Truma Ultrastore Water Heater cutting out.

crashbarrier63
crashbarrier63 Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited February 2016 in Caravans #1

Hi everyone,

I have a Bailey Bretagne Pageant 2005 with the ever popular Truma Ultrastore. Last year we discovered an issue with it that we lived with for the summer but would like to resolve before the warmer weather arrives.

I would operate the water heater electrically as instructed i.e. with water in it, and all is initially well producing lots of ridiculously hot water (a temp that is sadly un-adjustable). However, after a period of time, and without really using the hot
water much, the heater would trip out causing the water to cool down. It didn't trip out the caravan electrics just itself but there is no visual clue apart from the cooling water supply. Even leaving it for long periods would not coax it back to life but
physically turning it off at the switch, waiting a while, and then turning back on would. I did suspect the element as I believe it has a built-in overheat thermostat but we lived with the fault; just turning it on when we needed it and then turning it back
off again. 

The element was replaced about 3 years ago, has not had a huge amount of use but did suffer one occasion, 2 years ago, of being operated without water in it. It tripped out but came back to life after a reasonable cooling down period. When operated I try
to ensure that there is no air in the system at all.

Does anyone have any expert opinions on my problem? It will be back out of dry storage in a few weeks and is to be serviced shortly after. If it is the element at fault I will get a new one so it is ready and waiting to be fitted.

Many thanks.

Comments

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #2

    I had a similar problem. The water would start hot and after a few hours turned out to be at best Luke warm.  The problem with ours turn out to be much cheaper than the element.  On the cold water feed to hot water tank there was a non return valve and this
    had failed. Obviously what was happening as the water heated and expanded it could push past this valve effectively emptying the tank to level where it cut out.  You could feel the supply pipe was warm as the hot water had got past the valve.  The other symptom
    we saw was a lot of gurgling and spitting  before any water came out.  Heating the water with gas it remained hot presumably the thermostat that controls the gas heating is in a different place to the electric one. It was a simple fix and the part cost about
    £5 iirc. 

  • crashbarrier63
    crashbarrier63 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited February 2016 #3

    Hi Boff,

    thanks for the info. I can safely say that I never thought about that scenario. Unfortunately, I will not have the caravan back at the house for a few weeks but when I do I'll plug it in and spark it up to see if the same issue arises. 

    I think I will delay the pre-emptive purchase of a new element. 

    Now to find a diagram of the system to identify that non-return valve................unless.........

  • crashbarrier63
    crashbarrier63 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited February 2016 #4

    I just tried to edit my last post but it said it wasn't me! So here is my edited response:-

    Hi Boff,

    thanks for the info. I can safely say that I never thought about that scenario. Unfortunately, I will not have the caravan back at the house for a few weeks but when I do I'll plug it in and spark it up to see if the same issue arises. 

    However, the more I think about it the more I believe my issue may be different. Failure of that NRV would, as you explain, cause the tank to empty which causes the spluttering at the tap. But I'm not getting any problems like that. After it trips the first I know about it is when the hot tap is turned on and only lukewarm water flows. No air issues, just a strong continuous supply of water.

    Paul

     

     

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #5

    Paul you could we be correct when  I had the problem I priced up an element I think it was over £70 as I say the check valve was about £5 and if is easy to check in situ if there is hot water either side or by removing it and seeing if you can blow through
    it.  Good luck. 

    Ps there is a vent on the top of the tank maybe mine was blocked and that why I got spluttering

    pps The other possibilty is there a thermal cut out seperate to the element?

    PPS. Leisure spares have exploded part diagrams that should allow you to identify any part numbers you might need. Whenever I have used them they always been really efficent

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #6

     On the cold water feed to hot water tank there was a non return valve and this had failed.

    I had exactly the same problem on my 'van. However the non-return valve had not actually FAILED, ....it had been installed horizontally and was not spring loaded. I repositioned it in a vertical position so that it closed by gravity and no more problems. 
    (I have seen it mentioned that a spring-loaded version of the valve may be available).

    Doesn't appear to be OPs problem though.

  • crashbarrier63
    crashbarrier63 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited February 2016 #7

    No Vic, it doesn't sound like the same problem. I think my only option is to wait until the caravan is back home, check the NRV just in case and then resign myself to getting a new element.

  • portalpaul
    portalpaul Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited June 2018 #8

    Hi Boff I had same problem when at Ramslade site 11/18 June. A lot of hot water gurgling and spitting out of tap.Then no hot water at all after an hour or two as the boiler had tripped out.Had turn off electric at the mains for a min or two for the boiler to reset.When home i tested the NRV and it was not working so ordered a new one on Ebay £7

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