Alde Heating

Alan Mo
Alan Mo Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited August 2020 in Caravans #1

Hi Folks, looking for some advice please on the sensors for the Alde heating system. I am back into caravaning after at least 6 years and have just bought a Buccaneer Galera with Alde wet heating system. On the control panel the system was reading around 25 deg but was no where near that inside. Adjusted the variance on the system by -5deg to compensate. Is this a common problem and by fitting a second "discrete" sensor away from the actual unit does this solve the problem?

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2020 #2

    Our 2014 Bailey had Alde heating and no such problems. Although the most we tended to set was 22 C. This was generally about right in the sitting area and a couple of degrees less at the bedroom end.

  • stephen p
    stephen p Forum Participant Posts: 194
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    edited August 2020 #3

    I am not sure if it is a common problem but I felt that with the temperature sensor in the control panel it was being affected by the warming effect of the electronics.

    I fitted a remote sensor just a few inches away from the panel and I think it improved things no end.

    It was an easy fit once you can get to the back of the control panel, I had to dig through a veritable birds nest of cables in my Crusader. A label inside the back shows where to plug it in.

    I also fitted a back up battery while I was at it, so that it retains the time while you are travelling.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited August 2020 #4

    I fitted one to my swift 650 and set next to door about 4 ft from the floor just like a domestic thermostat should be. Made a huge difference as you know heat rises so the top of the lounge was warm when the floor was cold. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2020 #5

    I simply set the heating 2 degrees higher. Worked for me

  • Fozzie
    Fozzie Club Member Posts: 550 ✭
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    edited August 2020 #6

    In the menu of the Alde system there should be a temperature sensor setting page.

    My system says something like 

    Bedroom

    Normal 

    Auto

     It is  worth finding these settings, to see what is selected.

    I did have one issue,the van was lovely and warm during one cold snap,but the panel was indicating just 10 degrees C,this did involve a system reset.

  • Forest Gate
    Forest Gate Forum Participant Posts: 103
    edited August 2020 #7

    Were you able to set the bedroom end separately from the lounge? I have a Bailey Unicorn Valencia 2015 but haven't seen a way to do that..

     

  • Alan Mo
    Alan Mo Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2020 #8

    Sorry for the late replies and thanks for the replies folks, much appreciated. I think the general conscientious is that the sensor in the control panel itself does increase the temp. There are settings for 3 areas available but of course you need to fit the actual sensors first. Watched a handy video and a very easy DIY fix to clip of the front panel, unscrew the main unit and run a additional sensor up to 2M away from the main control panel, also fitted a back up battery at the same time. My view is it has to be better than the factory fitted sensor but time will tell!

    Thanks again folks.

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2020 #9

    I don't think those options were on the earlier versions of Alde. Although like with everything else about the system, back up battery, load monitor etc, they would be optional extras, not fitted by Bailey. Our panel was on the side of a cupboard by the door, perhaps a better position than some, as it is unlikely to get any heat from other appliances. Heat from the panel itself would likely dissipate into the cupboard.

  • Freedom a whitebox
    Freedom a whitebox Club Member Posts: 296 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2020 #10

    The alde system in the Valencia is a one pipe system/ one circuit! I’m sure that you will find that in most caravans unless there is additional underfloor heating. 
    The control panel may have other options for sensors but only one can be used at any time. There is not the option to regulate different areas at different temperatures. The only way you could possibly do this is to Partially insulate parts of the heat emitters in areas that you may like cooler - very hit and miss! In saying that, on my Valencia I place a folded towel on the last foot of the back rest in the corner near the worktop. This reduces the heat from flowing across the control panel and giving a false reading. Less bother than fitting a remote sensor.

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