Truma 3002 heater in Bailey Senator

Janet_5090515 · Apr 6, 2007

Hi everyone - we enjoyed our first weekend out in new Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago. We wanted to keep the heat on low using electric during the night as it was quite cold but I woke up in the early hours to find that the caravan was cold.

We tried different settings and variations during our stay but it was either too warm or too cold during the night.

Any advice would be welcome on how to set the heat to stay on a low temperature all night to take the chill out of the air.

Thanks for your help

Janet

Robtel · Apr 6, 2007

We have the Indiana, Bailey's handbook recommend the heater as being most efficient when using gas rather than electric and we have found that to be the case. Were you using the blown air system or just the space heater by itself?

Robert

Janet_5090515 · Apr 6, 2007

Hi Robert

We tried both, probably the blown air system more so. Got the heating working fine during the day although the blown air seems to be very hot in toilet area & less warm at front seats.

Are there any particular settings you use to generate a low heat suitable for during the night which will not cause the caravan to become too warm?

Thanks for your reply

Janet

Robtel · Apr 6, 2007

Hi Janet,

Know what you mean about the toilet becoming warm with blown air system,it can get like a sauna. Try altering the vent opening to reduce the flow of warm air into the toilet.

When we have used the heating overnight we have tended to use it on electricity and as a space heater only without the blown air. If I remember correctly the thermostat settings go from 1 up to 8, we set it around the midway mark.

One weekend last year when it was particularly cold we used it on gas with the blown air system,that seemed to work for us on mid setting on gas and fan.

Robert

mcghee · Apr 6, 2007

I have a feeling that the electric element won't be particularly powerful and as such the warm-air fan will be cooling the element so that you'll only be circulating cool air. Try using the heater with the blown-air turned off.

Robtel · Apr 6, 2007

Yes, I think you are right Mcghee, I can't check tonight as the hand book is out in the van, but I'm sure the recommendation is only to run the blown air when using gas. I'm also fairly sure it only recommends the electric as a means to boost the gas for a short period until you achieve the desired temperature.

The only reason we used the electric system overnight was because of a reluctance of someone in the van to sleep when the gas was on!

Robert

Damian · Apr 6, 2007

Janet, it could be that problem is in the siting of the room thermostat, it is a well known problem.

If your control/thermostat switch is located anywhere near the fire,it is probably sensing the temperature in a confined space, like behind a panel which is close to the fire.

The problem is, the van warms up, including the space the sensor is in, which may make the van uncomfortably hot as it reaches the set temp.

Th ethermostat then cuts in, switching the fire off, and the van cools down, but the space where the sensor is, cools a lot slower than the body of the van, you then get cold awaiting the thermostat to cut back in.

The answer is to fit a remote sensor low down. The operation is still by the normal switch, but the sensor built in to the switch is overriden by the remote.

If its a new van, report it as a fault and get it altered under warranty.

You should be able to use blown air whilst using electric without any problems, and if you do not, then remember the front of the fire will get very hot!!

Setting it on 500w should be enough to keep the chill off overnight.

Martin_E · Apr 6, 2007

Janet

6 Apr 2007 07:29 PM Hi Robert

We tried both, probably the blown air system more so. Got the heating working fine during the day although the blown air seems to be very hot in toilet area & less warm at front seats.

Are there any particular settings you use to generate a low heat suitable for during the night which will not cause the caravan to become too warm?

Thanks for your reply

Janet

Rob-T

6 Apr 2007 09:52 PM Hi Janet,

Know what you mean about the toilet becoming warm with blown air system,it can get like a sauna. Try altering the vent opening to reduce the flow of warm air into the toilet.

When we have used the heating overnight we have tended to use it on electricity and as a space heater only without the blown air. If I remember correctly the thermostat settings go from 1 up to 8, we set it around the midway mark.

One weekend last year when it was particularly cold we used it on gas with the blown air system,that seemed to work for us on mid setting on gas and fan.

Robert

You can change the air flow on the back of the Truma heaters by moving the vent on the back of the heater, it should tell you in the hand book how to do this. On our van I have to take the draws out in the kitchen area to gain access to the back of the heater then find the sliding/rotating damper on the pipe system.

