blown air heating

[john374224244]

can any one help i am after fitting blown air heating to my LUNAR PREMIERE 417 1995 MODEL it has a CARVER 3000 S Heater fitted i would like to fit the type that is fan assisted and electric heater as well as run of gas fire

There is a chap that reconditions the units but i have lost his details i would be obliged if he could contacked me thank you john

 

[gary]

I think that would be me John, www.arcsystems.biz

 

[john374224244]

thank you gary for relying so quickly

 

[john374224244]

hello gary canot send you an email to your addy www. arcsystems.biz dont now why it will not send to you

 

[gary]

That's my website John, email direct on info@arcsystems.biz

 

[David_374242465]

Question for Gary,

(I have Bailey Senator5 Indiana.)

Serious problem with my Truma Ultraheat. Area behind heater and drawer above, get extremely hot, temps in excess of +80degC have been measured. (Dangerous and very ineficient in my opinion) Dealer has investigated. Found no probs ie air leaks or blockages. Says nothing can be done! "They all do that, particularly bad for winter caravaners"!!!! This is using elec, 2Kw with fan going full blast, giving room temp around +20degC. Thermostat / temp sensor working ok.

So bad I have taken to removing the drawer when heater is in use. This does help a bit, in allowing hot air to escape into living area.

Very worrying. Have sent letter to Bailey, awaiting response.

Is this a common problem? Is there a cure?

Regards

DaveMac

 

[gary]

Without knowing an average temperature for the space behind the fire, I'd tend to agree 80C sounds excessive but I would seriously doubt it's dangerous.

If infact it is excessive then a faulty relay on the control pcb might explain it, this I'm assuming would keep an element switched on permanently if that's possible?

Another slight possible would be incorrect wiring to the pcb, again leaving an element on?

It would also help to know if yours is fitted with a remote thermostat and if so where? or if not where is the control switch?

I ask this as your the first to 'moan' about it getting to hot!! seems then possible the fires not switching on and off giving time to cool

The area behind might be the issue on your particular van, if this is smaller than common? roughly a 2x2x2ft cube

As a solution if all else fails, JohnG (watson) fitted two computer fans to improve the ventilation in this area, that may well work for you?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Gary

Happy New Year

You saved me posting that

It certainly does the job well with 3 6in X 3in approx wood coloured)beige) vents along the length above the heater and below the wardrobe floor

Even the dealer remarked on how you could feel the heat coming out when the van was serviced

 

[David_374242465]

All points noted Gary.

Remote sensor is fitted approx 2ft from heater, on same side of 'van, at an inch or so above floor.

Thermostat & sensor are both functioning correctly, all elec elements do cycle fully off and on as temp reaches set level.

In my Indiana, the space behind heater is approx 2ft cube as you say.

Have thought along lines of fitting fan to extract heat into living area, but 'van is only 2yrs old and still under warranty.

Would be interested to hear of any others with this "problem" if it is such. Or am I being overly cautious /concerned in regards to this.

Thanks for response.

Dave

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Dave there was a posting some time ago from someone with an Indiana who had had plastic trim melting/distorted above the fire

I have found this problem above the heater with several new vans over the years and the vents even without fans do help a lot

 

[David_374242465]

OK Thanks for that John. I was begining to think, I was the only one in the world with this problem!

Up here on Grantown on Spey CC site until 16th Jan, where we have had temps of -13degC over some nights. Thankfully it has now warmed up a little today!

Waiting on (not holding breath!) on a reponse from Bailey on this, but vents and fans are certainly favoutite, if manufacturer cannot help.

Regards for 2009

Dave

 

[trucker]

David, we have the same layout van as you, an abbey vogue 495, we have no draw above the fire just a hole (lookes like a hole for a draw) anyway we dont put much in there as it too gets very hot when the fire is on, im supprised the wood covering hasnt srtarted to peel its that hot if the fire has been on for some time.

All is well with the fire, switching on and off with temp ect,

Kevin

 

[DeliDave]

we have the Series 6 Indiana it definately gets very hot although there is a rectangular vent fited underneath the drawer iirc.I have thought of fixing a sheet of masterboard to insulate the drawer and a computer fan to help the air throught the vent is an excellent suggestion,i intend to try this out before anything distorts.

 

[David_374242465]

Hi Trucker & Deli Dave.

Looks like it's an inherent Truma Ultraheat design problem. I will wait to see what Bailey say. In meantime I will probably keep removing drawer when using heater. (Bl..dy inconvenient!!)

Someone suggested using a square of that radiator rear insulation sheet stuff, stuck to the base of drawer, so will probably try that. Doubt it will make much difference, but can't do any harm!

I suspect I will eventualy go down the vent / extractor fan route, but give manufacturer a chance to comment first.

Cheers

Dave Mac

 

[DeliDave]

i suspect that the foil backed material for rads will be inadequate fro the temperatures involve,thats why i think masterboard would be better as it is meant for insulating fires etc.Good luck with bailey i would be intersted to know if they offer a solution.I expect it has passed their safety requirements and they will keep away from it.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

In our Herald which had drawers above the fire I put the grills in and just happened to have in the garage a piece of Formica of the right size and that was fitted under the drawers in an arc to deflect the hot air out through the vents.

It did the job OK

 

[gary]

Giving this some thought, we have the same set up albeit the later carver fire and our drawer gets warm but not what you'd call unduly and no where near 80degsC, even though it's been working flat out over New Year.

I'm wondering how long your ducts are before they exit the box? the longer they are is going to increase the temperature within the box.

I would see if they can be reduced in length if indeed they are excessive, also give some thought to directly insulating what is there.

Truma do an insulating duct for outside use and this simply slips over the existing ducts. More complicated but cheaper is a camping bed roll cut into strips, spiral wrapped around the ducts and secured with duct tape

 

[David_374242465]

Giving this some thought, we have the same set up albeit the later carver fire and our drawer gets warm but not what you'd call unduly and no where near 80degsC, even though it's been working flat out over New Year.

I'm wondering how long your ducts are before they exit the box? the longer they are is going to increase the temperature within the box.

I would see if they can be reduced in length if indeed they are excessive, also give some thought to directly insulating what is there.

Truma do an insulating duct for outside use and this simply slips over the existing ducts. More complicated but cheaper is a camping bed roll cut into strips, spiral wrapped around the ducts and secured with duct tape

No Gary, ducts exit from rear area straight out either side. ie no excess. I will look at increasing insulation etc as suggested, on the air ducts in and around the heater rear and adjoining cupboards. On Indiana, like a lot of layouts, there is a length under floor at door, feeding front outlets. This would certainly benefit from extra insulation, but nothing to do with my hot drawer problem though!

Cheers

DaveMac

 

[SimonB]

I know someone who had the drawer melt in a 2003 Abbey caravan, apparrently abbey had not put a heat deflector under the drawer and the heat had melted the plastic drawer very bad. Our caravan is the same model and the drawer gets very hot in winter when the heater is on all the time. It is a large caravan and to keep it warm the electric element is on full nearly all the time and sometimes gas as well!!