Whale I.C. space heater problem

Steve2514
Steve2514 Forum Participant Posts: 17
edited December 2019 in Caravans #1

Hi all..

Bought a new Elddis this year so is under warranty but going away for new year so was going to try and sort the problem before then. The van has the new whale ic control system that has the touchscreen control that communicates wirelessly with space & water heaters. Problem is regardless of set temp the heater now only blows warm when on maximum setting or on with the gas. No faults displayed on screen. Anyone else having any issues and hopefully an easy fix??

Comments

  • asda160
    asda160 Forum Participant Posts: 87
    edited December 2019 #2

    Ring Whale. Very helpful people.

    We've had numerous issues with our Whale IC.

    Some were resolved by performing a reset to clear a lockout. Red button under sink drawers.

    Others were resolved by disconnecting the caravan battery, resetting the computer.

    We have had a new touchscreen and a new boiler PCB.

    Whale components have a 5 yr warranty.

    I think we've worked through most of our issues now. Even in 500w setting it gets plenty warm enough.

    If you crank it up to 2kw & gas its very tropical indeed.

  • Steve2514
    Steve2514 Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited January 2020 #3

    Just got back after a new year break. Still same problem.  Only blows warm on maximum setting. Problem is it disturbs sleep at night as when in max the fan also runs at full speed so quite noisy.  No faults showing but I reckon some of the heater elements have gone as even on full it struggled to get the van up to 20°. I think the problems started when we left the heating on when we was out one night.  We came back to find the power had tripped at the supply post so think something must have gone then! Needs booking  in fir first service so il get the dealer to sort. Just hope warranty covers it,,,

  • asda160
    asda160 Forum Participant Posts: 87
    edited January 2020 #4

    You may be right.

    Here is a Whale fault finding link             

    .....and I would still phone them. You can then go to your dealer armed with the relevant advice/information from the system manufacturer.

    Whale have previously sent an engineer to my location, no dealer visit required for two easy fixes. Try you have nothing to lose.

    If it is a new van, it has the Elddis statutory 12 month component warranty via the supplying dealer but also Whale systems carry a 5 year warranty.

     

    Hope that helps.

     

     

  • asda160
    asda160 Forum Participant Posts: 87
    edited February 2020 #5

    Did your resolve the issue?

    Would be good to know. Might help somebody with same issue.

  • Steve2514
    Steve2514 Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited March 2020 #6

    Hi asda160

    Still have the problem. Its booked in for its first service at the dealer  next month so just using a stand alone blow heater till it gets sorted. They said look in manual and do a re set but scant find anything even on line! Only the red re set button to clear a fault but it's not showing a fault. Tried it again at the weekend. On full it just managed to get the van up to 15°. Think it's the touch screen. I switched off the heater circuit breakers but it still didn't show a fault? I will post what the dealer finds for info..

  • lisa71
    lisa71 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited January 2021 #7

    Hi, can you tell me if you managed to resolve this? We went away Feb 20 for a couple of nights and had an issue with the ivan screen trying to run on gas rather than electric although we didn’t realise this at the time. Our service was due the following week so asked them to check it and it seemed to work ok. We then went into lockdown and didn’t use the van obviously until Summer but heating was not needed. On going away late October it was impossible to select the lowest wattage heat setting at which point we then realised it was the screen that was faulty. It’s like it needs re-calibrating as sometimes you press a function and it selects the one next to it. I have contacted the dealer who put in a claim and also for various other faults but with on off lockdowns it has taken time to get a reply from which has ended up being a flat no as out of warranty. However this screen costs around £700 plus labour and I was sure it’s warranty was three years. Given I had originally detected a fault just before it’s third service albeit an intermittent one ( so appeared ok when checked) and subsequent lockdowns I feel this is poor service from Elldis. If you actually look at how many times the van has been used in total clearly the system is not fit for purpose as so many people seem to be expressing their frustration. At £700 pounds it must one the most expensive components in the van and I would not expect it to be faulty after such little use. What is is warranty and did you have any luck getting it replaced. I don’t know what to do next and it’s 4th service is due in February and the longer this goes on my chances of getting anything are slim. Ideally I am looking for replacement but even if I could get a contribution that would be something. I can not find an email address for Elddis and neither could my dealer. I tried phoning Elddis but a message says they are shut until 5th January and it’s now 15th. Any advice would be welcome.

  • asda160
    asda160 Forum Participant Posts: 87
    edited January 2021 #8

    My advice would be to contact Whale. 

    Elddis have always hidden behind their short warranty period but as I understand it the majority of Whale components have a 5yr warranty.

    Whale customer service is actually very good indeed. 

    Speak to them in the first instance as they are genuinely helpful and may even liaise with your dealer to find a solution.

    HTH

    Cheers 

    Dave

  • lisa71
    lisa71 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited January 2021 #9

    I tried speaking to whale and they were very dismissive. I think it is appalling given how much it has been used and I suspect over time more functions will be affected and given that the panel controls everything the van is useless without it.