Alde Compact 3020 HE system
Just returned from our second trip in our new Lunar Clubman SI with Alde heating system.
Just getting to grips with all the gizmos / switches and electronics on this new van. However as a newbie to caravanning the one thing I can't get my head round is :
If, on the Electrical PSU, I have the water heater totally switched off, with only the space heater switched on then why do I get hot water that I wasn't expecting or asking for ? The Alde control panel is switched on but only for heating.
The water temp is really hot too. Is there anyway I can adjust the water temperature?
I'm suspecting that it is overheating ?
Is this normal for an alde system?
Comments
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The Alde system always produces hot water if the water has been connected to the caravan and the system primed. It is not separate. The hot water facility on the panel allows to boost the water temperature for 20 mins (heating water stops circulating) in order to raise the temperature for showers. To reduce temperatures the mixer taps are used. If you truly feel it is too hot I would speak to Alde for advice. Meanwhile read up the instructions or frequently asked questions on the Alde website
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Yes, the instructions do clearly state that you will always get hot water if the Alde is powered and you have filled the water system. They explain clearly how the system works.
Note also that, if your caravan MCB panel has both a water heater and a space heater switch, one will be redundant when you have the Alde, so unless you know which is the redundant one, best leave them both on.
Sounds like in this case the water heater one is the one not used.
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Have a look here
http://www.alde.co.uk/alde-compact-products.php?itemCat=alde%203020%20compact%20system
This will give you some ideas of how the system works.
You will always have hot water, why would you not want hot water? But only central heating when the pump is pushing hot water through the radiator pipes.
The temperature is set at a level which minimises the risk of legionnaires etc being present.
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When we have our alde heating on during the night in our Conqueror 480 the pump will go on and off many times. The hum of the pump is minimal but we get loudish clicking noises (like pipes are expanding) each time the pump switches on - sometimes as many as 30 clicks. Has anyone else experienced this and how was it cured?
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I would describe ours as more the pipes groaning, rather than loud clicking. However, I don't think it can be cured. It is simply the pipes and joints expanding as they heat up. It is more noticeable at this time of year when the pump goes on and off a lot. In the colder winter months it is on a lot more, and the fluid foes not cool as much. I suppose reducing the heating temperature to 1 kw would cause the pump to remain on longer and therefore you would have less heating cycles of the pipes.
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I have just bought a new van with Alde and like you still getting to grips with it. However am very impressed, and re noise ..I find it virtually silent. No clicking or anything. I can just hear the boiler when firing up with gas if everything is totally silent and I'm trying to listen to check it has started.
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I have a 2015 Bailey Cadiz with Alde heating. I have just had my second service to be told that the blue coolant in the heating system only lasts two years and that the system needs to be completely drained and refilled with a red coolant that apparently will last for five years. Cost will be about 150 - 200 pounds. I dont remember the salesman mentioning this when I purchased the van !
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Our 2015 Lunar was fitted with 5 years fluid. Are they trying to get some extra money out of you?
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Bailey certainly filled our 2014 Cadiz with the blue two year fluid. So I think the dealer is telling the truth. I assume Bailey must make a slight cost saving over using 5 year, which given the number of vans they sell must mount up. I don't think Alde even sell a two year fluid, so clearly their intention is that 5 year should be used,
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It is true. My new one came with blue despite asking for it to be filled with red, but was advised it was filled at the factory by Swift. The dealer offered to change it but cost was circa £100 and a pointless exercise as may as well wait 2 years
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The Alde rep at NEC stated that the 5 year fluid is pink, and the 2 year fluid is blue in colour.
I agree with your comment, why would you use the fluid which needs changing more often
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Our Alde system makes has a minor clicking of pipes as it heats up, but still can`t stop the gurgling in the header tank completely, its almost inaudible after a few minutes. Tried the usual things reduced pump speed to min (it as on 4 on delivery),bled the bathroom radiator but found no air whatsoever. Had blown air for years and a diesel heater in a PVC but find the Alde far far better, much more even distribution of heat without the drafts.
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Time moves very quickly where has the 4 yrs gone ? given our caravan is due for its 4th service.
The Alde heat transfer fluid change is well over due !! Taken a look on You Tube and there are some good instructions available. The first link below goes into the anti freeze requirements and the second link has a DIY guy going through the routine of changing the fluid if you're into the DIY side of things, I have purchased a pump and will change our fluid out in a week or two.
Will let you all know how things go.
The 3rd link shows a mobile service taking place.
The dealer price tag to have this kind of work carried out seems to range from £160 ~ £250 probably the going rate as it seems to be a two hour task, fluid is about £40.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-Z02QmT90
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I found this an interesting video, a bit basic at the beginning but then I learnt something new towards the end about how to set the ampage so you don’t trip the EHU.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4LzqMLF1lZk
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Completed the task of changing the heat transfer fluid on the Alde heating system, replaced it with the five year ready mix G40 antifreeze took a little longer at about three hours had to buy another five litres worth also.
Found the drain down point its located at the rear of the Bailey Unicorn series 3 Valencia under the number plate.
Flushed the system with water and then drained this off before filling the system with the G40 fluid, used more that I thought. The system volume is about 12 ~ 14 litres but I made sure all of the water was flushed out so probably used more of the G40 than needed.
The 12 volt pump did the job once it primed not so easy when pumping the antifreeze.
Keep an eye on the fluid level as it suddenly dropped, must have been a large slug of air in the system.
All radiators heat evenly, very happy.
G40 cost £60, a tenner for the pump and £5 for some 22>15 mm plumbing fittings and clips.
Easy job.
Ps.. make sure you have plenty of rags at the ready.
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We have exactly same in our new 2018 conqueror ..wakes us up ..
After being ba k to dealer twice and the radiator sent to alde ...no fault found ..I recorded the clicks .this isn't an isolated prob as I've seen several other similar ... we've ended up asking for chrome ladder radiator that should arrive from Sweden today ...costing us £360 ..am not amused but if it let's us sleep at night it will be woth it
Margo and Jim Hardie
Ps our dealer is not in the slightest helpful ..19 defects in new caravan. all but 3 fixed by my hubby ...they are 100 mile round trip away.
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The clicking sound is probably expansion and contraction of the metal components. It’s my assumption that is why the joints and bends are all made by rubber joints, to allow for the movement.
it might be worth investigating the pipe runs to see if there is anything touching and or preventing free movement (expansion)
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Problem of "clicking" during expansion and contraction solved by:-
Following pipes and wherever they came in contact with part of the structure isolating with small piece of foam pipe lagging.
This, in my case, was most successfull where the pipes ran under the door sill.
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if it works like the Truma system then, if water heating only is selected the burner will switch off when the required temperature is reached (40 or 60 deg)....
however, if the water is being heated as a by product of the space heating setting then there is no control over the water temperature as, in effect, it's the heating that is the driver, not the water heating control.
im told that water heated in this way can easily reach 80 deg....
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!! but I'm sure he did !!! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADhn3cdR954
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s1IXtHhFI8
