Electrics or gas?!?!

[Jimmy2984]

Hi all. Totally new to caravans so be gentle with me!
I'might having difficulties with things not working on an old caravan we'very been donated for our Air Ambulance charity. Here goes. Van is an Esprit Charade 2 (I think!).
When on electric hook up and with gas connected, everything works in the van except I can get hot water. It's a carver cascade 2 system and the green light is on the control switch. The fridge and all sockets work as does the gas cooker, but no hot water.
When not on electric hook up the wall sockets do not work, there's no hot water and the fridge won't work although the lights do!! I've looked for anything I can but can't find a solution. Is there something obvious I'm missing or will I have to bite the bullet and pay for a fix?

Many thanks for any help in advance!

 

[Jimmy2984]

☆ sorry should read can't get hot water!

 

[Damian]

With it being an older van it is most sensible to get a mobile engineer to give it a going over, especially where the gas is concerned.
As for the electrics, the wall sockets and fridge and water heater will only work when connected to the mains power, they will NOT work without.

Presumably you had filled the water system before trying the water heater??????

As the van is , I guess , possibly going to be used by various people who work for the Air Ambulance in one way or another it MUST have current gas and electric safety certificates.

 

[pmb]

If it is the Cascade 2 and not the 2GE model it won't have an electric element. (I think) Do you know what year the van was made? Can you hear the burner light when you turn it on and you should feel warm air at the top of the cowl outside after a suitable period of time.

 

[Jimmy2984]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I've got a service booked for a couple of weeks time but just wanted to do as much as I can before to avoid hefty bills!

Does the water tank fill automatically when you hook the water up (cold water is coming from hot water tap) or is there a separate fill for the hot water tank?

I'll have a check about the model but the control panel just says cascade 2.

 

[Damian]

The hot water tank does fill automatically and as you say water is coming from the hot tap then indeed the tank will be full.
A quick way of checking the model of the heater is to look at the inboard end of the hot tank.
If it has a white plastic box with an electric cable going into it, it is a GE model.
The gas only model does not have the box on the back end of the tank.

 

[Raywood]

If the water heater is faulty I doubt the engineer will have the parts with him and if so ask him how to do the job and if you are able to do it then you will be better informed. If he does it later it will mean another call out charge although if he has the bits then I would doubt the labour will be very large anyway as it would have to be a minor problem for him to have the bits.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Jimmy,

If you are totally new to caravanning, then I need to make you aware the Carver Cascade whether is a gas only model or gas and mains electric is a storage water heater, not an instantaneous one. You will only be able to get hot water from it after it has heated the tank and that takes about 20 Minutes. It then only has about 9 litres of hot water.

Further to Damian's and Raywood's responses, If the caravan is owned by an organisation such as the air ambulance or support charity or company then by law all work on the gas systems or appliances connected to it must be carried out by a fully accredited gas fitter. Its only if the caravan is owned and used exclusively for the owners private use is the owner permitted to work on the system, BUT all work still has to be compliant with the appropriate regulations.

 

[Mel]

Does the gas water heater have an external cover that you need to remove?.

 

[Damian]

Does the gas water heater have an external cover that you need to remove?.

The Carver Cascade does not have a removable cover.
The Truma Ultrastore does.