ALDE heating - panel failure

henryfrombg
henryfrombg Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited December 2015 in Parts & Accessories #1

We bought a new Unicorn Madrid in October. Really like it, especially the Alde 3020 heating system which is really efficient and effective ... once its running. The problem is that when we went away in November we arrived in heavy rain, got parked, levelled
and plugged in to mains electric and switched the heating on. We then got two warnings "Panel 1 failure" & "Panel 2 failure" on the control panel.

The manual said it was probably due to damp in the control panel, to remove it and dry it overnight indoors! Not easy when you are away. 

Like many people we carry an electric heater which I switched on and after about half an hour the Alde system cleared the faults and ran perfectly for the next 4 days.

Keeping the van at home, I have been plugging in each weekend and running the heating just to keep the damp out, ready for a cheeky weekend away.The first couple of weekends the heating started fine but the last month I have had to switch the electric heater
on for 10mins to clear the panel failures.

Has anyone had this sort of thing? If so, how did you resolve it? The Alde manual says you might need to remove the control panel during ther winter to prevent damp. Its seems a bit extreme, but does anyone do this? and if so, how does the panel come out?

 

Comments

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,395 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #2

    Never had to do this in three years, mines the early 3010 system. Sounds like a design fault to me, I don't think damp should be getting in and if enough people on here are having the same problem I would be contacting Alde.

    peedee

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,672 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #3

    We also have a 3010, vintage 2008, never experienced any problems with the controller getting damp.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,672 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2015 #4

    As the Alde system was originally invented for use on boats, and is now also widely used in caravans and MHs in Scandinavia in particular, a panel which cannot tolerate some damp is not fit for purpose IMO

    In Norway and Sweden, it is very common to site your caravan for the winter to use as a base for ski-ing.  Many caravanners have remote control systems fitted so they can send a text to the van to switch on the heating a couple of hours before they arrive.

    A panel that cannot be left in an unheated van in winter would be useless to them.

    I would be getting in touch with Alde.

  • henryfrombg
    henryfrombg Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited December 2015 #5

    Thanks for the feedback. I tried calling Alde yesterday but eyre shut for Christmas. I will be contacting them next week. I'm wondering whether there's some damp got in and it needs a one off dry indoors but I think it's their job not mine. The caravan was
    new in October (although it was on display for a couple of months at the dealer)

    Happy New Year and thanks for replying.

  • Discovery4
    Discovery4 Forum Participant Posts: 32
    edited January 2016 #6

    How close is your kettle to the panel?

  • henryfrombg
    henryfrombg Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited January 2016 #7

    Good point! It is where we use the kettle but the van is parked up (at home) now and we haven't had the kettle out since Novermber. Its interesting though. The system was fine our first 2 weekends away, only becoming a problem on our third trip, but the
    weather had become very wet/windy by then. 

    But thyey fit the controller right by the twin 13A sockets where we would normally plug the kettle in. 

    I've left a message for Alde on their wedsite so I'm going to wait and see what they suggest but I am inclined to thinkw e wouldn't be the only one's with this problem if it was kettle orientated.

    Thanks for the suggestion. When I get any feedback or solution I'll post it here.

  • Discovery4
    Discovery4 Forum Participant Posts: 32
    edited January 2016 #8

    Thanks for the suggestion. When I get any feedback or solution I'll post it here.

    Glad you understood my cryptic post!  I have heard of people struggling with the thermostat being falsely triggered by their kettle, so presumably if it could do that the accompanying vapour could cause condensation in the panel.  Be interested to hear how
    you get on!

  • henryfrombg
    henryfrombg Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited January 2016 #9

    So here's how I've got on. I spoke to the dealer where we bought the van in October. He suggested to try drying the control panel but if that didn't fix it they would replace it for me. He explained how to remove it and said it would be a simple enough job. 

    I also contacted Alde who said much the same. They said that units sometimes get stored in a damp environment which may have been a Problem so remove and dry indoors overnight but otherwise take it to the dealer. 

    Yesterday I removed the control panel. Took about 5 minutes. Kept it indoors beside the Aga overnight and refitted it this morning and it worked fine. Well you'd expect it to if its been inside all night. 

    I'll try it again in a couple of weeks and see if the overnight warmth has cured the problem once and for all or whether there's an inherent problem. In which case I'll take up the dealer's offer and get a replacement unit.

    thanks for all the advice. 

  • henryfrombg
    henryfrombg Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited January 2016 #10

    Latest update. After 10 days in the van, when tested again i got the same faults so I've just spoken to the dealer and they are going to supply a replacement control panel under warranty. To be honest the dealer, Swindon Caravans, have been really helpful
    (which you would expect but don't always get).

    Hopefully the new panel will bring an end to this episode.

  • Richard M
    Richard M Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited January 2016 #11

    Ther is products availble to seal the circuit board from damp, spray on. they are called conformal coating and freely available from companys such as Farnells or RS Components

    http://cpc.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?pageSize=25&st=cconformal+coatings&catalogId=15002&categoryId=700000008010&langId=69&storeId=10180

    This should be done at the factory assembly of the pcb

     

  • henryfrombg
    henryfrombg Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #12

    Thanks for that. I'll get some if I still have a problem. 

  • henryfrombg
    henryfrombg Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #13

    Final update on this, and thanks everyone for your suggestions. 

    The dealer contacted Alde and after some persuading they agreed to replace the control panel. It arrived last week and I fitted it over the weekend. It worked just fine. We're going away on Friday for the weekend so we'll see what it's like after a week
    in the van.

    I''m hoping that's the end of it but I'll report back here if the problem recurs.

    thanks everyone.  

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #14

    Final update on this, and thanks everyone for your suggestions. 

    The dealer contacted Alde and after some persuading they agreed to replace the control panel. It arrived last week and I fitted it over the weekend. It worked just fine. We're going away on Friday for the weekend so we'll see what it's like after a week
    in the van.

    I''m hoping that's the end of it but I'll report back here if the problem recurs.

    thanks everyone.  

    Let's hope this is the final update then, enjoy keeping warm on your holidays!Happy

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #15

    Never had to do this in three years, mines the early 3010 system. Sounds like a design fault to me, I don't think damp should be getting in and if enough people on here are having the same problem I would be contacting Alde.

    peedee

    Write your comments here...I'm with peedee here. Never had a problem. I have a Mk 1 Valencia and its always worked spot on. Glad to see you have sorted it.

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