Martin_E · Apr 6, 2007

Janet

6 Apr 2007 07:29 PM Hi Robert

We tried both, probably the blown air system more so. Got the heating working fine during the day although the blown air seems to be very hot in toilet area & less warm at front seats.

Are there any particular settings you use to generate a low heat suitable for during the night which will not cause the caravan to become too warm?

Thanks for your reply

Janet

Rob-T

6 Apr 2007 09:52 PM Hi Janet,

Know what you mean about the toilet becoming warm with blown air system,it can get like a sauna. Try altering the vent opening to reduce the flow of warm air into the toilet.

When we have used the heating overnight we have tended to use it on electricity and as a space heater only without the blown air. If I remember correctly the thermostat settings go from 1 up to 8, we set it around the midway mark.

One weekend last year when it was particularly cold we used it on gas with the blown air system,that seemed to work for us on mid setting on gas and fan.

Robert

You can change the air flow on the back of the Truma heaters by moving the vent on the back of the heater, it should tell you in the hand book how to do this. On our van I have to take the draws out in the kitchen area to gain access to the back of the heater then find the sliding/rotating damper on the pipe system, this will put more air to either the front or back of the van depending on how it is set.

Martin "E"

Sorry missed out the last bit on my last post

Robtel · Apr 7, 2007

Martin,

Thanks, I knew that the air flow could be altered by moving the vents at the back of the heater. I'm not too familiar with the layout of Janet's Oklahoma but with the Indiana there are two air outlets to the rear of the van. Altering the vent would decrease the air to them both but it is only the one in the small enclosed space of the toilet compartment which really needs cut down. I found that if you just alter the swivel cover on the outlet it cuts the flow enough to make a difference.

Robert

Janet_5090515 · Apr 7, 2007

Hi everyone - thanks for all your replys.

We are heading off in van today for a week so will have plenty of time to try out all your findings.

Same as yourself Robert with regards to keeping the gas on all night - we tried this first time but the flame blew out due to it being quite a windy night. We then reverted back to electric as I was a bit nervous about using the gas again when sleeping.

Anyhow, thanks again everyon and enjoy the Easter hols.

Janet

ProfJohnL · Apr 8, 2007

Hello Janet,

The Truma 3000 series heaters and the similarly spec'd Carver models are generally very reliable in most wind conditions. It must have been either an exceptionally severe wind, or some other circumstance that caused the flame to extinguish.

In either case you really do not have anything to worry about as both types of heaters have flame failure gas cut of valves, which does exactly as the title suggests. If the flame goes out, within a few seconds the gas valve will automatically close.

Also the heaters are what are called room sealed. This simply means that there is no route for the flue products to leave the heater and enter the caravan. This is a proven system and used throughout the world.

It is really a matter of personal choice whether to use the gas heater overnight, or not, but unless the heater has been incorrectly installed or damaged, then there really is nothing to be worried about.

WatsonJohnG · Apr 8, 2007

We have the Oklahoma and find that we can get it "right" for electric heating overnight by selecting 500/1000/2000 on the control knob depending on the outside temp,The centre of the knob controls the temp maintained by the thermostat.

I have moved the thermostat/switch to be accessible when seated on the door side and this has moved it away from the heat of the cupboard side above the heater.The remote sensor is underneath the wash basin at floor level.

The lever on the back of the fire just diverts the air flow fore and aft.

I have put an extra outlet in the ducted air so that it warms the area by the door .This is Teed into the pipe to the back/toilet so the hottest air is going to the living area .

Bailey (it seems to me ) have rationalised production on the Indiana and the Oklahoma.The Indiana heater is further towards the back of the van and the piping to the front of the Oklahoma goes backwards a couple of feet before doubling back on itself to go forward !!

There is also a big build up of heat under the drawers behind the heater and the back of the thermostat/switch and fire switch get very hot and this will affect output.

I have fitted a 6in X 4in approx vent below the switches and also replaced the small one in the front above the fire with 2 vents of the same size.

The wasted heat now comes into the body of the van.

