Truma heating - gas/electric mix
Hi All,
This is my first time using the discussion forum so be gentle with me.
I purchased my first motorhome a few months back, a Swift Escape 614 and have used it several times over the past 3 months or so. I’ve encountered a few teething problems which the dealer has happily rectified, however, it’s due to go back in later this week as whilst away for the weekend last week, the heating stopped working on electric!
The dealer thinks it could be the fuse on the Truma boiler as it’s working fine on Gas.
My question here is, when should I use the heating on Electric only, or Gas only, or Mix? I currently use it on Electric only when on sites but with the weather getting colder, I have been advised to switch over to Mix, some people have even advised me to leave it on Mix all the time. I’d be grateful for your thoughts on this subject as I’m currently very confused.
Thanks
Comments
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I think most people use the heating on electric when connected to an adequate EHU supply and may use gas as well if it’s very cold or a quicker warm up is required. There’s no other reason to use a mix. Gas alone is used when no EHU is available.
We have only rarely used gas for heating in any of our vans over the years and find electric alone is fine.
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We have Truma Heating/Water in our caravan which we use all seasons and unless of a site power cut (once) ,have only ever used it on EHU normally on EL1 eco,unless really cold then we use EL2 and in the four years it has been plenty warm enough,
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Is there a thermal cutout switch on the unit? This pops out/trips if you try to run the unit with no water. We had the same problem just find it and push it back in.
We use very little gas, usually only for cooking as we're always on EHU, once warmed up then it keeps us warm on the 0.9Kw setting.
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We only use 'mix' if its very cold when arriving at a site.
At other times we tend to put it on the higher electric setting and the higher fan until the van heats up then reduce both once warm.
Gas only we have only used if we are not on EHU.
With a MH the habitation part will usually get some of the heat from the cab heating while driving so the back of the van isn't as cold as a caravan when you stop.
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Thanks to all that have so kindly replied to my question so far.
We have always powered the heating on Elec 2, even throughout the night and up until last week have had no problems. It appears that the outside temperature dropped significantly that night i.e. 0 to 2 degrees, could this mean that the system had to work extra hard to try and maintain an internal temperature of 15 degrees (which is what we required) and as such overheated and blew the fuse?
If we had the setting on Mix 2 then would that have called in the Gas to provide extra power to support the electric?
Sorry if I seem a little stupid here but I’m keen to be clear on how I should manage the heating to ensure this doesn’t happen again.0 -
the mix setting obviously uses both electric (setting 1 for 900w and 2 for 1800w) and gas, with the gas power being self regulating to support the electric input...the lower setting 'might' require more help from the gas in the warm up phase.
a combi 4e can use upto 4kw of gas heating in gas only mode but only supplies up to 2kw of gas in mixed mode, giving a max combined output of 2900w on mix 1 or 3800w on mix 2.
a combi 6e can use upto 6kw of gas heating in gas only mode but only supplies up to 4kw of gas in mixed mode, giving a max combined output of 4900w on mix 1 or 5800w on mix 2.
the gas input tnrottles back as the requirement for heat reduces leaving just electric to maintain heat, with no switching required.
mixed is a very useful mode setting when just arriving on site in chilly weather and looking for a quicker warm up.
the electric settings might take a while longer to warm through a cold van but in other circumstances it will be fine when on ehu.
gas only when not on ehu (same with fridge).
good luck.
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Thanks
Once again thanks for the replies, very helpful.
Im thinking that this weekend we’ll keep it on Mix 2 as it’s supposed to be a chilly one, albeit dry and sunny.
This way we can be sure that during the night when it gets really cold, it will call for Gas as and when needed, reducing the strain on the electric.
Does this sound sensible or should we use it on Mix 1?
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I've never felt the need to have it on 'mix' overnight.
We live in Scotland were we've been away with temps at - 8c overnight, with the heating on electric 1 set at 16c. It doesn't struggle to heat the van, once its heated up.
During the evening we have it set to 20c but reduce it down at bedtime or its too hot.
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i agree with TG, electric only should be fine for just maintaining a lowish heat overnight.
these units are built to run in all sorts of conditions, even Alpine, and shouldnt fail without good reason.
perhaps it needs a good check over....or possibly the van electrics?
