Truma Ultrastore Water Heater problems
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on my 10 litre Truma water heater.
The symptoms appear to be that the water remains cold when the van is used
on site, but when tested at home I get plenty of piping hot water.
I first experienced this problem on a site with a poor mains supply.
However I've just been on a Caravan Club site with a good mains supply - all
230v systems worked fine except for the water heater - I had to use the gas
heating option.
But back at home it works fine.
I've checked out the wiring which is a simple mains feed via a double pole
switch to a 450 watt immersion heater with a built-in thermostat. At home I
get a steady 2 amp at 240v feed to the heater until the thermostat is
satisfied. Drawing hot water and thus feeding cold water into the tank
causes the thermostat to switch back on until the water is hot again - no
evidence of a stuck thermostat.
I can't take the 'van to the dealer to be fixed as I can't demonstrate a
fault - he says he hasn't heard of my symptoms before. I rang Truma who say
that this isn't a common occurrence and can't suggest a cause.
My next step is to take a multimeter on holiday to check the system out if
and when it doesn't work.
Has anyone else experienced any similar symptoms, or can anyone suggest a
cause?
My only theory is that the thermostat contacts are perhaps slightly
contaminated and the journey home rattles them about and cleans them. But
why doesn't that happen on the way out?
regards,
(Baffled) Ian
kenneth.jones
"·´¯`·.¸¸.·><((((º>" <i...@ian-gillisANTISPAM.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
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> My only theory is that the thermostat contacts are perhaps slightly
> contaminated and the journey home rattles them about and cleans them. But
> why doesn't that happen on the way out?
> regards,
> (Baffled) Ian
>
It is possible you have either an high resistance connection or loose
terminal. I assume you use the same mains lead at home as when away? Even so
check the cable connections again as it has been known (not particularly in
your case) for a loose or broken connection to only make a good feed when in
a certain position. Is the angle that the cable leaves the socket much
greater or less than say when you are connected via your adapter to the
ringmain? It may be hanging straight say when in a site bollard but at 45
deg when plugged in at home. This in the case of a poor joint could possibly
cause the symptoms you describe. I am only taking an educated guess here but
it is worth looking into.
The last time I was away my water heater kept showing the low voltage
warning when I switched lights and other loads on, particularly the pump. I
checked the battery voltage and under no load it was 12.6v, with only one
light on it dropped to 11.7. I eventually traced the fault to a tarnished
fuse holder causing high resistance and thus volts drop. My battery is brand
new and charged and maintained by a correct charger so I was a little
baffled at first by the problem. It took me about an hour to think about it
and sort it out and I have many years experience in the electrical trade so
don't despair if you don't suss it straight away. Good luck.
Graham Jones
<i...@ian-gillisANTISPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>At home I
>get a steady 2 amp at 240v feed to the heater until the thermostat is
>satisfied.
Ian, did you check the amperage at the site/post/van? Do you use the
same mains lead at home? (Bad connection in one?)
--
Regards.
Graham Jones
(Medical Rescue)
ICQ 69660620
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Graham Jones <graham...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:uDjEoGBa...@btinternet.com...
> In article <9e117u$uuj$1...@news8.svr.pol.co.uk>, ·´¯`·.¸¸.·><((((º>
> <i...@ian-gillisANTISPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>
> >At home I
> >get a steady 2 amp at 240v feed to the heater until the thermostat is
> >satisfied.
>
> Ian, did you check the amperage at the site/post/van?
Thanks for replying, Graham.
An Avometer is about the only tool I didn't take with me on holiday - that,
however, is about to change! I did have a neon test screwdriver but they can
give false indications, particularly where there's a neutral fault.
>Do you use the
> same mains lead at home? (Bad connection in one?)
I've got three mains leads, none made the heater work on site - in any case
the mains input is unlikely to be the problem - while the water heater was
having problems all other 230v ac systems (fire, telly, mains lights, test
plug, charger etc) were working perfectly!
(Continuingly Baffled)
Ian
Sirion
have been faultless since installation, both on mains/gas. I have also used
them on the generator at times when I had excess capacity without any
problems.
The Truma units are superior to the Attwood which we had previously.
--
Whatever you wish for me,
May you have twice as much.
"·´¯`·.¸¸.·><((((º>" <i...@ian-gillisANTISPAM.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
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