by some to infer they were safe to use in the small confined space like a caravan. - This is not true. Whilst they may not have a gaseous free flame, they have all the other properties of a flame, heat and flue products.

You cannot chemically convert LPG into heat without producing some waste products, which include Carbon Dioxide, water vapour and some Carbon Monoxide which is a serious health risk and killer in moderate quantities.

Current regulations do not allow open flame appliances to be fitted in caravans, and all the heaters that are normally supplied (Alde, Carver, Electrolux, Fiamma and Truma etc) utilise room sealed combustion, which guarantees that all the flue gasses are piped away to the outside.

Ventilation in caravans is designed to cope with the intermittent use of open flame devices such as the cooker, but open flame heaters may be used for long periods, so the risks of accumulating dangerous levels of flue product in the caravan are increased.

It is not considered to be a good idea to use catalytic heaters in small occupancy spaces.

Hi John, Thanks for your comments which are well noted and heeded!

Kind regards, Barry

 

[JTQ]

As the Alde system is based on a mass of coolant water and normally a charge of fresh water it simply cant respond as fast as getting hot air locally either from convection or blown air. It however IMO gives a much better space heating.

If you run it without the fresh water charged you will halve the water mass and improve the initial heat up time.

The concept of using a separate electrical convection heater for that initial bit of local warm air, together with using the Alde on gas to steadily bring up the space heating could well be your answer. Some EHU's will not support both heaters on electric but the 16 Amps of the CC etc would allow the convector to be on 2kW, and the Alde to be on 1kW plus of course gas. With such a set up its hard to imagine you feeling cold for many minutes. You will have to use the gas for making your cocoa, the EHU would not cope with that as well!

 

[vansmudge]

Hi Barry, i am dissapointed to hear that you are unhappy with your alde heating system.

did you try the gas and electric together? We have a 2008 swift conqueror 630, we haven't had any problems with the heating, it takes around 20-30 minutes to reach 20 degrees when outside is -2 degrees, then i turn the gas off and run on the electric, i have to say we are over the moon with our caravan and the alde system.

Have you had the system checked over by your supplying dealer?

Kind regards, Andrew.

Hi Andrew,

We have usedour caravan over the holiday period and found the Alde heating very good.

It did take somewhat longer than your own experience to reach 20C.

Do you remove any cushions as these do retain the heat?

New year greetings to you.

Barry