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Daz this happened to me I phoned the dealer for advice they talked me through it, the reset button is under the top cover just pull it upwards look down youll see a green light and beside that there is a brown button, push this in and hold for 10 seconds, you may just hear a small click that's the boiler resetting, then go back to your C P pluss screen click on the spanner and put your settings in then on the heat settings select E 2 should take around 45 -60 mins Oh forgot to say that cover you take off is on top of the Truma boiler, hope this helps..H
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Don't ever feel stupid for asking about something that you are having a problem with. That's what Club Together is here for.
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If it's cold we tend to change over to fuel mix when wanting hot water for a shower, not had a shortage of heat in the van as a result. We have only started to leave the heating on overnight since we now have a van with the CP system.
David
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if heating water alone (no space heating set on) the combi should manage to heat the full tank of water to 60 deg (high setting) in 20-25 mins using the electric 2 (1800w) setting, gas only should be inside 20mins as the Combi 4 uses 2kw (a tad more) and the combi 6 4kw (more than enough)
Note, there is no 'mixed' water heating ability....if this is set the gas will not be used and timings will be as for electric....so mixed 1 will be the same as EL1.....ie SLOW.....when you think it should be quick.
if space heating is also required, this will push the time to fully heat the water out to around 60 mins on EL2.
so, mixed 1 with both space heat AND water heating set, will not only just use EL1 for the water, BUT the space heating will remove some of its capability.....ie VERY SLOW.
also note: if boost is used it has the effect of prioritising the boosted item over others....eg....you have water and heating set on and set heat to boost....water heating will take a back seat reverting to being heated as a by product of the space heating....ie SLOW.
if the water heating is set to boost it will take priority over heating, which will fall away whilst the water will be heated beyond 60 deg and will add two further 'heating cycles' to maintain that heat if the tank isnt used straight away.
the Combi is great, but not perfect, and has its own foibles.
if you can understand these and work with them the unit will deliver everything you need from it.
as above, it can also appear to 'let you down' when its actually working as designed.
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David if you run out of gas the system will take 15 minutes to reset itself before it starts to work
Truma error code, it could be in the 15min cycle? Remedy fault 507 / 516 / 517 (gas supply interrupted)
Restore the gas supply, for example by connecting a full gas cylinder.
Then confirm or delete the fault code by tapping the rotary push button. Please note that the first tap might only activate the backlighting of the control panel.
The heating then starts automatically if there is a heating requirement.
Note: If the fault 507, 516 or 517 is displayed in the heater's control panel, switching the control panel on and off does not help. This does not delete the fault, but blocks the heater for 15 minutes. The heater is also blocked for 15 minutes if the fault 507, 516 or 517 is Deleted User four times without the gas supply being established.
Remedying flashing fault 507 / 516 / 517 (gas supply interrupted)
The fault code 507, 516 or 517 flashes because the heater is still in a 15-minute blocking time. This was possibly caused by the heater control panel being switched off or because the heater's 12-Volt supply was interrupted. The heater is also blocked for 15 minutes if the displayed fault is Deleted User four times without the gas supply being restored.
Wait out the 15-minute blocking time for the heater. During this time, do not switch off the heater's control panel and also do not interrupt the power supply.
As soon as the heater's blocking time has expired, the fault is then displayed permanently rather than flashing. It can now be Deleted User as described in the point above.0 -
Whilst noting all the members comments and advice, these units can and do break down. In our Lunar Stellar, we've had to replace fuses twice (a fiddly job I left to the dealers) and the dealers have also replaced the PCB, since when it's been OK through this season.
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Truma have a very comprehensive set of installation instructions which many converters deem not important enough to follow....
units installed back to front against walls (no access to pcb etc), in cupboards with no ventilation, poor vent pipework, some pipework missing or too small, units not placed in centre of van to be able to evenly distribute heat, customers complain as the unit is in the rear and theres no heat to the front....etc, etc....
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Gosh I'm considering another motorhome, ours has had to go due to OH health this yearand a damp related problem plus I wasnt confident enough to drive it at the time. (Long time since I last drove it and all the emotional upheaval.)
Thought we'd go for something smaller and newer that I felt confident to deal with on my own. Reading this I'm put off by more by heating than the choice of vehicles and driving...... Ours was old and until the damp, which could have been solved the guy who bought it has sorted, but beyond the issues I needed this year! The heating and hot water was on or off - simples. Never been cold in there once we had that sorted 😂😂.
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