truma heater

[Roy2]

We are away for 2 weeks and last night woke up rather cold in the early hours.Checked the heater,NO HEAT ON ELECTRIC.Turned to gas and ok.Have checked it today,lights on thermostat ok,can hear thermostat click on when turned to high.Tried 2k-1k-1/2k settings no different.Turned off mains at cct breaker,left for 30 mins,still no heat.Any Ideas?

This is only the second time away with this 2007 van,no problem taking back to dealer under waranty,but is it something silly like a re-set switch?.(I would suspect the pcb)

Thanks

Roy

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I would check the 230V cable run to the heater as there may be a plug/socket that's become loosened or pulled apart.

I usually switch a mains light on to see if it dims on the 2000w setting.

 

[Roy2]

I would check the 230V cable run to the heater as there may be a plug/socket that's become loosened or pulled apart.

I usually switch a mains light on to see if it dims on the 2000w setting.

Thanks for the info,seems a bit strange that the cable has worked loose while we are asleep,but I will check after our day out.Also the lights are on the control knob,and go off if I turn off the mains mcb.I have tried checking with the mains lights on and when the thermostat clicks in on 2k there is a slight flicker and then they return to normal so would expect that the control box is not switching power to the elements,pointing to tcb box.

Going to buy a fan heater today to tied us over!!!!

 

[RogerL]

I think I recall that there's a reset button at the back of the heater, very difficult to get at, sometimes needing removal of the heater!

Get a full explanation and demonstration from your dealer when it goes back.

 

[Roy2]

I think I recall that there's a reset button at the back of the heater, very difficult to get at, sometimes needing removal of the heater!

Get a full explanation and demonstration from your dealer when it goes back.

called truma,no re-set button on ultraheat only on older versions,But thanks

 

[Damian]

Roy, you do not say if you have a remote temp sensor for the fire or not, if not, it may be that the sensor is, as is the usual case, sited too close to the fire, and usually above a cupboard, which, when it gets to the set heat, turns the fire off, as it should, BUT, the area around the sensor cools slower than the van main body, and will not switch back on until the temp drops enough in the location of the sensor, especially if its above, or into a cupboard area, as you have a whole mass of warm air which is not moving.

 

[Roy2]

Roy, you do not say if you have a remote temp sensor for the fire or not, if not, it may be that the sensor is, as is the usual case, sited too close to the fire, and usually above a cupboard, which, when it gets to the set heat, turns the fire off, as it should, BUT, the area around the sensor cools slower than the van main body, and will not switch back on until the temp drops enough in the location of the sensor, especially if its above, or into a cupboard area, as you have a whole mass of warm air which is not moving.

No remote sensor fitted just bulk standard 4 weeks old.It was so cold at 3am this morning only a brass monkey would be happy!!!no heat anyware.

 

[Surfer]

I think that these heaters are traditionally faulty. We have had problems with the heater since day one and have complained about it continously since. The caravan is a 2004 model so it seems nothing has changed.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

They are perfectly OK if you do not turn them on.

 

[chelsea1]

we had exactly the same problem 2 weeks ago!

im sure its somewhere on this forum page.

Gas worked fine...no electric.

I had accidently knocked the switch whilst cleaning.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I would check the 230V cable run to the heater as there may be a plug/socket that's become loosened or pulled apart.

I usually switch a mains light on to see if it dims on the 2000w setting.

It is possible though unlikely that a loose connection could be subject to arcing and the heat generated could cause lack of contact .Worth a check though.

I have seen a new Swift minus heating after the weight of cable stored in the base of a wardrobe had pulled connector plug and socket apart

 

[John_5040782]

Yes Chelsea is correct, go to ---

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/newforums/fm_messages.asp?FO=1&FM=290061
Also Garry at www.arcsystems.biz can give professional help - John

 

[Roy2]

Update

I had a look at the connections there are loads of wires at the back,and are very hard to trace.Funny thing happened last night tried heater on 500watt setting,works fine still does not produce heat on 1k/2k.Seemed hot enough overnight but it was a lot hotter outside.This indicates 240v ok to fire but I do not know how the elements are wired or if there are 4 at 500watt and 3 are bust.

 

[Royston]

Hi Roy, ref your Truma Heater, you mention no thermastat.

Is it a room heater only or a combined space heater, where the fan pumps the heat through flex pipes to varios outlets.

With the Bailey Discovery range the Heater only works on gas.

I have a 2007 Ranger which has the heater and space heater onboard.(Truma S 3002 EL space Heater)

To use the space heater, the controls are remote from the fire,

I have a 230v Room heater on/off switch.

Positined next to this is grey outer dial, with a black inner dial.

The grey outer dial is clearly to read which gives you the heater settings 500w 1000wor 2000 w.

The inner dial which I had to read via my reading glasses gives you room temp settings.

Why I mention this is because I tested all the internal appliances before we set off on our first journey with the new van.

When checking the space heater discovered it was only pumping out cold air, it was not untill I re-read the Bailey instuction manual that I realised that I had not set the room temp dial high enough.

After that the heater pumped really Hot air.

Trust this is of help, please advise via Forum when you get the Heater working and what was the fault.

Royston

 

[Roy2]

Thanks for your reply.Looks like the control box is bust as the heating element is controled by this box.Will take the van back to dealer later next year (when more faults appear!!)Will use fire on low output till it gets very cold and then use fan heater to suplement(this

 

[GStockton]

Roy to answer your questions, 1 the element control pcb at the rear of the heater is dud! (A common fault) the early ones had 3 10amp rated relays fitted which are not up to the job these are coloured grey,after 2004 the relays were uprated to 16amp which were coloured orange.These 3 relays connect both elements in series for 500watts.or 1 element for 1000watts or both elements in parellel for 2000watts. There are 2 elements rated at 1000w each.

Your van is under warrenty so the dealer will replace the pcb.

I have mended several of these Pcb,s for members of this forum by fitting new relays which cost about

 

[Roy2]

Thanks very much for the info.From your reply it shows that the elements are ok if it works on 500 watts (both in series) must be the control box.Do you know how hard it is to change?.I have had a look but it seems screwed to the back plate does the fire have to be removed?

Not to woried as the dealer will do it but just wondered about time scales.

Thanks.

 

[Roy2]

Thanks for the info Glen.works ok on 500 watt (both elements in series)so must be the control box.How hard are they to change?

I had a look but it seems screwed to the back plate,does the whole fire have to be removed?.Not worried as the dealer will replace it just wondered how long it would take.

Roy

 

[GStockton]

Roy on some caravans you can get to the back of the fire to remove the control unit,but on others you have to take out the fire. the control pcb is located inside a grey plastic box at the rear of the fire right at the bottom. the job takes about half an hour to do if you do not have to remove the fire. 1 hour if you need to take the fire out.

 

[Roy2]

Thanks Glen,

Do you mean you just open the platic case and remove cct board within? or replace the whole box?.

Roy

 

[GStockton]

Roy The pcb just comes out of the grey housing, all the wiring is colour coded and maked and they are push in type connections.

Try a google search for the Truma website this shows all the pictures and part no,s etc of the heaters Glenn

 

[Roy2]

After using numerours bottles of 6kg Propane at