Finally the gas operation is about 3 Kw and it is recommended for initial faster warm up but the electric at 2Kw should be more than adequate to maintain the temp if its working/ being set right.

Hope that helps

Janet_5090515 · Apr 17, 2007

Just back from our Easter week away and used the heater on the gas setting 1 or 2 during the middle of night. This seemed to work great at keeping the van at a nice temperature for sleeping. I think previously we had tried to use the blow heaters on electric and it just didn't work - kept blowing out cold air!

Thanks John L for your comments - that gives me peace of mind using the gas now.

Will try the electric settings as you say Watson(John G) - when you say the electric at 2kw should be adequate do you mean selecting the 2000 on the control knob? Reason for asking is our dealer, at one time, had mentioned keeping this at 1000 to avoid tripping the electric. Because of this we have never used the 2000 setting.

Thanks

Janet

Janet_5090515 · Apr 17, 2007

........... sorry, forgot to say Watson(JohnG) is the lever at the back of the fire easy to access to divert the air flow?

Janet

WatsonJohnG · Apr 17, 2007

Hi Janet the lever at the back is to divert flow between front and rear.

The dealer is right in saying use 1000 on a busy site as the site electric supply may not cope if everyone does it at the same time nad boils the kettle etc.

I practice I have never found this to happen but we don't go away in the depths of winter.

Last time we were away during the week the site was 1/2 empty and at 16amp would cope with the heater on 2000 but at the weekend when it was full we used the gas as well

Hope that helped

WatsonJohnG · Apr 17, 2007

Hi Janet the lever at the back is to divert flow between front and rear.

The dealer is right in saying use 1000 on a busy site as the site electric supply may not cope if everyone does it at the same time nad boils the kettle etc.

I practice I have never found this to happen but we don't go away in the depths of winter.

Last time we were away during the week the site was 1/2 empty and at 16amp would cope with the heater on 2000 but at the weekend when it was full we used the gas as well

Hope that helped

The lever is easy to access and the dealer would be referring to the site electrics not the van

Janet_5090515 · Apr 17, 2007

Will get hubby to have a go at changing the lever at back of fire to divert air flow.

Thanks for your help.

Janet

WatsonJohnG · Apr 17, 2007

Will get hubby to have a go at changing the lever at back of fire to divert air flow.

Thanks for your help.

Janet

Just pull out the 2 drawers and put your head/hubbies in the void under the microwave.

It doesn't make a big difference but every little helps and you can also shut down the rear vents of course.

Conquerorman · Apr 17, 2007

We have tried all electric settings and find the heating very dissappointing. We winter caravan in northern scotland have to use an alternative electric heater. The Carver Fanmaster was a far superior heater but they were taken over by Truma and their heater was deleted.

WatsonJohnG · Apr 18, 2007

John sorry your heater is unsatisfactory

Ours is every bit as good as Fanmasters we have had in the past

I wonder if you need the remote temp sensor.

We had one fitted to the Ace(it just plugs in) and that was a big improvement

Previously we had to adjust the thermostat knob every time to raise/lower the temp but with the remote sensor it worked OK

Conquerorman · Apr 19, 2007

John sorry your heater is unsatisfactory

Ours is every bit as good as Fanmasters we have had in the past

I wonder if you need the remote temp sensor.

We had one fitted to the Ace(it just plugs in) and that was a big improvement

Previously we had to adjust the thermostat knob every time to raise/lower the temp but with the remote sensor it worked OK

We are now on our 3rd caravan with the Truma heater.We have had temp censors in the last two. Remember it gets very cold up here.

chenzhen · May 19, 2016

Search

Truma 3002 heater in Bailey Senator

Janet_5090515

Robtel

Janet_5090515

Robtel

mcghee

Robtel

Damian

Moderator

Martin_E

Martin_E

Robtel

Janet_5090515

ProfJohnL

WatsonJohnG

Janet_5090515

Janet_5090515

WatsonJohnG

WatsonJohnG

Janet_5090515

WatsonJohnG

Conquerorman

WatsonJohnG

Conquerorman

chenzhen

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts